Construction Cost Calculator
Estimate overall construction cost.
Project & Input Data
Engineering Assumptions
- Overhead, contingency, markup and margin percentages are company/project assumptions entered by the user — no single percentage is universally correct for every project.
- This tool is not a market rate database and assumes no rates.
- Contingency is applied after overhead is added.
- All percentages and inputs are user-defined; the calculation is purely arithmetic and assumes no particular code or specification.
Formula Summary
- Direct cost = material + labour + equipment + subcontractor + other
- Overhead = direct cost × overhead%
- Cost before contingency = direct + overhead
- Contingency = cost before contingency × contingency%
- Estimated cost = cost before contingency + contingency
- Markup mode: price = estimated cost × (1 + markup%)
- Margin mode: price = estimated cost ÷ (1 − margin%)
Results
Enter your data and press Calculate to see the results.
Engineering Insight
The order in which percentages are applied changes the result: applying contingency after overhead gives a higher figure than applying it to direct cost alone. Using markup instead of margin at the same percentage yields a lower price and lower profit.
Recommended Action
Fix the company's adopted percentages in a written pricing policy and review the direct cost build-up with the delivery team before submitting the offer.
Next step
This calculator is fully usable as it is. Professional adds saved projects, calculation history and PDF/Excel reports; Premium adds the integrated workflows and the BOQ generator.
The gap between cost and price is where most bids are won or lost. This calculator builds the direct cost, adds the overhead and contingency percentages you set, and then prices it two ways — markup on cost or a target margin on price — so you can see the difference clearly.
Method and assumptions
- Direct cost = material + labour + equipment + subcontractor + other
- Overhead = direct cost × overhead%
- Cost before contingency = direct + overhead
- Contingency = cost before contingency × contingency%
- Estimated cost = cost before contingency + contingency
- Markup mode: price = estimated cost × (1 + markup%)
- Margin mode: price = estimated cost ÷ (1 − margin%)
- Overhead, contingency, markup and margin percentages are company/project assumptions entered by the user — no single percentage is universally correct for every project.
- This tool is not a market rate database and assumes no rates.
- Contingency is applied after overhead is added.
- All percentages and inputs are user-defined; the calculation is purely arithmetic and assumes no particular code or specification.
Worked example
A USD 100,000 direct-cost package with 10% overhead, 5% contingency and a 15% markup.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Direct cost | 100,000.00 USD |
| Overhead amount | 10,000.00 USD |
| Cost before contingency | 110,000.00 USD |
| Contingency allowance | 5,500.00 USD |
| Estimated total cost | 115,500.00 USD |
| Proposed selling price | 132,825.00 USD |
| Gross profit | 17,325.00 USD |
| Resulting margin | 13.04 % |
| Equivalent markup | 15 % |
These figures are produced by the same calculator engine used on this page.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between markup and margin?
- Markup is a percentage added to cost; margin is a percentage of the selling price. A 20% margin needs a 25% markup — the calculator shows both modes.
- Are taxes or VAT included?
- No. The result is a pre-tax price in USD. Add any tax treatment separately according to your jurisdiction.
- Does it use regional cost data?
- No. Every cost and percentage is user-entered; there is no built-in cost database or index.
Related calculators
- Markup CalculatorCost & Estimation
- Margin CalculatorCost & Estimation
- Break-Even CalculatorCost & Estimation
Next step
Free calculators are open to everyone. Project saving and PDF/Excel reports come with Professional, and integrated workflows with Premium.