A wire run is two numbers: material by the foot and labor by the hour. Multiply each out and add them, and the estimate is done before the tape measure is back on your belt.
120 feet of 12/2 at $0.85 is $102 in wire; 3 hours at $95 is $285 in labor — a $387 run.
The example
Three runs, each with wire footage, cost per foot, labor hours, and rate.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Run | Feet | $ / ft | Hours | Rate | Total |
| 2 | Kitchen circuit | 120 | $0.85 | 3 | $95 | $387.00 |
| 3 | EV charger run | 60 | $2.10 | 4 | $95 | $506.00 |
| 4 | Shed feeder | 200 | $1.40 | 5 | $95 | $755.00 |
The formula
Two products, one sum:
How it works
Each half of the estimate is a simple multiplication:
B2*C2is the material: feet of wire times your cost per foot.D2*E2is the labor: hours on the run times your hourly rate.- Adding the two gives the full cost of the run.
Heavier gauge and longer runs move both numbers — keep a per-foot price column per wire type.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter the footage, wire cost per foot, labor hours, and rate.
Variations
Add devices and boxes
Append a materials cell for boxes, breakers, and devices.
Add waste to the footage
Pad the measured run for drops, staples, and mistakes.
Pitfalls & errors
Measure the actual routed path, not the straight-line distance — wire follows studs and joists, not the crow.
Add 10–15% waste to the footage; short by six feet means a trip to the supply house.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Where do breakers and boxes go?
How much waste should I add?
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