Contractor Hourly Rate Calculator
Find the hourly rate you need to charge: your salary goal plus overhead, divided by the hours you can actually bill. Free calculator for the trades.
Want the full version? The Contractor Pricing Calculator ($4) prices complete jobs from a price book, prints a client-ready quote, and tracks your real profit. Excel + Google Sheets.
See it on Etsy →Why your rate is higher than you think
You don't get paid for every hour you work. Driving, estimates, supply runs, invoicing and callbacks eat 30–40% of a typical week. If you work 45 hours but only bill 29, your rate has to cover the other 16.
What to include in overhead
Liability and auto insurance, workers comp, vehicle payment and maintenance, fuel, phone, software, tool replacement, advertising, accounting and licenses. Add them up for a full year.
FAQ
What is a billable hour?
An hour you can charge a customer for. Travel, estimating and admin are usually not billable.
Should I charge by the hour or by the job?
Most profitable contractors price by the job, but you still need your hourly number to check that a job price covers your time.