Estimated vs Actual Job Profit Calculator
This job profit calculator compares the profit you expected when the job was quoted with what the job actually produced. See where labour, materials, variations and other costs changed the result.
Original estimate
The figures you based your quote on. First the price you charged, then the costs you expected — all excluding VAT.
Actual job figures
What the finished job really invoiced and cost. First the price invoiced, then your real costs — all excluding VAT.
Variations & adjustments
Optional. Extra work only protects profit when it is approved and billed. A discount reduces revenue after the work is done.
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A job can look profitable when it is priced and still finish below target.
Labour may take longer. Materials may cost more. Plant hire may overrun. Extra work may be completed without a variation being billed.
This calculator compares the original estimate with the completed job and shows exactly where the difference came from.
See where the profit moved
The calculator compares each side, then ranks the main causes of the difference.
A completed job should improve the next quote
Without comparing the estimate with the actual result, the same pricing mistakes can repeat.
A labour allowance may be consistently too low. Material waste may be missed. Site conditions may add time. Variations may not be raised early enough.
The value is not only knowing whether one job made money — it is understanding what to change next time.
See whether the job used more labour than planned
Enter estimated and actual labour hours to see the hours gained or lost, the cost variance and revenue per hour — and whether the issue came from time, rate or both.
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£420
Separate price increases from missed allowances
Material costs can rise because supplier prices changed, more quantity was used, waste increased or items were missed. The calculator shows the total variance and lets you tag the likely reason — it does not claim to know the cause automatically.
Review material cost & margin
Extra work only protects profit when it is recovered
Extra work usually adds cost immediately. Profit is only protected when the variation is approved and billed. The calculator separates:
See the effect after the work is done
A discount or credit reduces final revenue after the labour and materials may already have been spent. The calculator shows how much the adjustment reduced gross profit and margin.
A simple job profit comparison
The same job, priced and then completed.
Although revenue increased by £500, cost increased by £1,400 — so the job made £900 less gross profit than estimated.
Original estimate
Revenue £12,000 · Cost £8,000 · Gross profit £4,000 · Margin 33.3%.
Actual result
Final revenue £12,500 · Cost £9,400 · Gross profit £3,100 · Margin 24.8%.
Who is this calculator for?
Subcontractors reviewing completed fixed-price work
Watch: job costing for trades
Put the hours booked against the hours you quoted and work out which number was wrong - a rate problem or a fit time problem - using one worked example: 16 hours quoted, 18 actual.
Keep the estimate connected to the completed job
That makes it easier to compare what was planned with what actually happened as the business grows — one connected job record from first enquiry to final payment.
Price, check and review the job
Use these across the life of a job.
Trade Job Pricing Calculator
Build the original labour, material and job-cost estimate.
Build the quote →True Labour Cost Calculator
Work out the internal hourly labour cost used in the estimate and review.
Calculate labour cost →Video: Job Costing For Trades
Put the hours booked against the hours quoted and find out which number was wrong.
Watch the video →Free tools for the job
Put these numbers to work — free FieldHive tools, no sign-up.
Job Sheet Generator
Record on-site work and capture a customer sign-off, then export a clean A4 PDF.
record the job →Quote Profit Margin Calculator
Check the gross profit and margin on a job before you send it.
tighten the next quote →Job Variation Pricing Calculator
Price variations and extras fairly when the scope changes.
price a variation →Trade Job Pricing Calculator
Build a job price up from labour and materials.
price the next job better →Timesheet Generator for Trades
Total a worker's week, allocate the hours to a job and see the labour cost.
capture the actual hours →Estimated vs actual job profit questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most.
Learn what the finished job really made
Compare the estimate with the actual result, see where the profit moved, and improve the next quote. FieldHive keeps the whole job connected from enquiry to payment.
