Inventory & operations

Job Costing Calculator

Build a job cost from materials, labor, subcontractors and applied overhead, then compare it with your quote.

Free, no sign-upRuns in your browserFormula & methodology
US dollars
hours
per hour
per hour
US dollars
US dollars

Results update as you type. Your numbers stay in this browser.

Estimated job costExample$2,900
Profit at quoted price
$1,100
Direct labor cost
$1,000
Applied overhead
$400.00

Understand the result

How to calculate job costing

Job cost = materials + labor hours × (loaded hourly cost + overhead rate) + subcontractors

Apply overhead using a defensible allocation basis. Loaded labor already includes employer costs; do not add the same costs again in overhead.

Worked example

An illustrative scenario. “Reset to example” restores it in the calculator.

Direct materials
$1,200
Direct labor hours
40 hours
Loaded labor cost per hour
$25 per hour
Overhead per labor hour
$10 per hour
Subcontractors
$300
Quoted price before tax
$4,000

Estimated job cost: $2,900

Common questions

Job Costing FAQ

Is estimated job profit the same as actual profit?

No. Replace estimated hours and costs with actual records after delivery. Quote changes, rework and unallocated overhead can change the result.

Guides for this calculation

Build context around the numbers with worked examples from our guides.

How to Price a Custom Cake with Labor and Overhead →