Tradesperson Day Rate Calculator
This tradesperson day rate calculator works out the rate you need to charge from what you want to earn, the days you can actually bill, your overheads and a profit margin, with the hourly equivalent alongside it.
What you want to earn
Your target take-home pay for the year, plus the profit the business should make on top.
Your running costs
Everything it costs to run the business for a year — not the cost of any single job.
Days you can actually bill
Start from the days you work, then take off the days you cannot charge for.
A practical guide, not tax or accounting advice. Figures exclude VAT.
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Leave an honest Google reviewReviews are optional. Please only review based on your genuine experience.A day rate has to cover more than your wage
The rate for a full day has to pay you, cover the cost of running the business and leave a margin — spread across only the days you can actually bill.
It is easy to set a day rate by copying what other trades charge. But if it does not recover your overheads and non-chargeable time, a busy year can still end with little profit.
This calculator works the rate out from your own numbers: what you want to earn, what the business costs to run, and how many days you can realistically charge for.
A rate you can stand behind
Enter four things and the calculator shows the full picture.
How the day rate is built
A solo trade wanting to earn 42,000, with 14,000 of overheads and a 10% margin.
56,000
301
335
41.82
The days you can bill drive the rate
Quoting, travel, admin and training are real work — but you cannot invoice them. The fewer days you can charge for, the higher each one has to be.
A solo trade who bills around 80% of working days needs a very different rate to a labour-only subcontractor who bills nearly every day. Both can be right.
Who is this calculator for?
Sole traders setting a day rate for the first time
Set the rate once, use it on every quote
This calculator sets the rate. FieldHive then keeps that rate on your reusable pricing, so every quote, booking and invoice uses the same figure.
Price the whole job, not just the day
Use these alongside your day rate.
True Labour Cost Calculator
Work out the internal hourly cost behind the rate.
Calculate labour cost →How to Price Painting and Decorating Jobs
Turn your day rate into a room price, with prep and drying counted.
Read the decorating guide →Free tools for the job
Put these numbers to work — free FieldHive tools, no sign-up.
Quote & Estimate Builder
Build a professional quote or estimate — line items, VAT and a valid-until date.
quote at your day rate →True Labour Cost Calculator
Work out what an hour of labour really costs before you price it.
what a day really costs →Video: Price Labour By Site Type
Watch how to price labour for different site types — a clean fit time plus a site uplift for access, occupancy and restrictions.
watch: price labour by site type →Employee Charge-Out Rate Calculator
The rate to bill an employee's time at to hit your target margin.
rate for employed staff →Tradesperson day rate questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most.
Set a day rate that actually pays
Work it out from your own earnings, days and overheads — then keep it consistent on every quote with FieldHive.
