Day-rate pricing beats nickel-and-dime hourly billing for both sides. IF the job fits in four hours, charge the half-day; anything longer books the full day.
A 3-hour fence repair books at the $225 half-day; a 6-hour deck staining books the $400 full day.
The example
Three jobs, each with estimated hours and your two day rates.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job | Est hours | Half-day | Full-day | Charge |
| 2 | Fence repair | 3 | $225 | $400 | $225 |
| 3 | Deck staining | 6 | $225 | $400 | $400 |
| 4 | TV mount + misc | 4 | $225 | $400 | $225 |
The formula
One IF splits every job into two prices:
How it works
The threshold does the pricing:
B2is the estimated hours for the job.B2<=4tests whether it fits a half-day block.- IF returns the half-day rate
C2when it fits, otherwise the full-day rateD2.
Exactly 4 hours books the half-day here; move the boundary with < instead of <= if you want 4 hours to tip into a full day.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter the estimated hours and your two rates.
Variations
Three tiers
Add an hourly tier for tiny jobs under two hours.
Overflow into a second day
Beyond 8 hours, add a second day's booking.
Pitfalls & errors
Price the half-day above half the full day (e.g. $225 vs $400) — a half-day still burns travel and a morning.
Decide what exactly 4 hours means before the customer asks. <= books it as a half-day; < tips it to the full day.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Why day rates instead of hourly?
What about a job that runs long?
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