Job cost sheet template
A job cost sheet with direct materials, direct labor, overhead, markup and the price to quote.
- ๐บ๐ธ US format ยท Letter size
- Free
This is a sample form. Check tax amounts against IRS rules and your accountant's advice.
Pick your options and the preview updates. The file opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers.
The file is built in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or saved.
Sheets
- How to use
- Job cost sheet: direct materials, direct labor, other direct, total direct, overhead (rate input), total job cost, markup (rate input), price to quote, per unit
- Cost items: cost type (dropdown), item, qty or hours, unit, rate, amount (formula), basis
Color key
- Yellow cells: fill these in
- Blue cells: formulas, leave them as they are
- Gray rows: examples you can delete
Your rates, not a standard
Overhead and markup percentages are whatever your business decides. Public bids and cost-plus contracts often fix how overhead and profit may be charged, so follow the contract documents for those. The file is built in your browser and never goes to a server.
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Job cost sheet (with the example cost items)
| Section | Line | Amount | Rate (input) | How it is figured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct costs | Direct materials | 1,175.00 | Cost items sheet, Materials lines | |
| Direct costs | Direct labor | 1,960.00 | Cost items sheet, Labor lines | |
| Direct costs | Other direct costs | 470.00 | Cost items sheet, Other direct lines | |
| Direct costs | Total direct costs | 3,605.00 | Materials + labor + other direct | |
| Overhead | Overhead | 540.75 | 15.0% | Total direct costs x overhead % (column D) |
| Total cost | Total job cost | 4,145.75 | Direct costs + overhead | |
| Markup | Markup (profit) | 829.15 | 20.0% | Total job cost x markup % (column D) |
| Price | Price to quote | 4,974.90 | Total job cost + markup. Add sales tax at invoicing if it applies | |
| Per unit | Units | 1 | How many units this job produces (input) | |
| Per unit | Cost per unit | 4,145.75 | Total job cost / units | |
| Per unit | Price per unit | 4,974.90 | Price to quote / units |
Cost items
| Cost type | Item | Qty or hours | Unit | Rate | Amount | Basis or notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Lumber, 2x4 x 8 ft | 120 | each | 4.25 | 510 | Framing takeoff |
| Materials | Drywall, 4x8 sheet | 40 | sheet | 14.5 | 580 | |
| Materials | Fasteners and adhesives | 1 | lot | 85 | 85 | |
| Labor | Carpenter | 40 | hour | 38 | 1,520 | 1 person x 5 days |
| (auto) | ||||||
| Total | =SUM(โฆ) |
This shows the first part of each sheet as it prints on Letter paper. The file also has a how-to sheet and formulas, and every column fits one page width when you print from Excel.
How to use it
List every cost on the Cost items sheet: materials with a quantity and unit price, labor as hours times an hourly rate, and other direct costs like permits, rentals and subcontractors. The Job cost sheet pulls those into direct materials, direct labor and other direct, adds overhead at your rate, and puts markup on top to give the price to quote.
The overhead and markup percentages are input cells, so try a few values and watch the price change before you send the quote. Type the number of units if the job produces more than one of something and you want a per-unit price.
Things to watch
Keep the labor rate honest: the hourly rate should be the fully loaded cost with payroll taxes, workers' comp and benefits, not just the wage. Markup and margin are different numbers, so make sure everyone on the estimate means the same one. Sales tax, if it applies to the job, is added at invoicing and is not in this sheet.
Calculators that go with this
Frequently asked questions
What overhead and markup should I use?
There is no fixed answer. Take last year's overhead (rent, insurance, office payroll, vehicles) and divide by last year's direct job costs to get an overhead rate. Markup depends on your market and how busy you are. The cells are inputs so you can compare a few.
Where do subcontractors go?
Other direct costs. Keep Labor for your own crew with hours and an hourly rate, and put a subcontractor's quoted amount on an Other direct line so the two stay separate.
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. SUMIFS, ROUND and IF work the same in Google Sheets. You may need to re-create the dropdown.
Is what I type saved anywhere?
No. Everything stays in your browser and nothing is sent to our server. If you refresh the page it is gone, so print, save a PDF or download the DOCX when you are done.