Cleaning supplies — chemicals, liners, paper, equipment wear — are a real per-job cost. Summing each item’s usage times unit cost gives the supply cost to fold into the bid.
The example
Chemicals, liners, paper.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | Σ qty × cost | $9.40 |
| 3 | ~% of labor | → ~10% |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- List each supply with its per-job quantity and unit cost.
- SUMPRODUCT totals the supply cost in one cell.
- Or estimate supplies as a percentage of labor (often 5–15%) for quick bids.
- Don’t forget equipment wear/depreciation per job for honest costing.
Two ways to cost supplies, both valid. For a one-off detail job, build it up item by item with SUMPRODUCT. For routine recurring accounts, a supplies-as-percentage-of-labor factor (calibrated from your purchasing history) is faster and accurate enough. Whichever you use, include consumables and equipment wear — vacuums and machines don’t last forever, and that cost belongs in the bid.
Try it: interactive demo
Supply cost (or % of labor).
Variations
As % of labor
Quick estimate:
Job cost
Labor + supplies:
Monthly supplies
× visits:
Pitfalls & errors
Per-job quantity. Use the amount used on the job, not the package.
Equipment wear. Include depreciation of machines per job.
% method. Calibrate the labor percentage from real purchasing.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate supplies cost per cleaning job in Excel?
What percentage of labor are supplies?
Should I include equipment?
Stop fighting formulas. Learn them in a day.
This recipe is one of hundreds of real-world formulas we teach. Our Excel Formulas & Functions class covers lookups, logic, text, and dynamic arrays hands-on — live in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, Denver, or online.
See the Formulas & Functions Class