Free Contractor Markup Calculator
Stop leaving margin on the job. Enter your costs and target profit to see the sell price you actually need.
Materials + labor + overhead
Percentage added on top of cost
Sell Price
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Profit
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Markup
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Margin
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Markup vs. Margin: What's the Difference?
Markup
Markup is the percentage added on top of your cost to determine the sell price.
Example: $1,000 cost at 50% markup = $1,500
Margin
Margin is the percentage of the sell price that is profit. It's always lower than the equivalent markup.
Example: $1,000 cost at 33.3% margin = $1,500
Typical Contractor Markups by Trade
These are general industry ranges. Your actual markup should account for your overhead, market, and the complexity of the job.
| Trade | Typical Markup | Equivalent Margin |
|---|---|---|
| General Contracting | 15–25% | 13–20% |
| Electrical | 20–50% | 17–33% |
| Plumbing | 20–50% | 17–33% |
| HVAC | 30–50% | 23–33% |
| Roofing | 25–40% | 20–29% |
| Painting | 40–60% | 29–38% |
| Landscaping | 30–50% | 23–33% |
Related Tools
This calculator is for informational purposes only. Actual pricing should account for your specific overhead, insurance, bonding costs, and local market conditions.
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