TapeAndFloat.comDrywall job cost calculator: bid vs actual
Job costing means comparing what a job actually cost you with what you budgeted in the bid, line by line. This free calculator takes your contract amount, approved change orders and budgeted vs actual labor, material, equipment and subcontract costs, and shows the variance on each line, profit as bid, profit to date and margin.
Use your own numbers from your bid sheet and your bills or payroll. Nothing is pre-filled, there is no suggested percent, and nothing you type leaves your browser. Free, no sign-up.
How to use it
- Type the contract (bid) amount and the total of approved change orders. Leave change orders blank if there are none.
- For each cost line, type what you budgeted in the bid and what you have actually spent so far. Leave a line blank if it does not apply.
- If the job is not finished, you can add an estimated % complete to get a rough projection of the final cost.
- Press Calculate. Over-budget lines show in red. Use Copy result to paste the numbers into a note or text.
The math, in plain words
- Revised contract = contract (bid) amount + approved change orders.
- Total budget = budgeted labor + material + equipment/other + subcontract. Total actual = the same four lines, actual to date.
- Variance on each line = actual − budgeted. A positive number means over budget; a negative number means under budget. Variance % = variance ÷ budgeted × 100.
- Profit as bid = revised contract − total budget.
- Profit at actual (to date) = revised contract − total actual.
- Margin = profit ÷ revised contract × 100.
- Rough projection (only if you enter % complete): projected cost at completion = total actual ÷ (% complete ÷ 100). It assumes the rest of the job costs at the same rate as the part already done, so treat it as a rough check, not a forecast.
Related free tools
Price the next job with the markup vs margin calculator and the free drywall bid sheet (Excel + CSV, English/Spanish). What the words mean: job costing, WIP report, markup vs. margin and overhead and profit. More free tools: all free drywall office templates and the retainage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is job costing on a drywall job? It is tracking what each job actually costs you, in labor, material, equipment and subs, and comparing it to what you budgeted in the bid. The comparison shows where a job made or lost money.
What does a negative variance mean? Variance here is actual minus budgeted. A negative number means you spent less than you budgeted on that line (under budget). A positive number means you spent more (over budget).
Should change orders be included? Add only approved change orders to the contract. If a change order also added costs, include those costs in the budget and actual lines, or the profit numbers will look better or worse than they really are.
How accurate is the projected cost at completion? It is a rough projection. It divides your actual cost to date by your % complete, which assumes the rest of the job costs at the same rate. Your own judgment about what is left on the job matters more.
Does this calculator tell me what margin I should make? No. It only does the math on the numbers you type. There is no suggested or average percent, it gives no tax or legal advice, and nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Want help keeping up with bids and change orders? TapeAndFloat reads the texts and emails you forward and flags change orders, pay apps and past-due invoices to follow up on, for you to review. Join the free 60-day pilot.
En español: Calculadora de costo por obra: presupuesto vs real.