Project Cost Estimator
Enter your costs below to calculate the total project price including VAT and markup.
Guided Mode (DIY-friendly)
Work through base costs, then pricing rates, then review before calculating.
Base costs
Rates
Review
Base Cost Breakdown
NAIBC / IRC codes
References & Sources
Standards Cited
- RSMeans — RSMeans Data — Construction Cost Estimating
Provides the industry-standard framework for project cost estimation in North America, including materials, labour, overhead, and profit structures - AACE International — AACE International Recommended Practices for Cost Estimating
Defines cost estimating classifications and methodologies for North American construction projects
Formulas Used
- Subtotal:
subtotal = materialsCost + labourCost + otherCosts
Source: RSMeans / AACE International - Markup Amount:
markup = subtotal x (markupPercent / 100)
Source: Standard industry markup/overhead practice - Sales Tax Amount:
salesTax = (subtotal + markup) x (taxRate / 100)
Source: State/local tax regulations — Sales tax rates vary by state and locality; no federal standard rate - Total Project Cost:
total = subtotal + markup + vat
Source: RSMeans / AACE International - Cost Breakdown Percentages:
componentPercent = (componentCost / totalCost) x 100
Source: Standard accounting
Key Assumptions
- Sales tax is applied after markup/overhead is added to the subtotal — Standard US accounting practice
- Sales tax rate varies by state and locality (no single default rate) — State tax authorities
- Overhead and profit (O&P) is applied as a percentage of the subtotal (materials + labour + other) — RSMeans estimating methodology