Landscaping Job Costing Calculator
Price landscaping projects right the first time. See your true costs before you hand over a proposal.
👷 Labor
Add one row for each landscaping worker type. Use the actual hours and pay for each person.
Example: 1 apprentice at $20/hr for 3 hours plus 1 journeyman at $40/hr for 1 hour.
Typical: 25-35%. Covers FICA, workers comp, unemployment insurance, PTO.
🔧 Materials
Total cost of parts, supplies, and materials for this landscaping job.
Markup covers your time sourcing, picking up, and storing materials. Typical: 10-25%.
🏢 Overhead
Your monthly fixed costs spread across this landscaping job.
Rent, insurance, marketing, phone, software, vehicle payments, tools. Anything you pay whether or not you're on a job.
🚛 Travel & Setup
Time before and after the actual landscaping work. Most contractors forget this.
Applied at your average hourly pay rate. Includes all workers.
💰 Desired Profit Margin
The percentage of the final price you keep as profit.
What to Charge
$0
Total job price
Adjust the inputs on the left to see your numbers update in real time.
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How to Cost Landscaping Jobs
Landscaping jobs are deceptively hard to price. A planting job that looks straightforward turns into a full day when the soil is clay and the access is tight. Maintenance contracts feel profitable until you realize the crew spends 40 minutes driving between properties.
This calculator makes you account for real crew costs (not just hourly pay), materials with markup, equipment time, and your overhead per job. The number it gives you is what the job costs your company.
Anything you charge above that is margin. Anything below it and you are paying to do the work.
Typical Landscaping Costs
Landscaping projects range from $300 to $5,000+ in hard costs. A basic install (mulch, plants, edging) runs $200 to $600 in materials and a 3 person crew for half a day. Hardscaping like patios and retaining walls jump to $1,500 to $4,000 in materials and 2 to 3 days of labor. Weekly maintenance runs $30 to $80 in crew costs per property.
Target Margins for Landscaping
Landscaping companies should target 30% to 40% on install projects and 40% to 50% on maintenance contracts. Hardscaping margins can hit 35% to 45% when you control material sourcing. If your maintenance margins are below 35%, your routes are inefficient or your per property price is too low.
Tips for Landscaping Job Costing
- Drive time between job sites is unbilled labor. Optimize routes and you can save 3 to 5 hours per crew per week.
- Plant material markup of 20% to 30% is standard. You selected it, transported it, and guaranteed it. Charge for that.
- Track time per property on maintenance contracts. If a "30 minute lawn" consistently takes 45 minutes, your pricing is wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a landscaper charge per hour?
Most landscaping companies charge $50 to $100 per crew hour for maintenance and $60 to $150 per crew hour for install work. To calculate your rate, take your fully burdened crew cost ($18 to $25/hr per worker with burden, times crew size) and multiply by 2x to 3x. A 3 person crew costing $70/hr should bill at $140 to $210/hr to cover overhead and profit.
What is a good profit margin for landscaping companies?
Landscaping companies should target 30% to 40% on install projects and 40% to 50% on maintenance contracts. Hardscaping margins can hit 35% to 45% when you control material sourcing. If your maintenance margins are below 35%, your routes are inefficient or your per property price is too low.
How do you price landscaping jobs?
Calculate the actual time per job (including travel), multiply by fully burdened crew cost, add material costs with 20% to 30% markup, equipment rental, and overhead. Then add your target margin. For example, a planting job with a 3 person crew for 5 hours at $70/hr burdened, plus $400 in materials, costs roughly $750. At 35% margin, price at $1,154.
How do you calculate labor cost for landscaping?
Multiply each crew member hourly pay by hours on site, then add labor burden (workers comp, payroll taxes, benefits) at 15% to 22%. A 3 person crew at $18/hr with 18% burden costs $63.72/hr total. On a 5 hour job, that is $319 in crew labor alone before materials, equipment, or overhead.
How do you calculate overhead for a landscaping business?
Total all fixed monthly costs: vehicle payments, fuel, equipment maintenance, insurance, storage yard rent, and office expenses. Most landscaping companies carry $4,000 to $15,000/month in overhead. Divide by monthly job count. A company running 30 jobs per month with $9,000 overhead needs $300 per job in overhead recovery.
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