A locksmith call is a trip charge plus the time on site. Add the flat trip fee to labor hours times your hourly rate and any job is quoted in one line.
A $45 trip fee plus 1.5 hours at $90 is $180 — the all-in price the customer sees.
The example
Three calls with a trip fee, labor hours, and an hourly rate.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job | Trip fee | Hours | Rate | Total |
| 2 | Lockout | $45 | 1.5 | $90 | $180 |
| 3 | Rekey 3 locks | $45 | 2 | $90 | $225 |
| 4 | Emergency | $95 | 1 | $120 | $215 |
The formula
Multiplication runs before addition, so no parentheses:
How it works
The quote mirrors how the job is billed:
C2*D2values the labor — hours on site times the hourly rate.B2, the flat trip fee, covers getting there.- Their sum is the total the customer pays.
Add parts (new locks, key blanks) by extending the formula: =B2+C2*D2+Parts.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter the trip fee, labor hours, and hourly rate.
Variations
Add parts
Include hardware cost for rekeys and new locks.
Minimum labor
Bill at least a one-hour minimum even on quick jobs.
Pitfalls & errors
Quote in whole or half hours that match how you actually bill; 0.25-hour increments invite disputes.
Emergency and after-hours calls usually carry a higher trip fee and rate — set both, not just one.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I bill a minimum?
Where do parts go?
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