Day rate calculator for trades
Most solo tradespeople undercharge because they divide a salary by 260 working days. Then holidays, quoting, admin and the van bill eat the difference. This works it out properly: the income you want, the days you can actually bill, and what that means per day and per hour. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Charge at least
$354.00 / day
$44.00 / hour
- Billable days a year
- 192
- Revenue you need a year
- $68,000.00
- …which is, per month
- $5,667.00
That's your floor, not your price. Quote the job, not the day, and round up for risk and callbacks.
Turn this rate into a professional quote for freeCommon questions
- How do I work out my day rate?
- Add the yearly income you want to your yearly business costs, then divide by the days you can actually bill: 52 weeks minus your time off, times the days per week you spend on paying jobs (not quoting, admin or travel). That number is your minimum day rate. Quote above it.
- Why is my day rate so much higher than a salary divided by 260?
- Because you don't bill 260 days. After holidays, sick days, quoting, admin and travel, most solo tradespeople bill 150 to 180 days a year, and the rate also has to cover the van, tools, insurance and every other cost an employer normally pays.
- Should I charge by the day or by the job?
- Quote fixed prices per job whenever you can. Clients prefer certainty, and working fast stops being punished. Use your day rate as the floor when pricing the job, then round up for risk, materials handling and callbacks.