Markup and margin are not the same

Markup is percent added on top of cost. A 30% markup on $1,000 cost is $1,300 sell and $300 profit. Margin is profit as a percent of the sell price. That same job is about 23% margin — not 30%. Mixing them up is how quotes go out too cheap.

Use markup when you think “I mark cost up by X%.” Use margin when your target is “I need X% gross margin on the invoice.”

What to put in job cost

Include materials, labour (with burden if you track it), and subs you will pay. Overhead and profit are what markup/margin should recover. If your cost is incomplete, the sell price will be too.

Then write a real quote

This tool prices the number. Put the sell price into a proper quote with line items and tax using TradeInvoice so the client sees a clear document — not a text message.

Frequently asked questions

Is the markup calculator free?

Yes. Free to use, print, and share.

What markup do contractors use?

It varies by trade, overhead, and risk. Many small trades land somewhere in a wide band — know your real costs and target margin rather than copying a random percent from the internet.