Most handyman jobs are materials plus time. Add your material cost to labor hours times your rate and you have an estimate in one line.
$60 in materials plus 3 hours at $65 is $255 — the all-in number the customer sees.
The example
Three jobs with material cost, labor hours, and an hourly rate.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job | Materials | Hours | Rate | Estimate |
| 2 | Mount TV | $60 | 3 | $65 | $255 |
| 3 | Fix fence | $120 | 4 | $65 | $380 |
| 4 | Patch drywall | $35 | 2 | $65 | $165 |
The formula
Multiplication runs before addition, so no parentheses:
How it works
The estimate mirrors how the job is billed:
C2*D2values the labor — hours times your hourly rate.B2is the material cost for the job.- Excel multiplies first, then adds the materials, giving the total estimate.
Add a contingency for surprises by padding hours, or wrap a markup on materials with B2*(1+Markup).
Try it: interactive demo
Enter material cost, labor hours, and your hourly rate.
Variations
Mark up materials
Add a margin on materials you supply.
Minimum charge
Never quote below a job minimum.
Pitfalls & errors
No parentheses needed — Excel multiplies before it adds, so =B2+C2*D2 already prices labor correctly.
Estimate hours honestly. Underbidding time is the fastest way to lose money on small jobs.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a minimum charge?
Should I mark up materials?
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