Reference data
Labor rates and hours by trade
BLS wages by trade, the billing multiple on top, and the hours per square foot, foot or fixture behind every labour figure here.
Drafted with AI assistance, edited by Pablo Ruiz Quintero
Published 2026-10-05
How much do contractors charge per hour, and how long does each job take?
Every labour figure on this site is two numbers multiplied. The first is measured: the trade’s hourly wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 occupational survey, median with the 10th and 90th percentiles. The second is ours: a billing multiple of 3.0 for a service visit and 2.2 for a crew on a production job, covering payroll taxes, insurance, the van, unbilled hours, overhead and profit. Both are below, so you can see which half is data and which is judgement.
| Trade (BLS occupation) | Median wage | Service visit | Crew hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters · 47-2031 | $29.12 | $87 ($58–$144) | $64 ($43–$106) |
| Electricians · 47-2111 | $30.38 | $91 ($62–$157) | $67 ($45–$115) |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters · 47-2152 | $30.67 | $92 ($64–$156) | $67 ($47–$115) |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers · 49-9021 | $29.33 | $88 ($58–$137) | $65 ($42–$101) |
| Painters, construction and maintenance · 47-2141 | $23.75 | $71 ($54–$114) | $52 ($40–$83) |
| Roofers · 47-2181 | $26.65 | $80 ($54–$118) | $59 ($40–$86) |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers · 47-2051 | $27.41 | $82 ($57–$123) | $60 ($41–$90) |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons · 47-2021 | $29.87 | $90 ($65–$144) | $66 ($47–$106) |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers · 47-2081 | $28.33 | $85 ($55–$147) | $62 ($41–$108) |
| Tile and stone setters · 47-2044 | $26.77 | $80 ($54–$124) | $59 ($39–$91) |
| Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles · 47-2042 | $27.15 | $81 ($54–$139) | $60 ($40–$102) |
| Carpet installers · 47-2041 | $24.20 | $73 ($51–$118) | $53 ($38–$87) |
| Construction laborers · 47-2061 | $22.66 | $68 ($51–$113) | $50 ($37–$83) |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers · 37-3011 | $18.82 | $56 ($45–$82) | $41 ($33–$60) |
| Tree trimmers and pruners · 37-3013 | $24.50 | $74 ($55–$116) | $54 ($40–$85) |
| Glaziers · 47-2121 | $27.44 | $82 ($54–$130) | $60 ($39–$95) |
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall · 47-2131 | $23.62 | $71 ($53–$113) | $52 ($39–$83) |
| Sheet metal workers · 47-2211 | $29.71 | $89 ($56–$152) | $65 ($41–$112) |
| Fence erectors · 47-4031 | $23.07 | $69 ($52–$101) | $51 ($38–$74) |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general · 49-9071 | $23.84 | $72 ($51–$111) | $52 ($37–$82) |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners · 37-2011 | $17.71 | $53 ($41–$73) | $39 ($30–$53) |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners · 37-2012 | $17.07 | $51 ($40–$70) | $38 ($29–$51) |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators · 47-2073 | $28.78 | $86 ($61–$146) | $63 ($45–$107) |
| Plasterers and stucco masons · 47-2161 | $27.72 | $83 ($57–$140) | $61 ($42–$102) |
The hours behind each job
A price per square foot of labour is hours per square foot times the hourly rate. The hours are our estimates — there is no free, authoritative table of production rates — and they are published here, task by task, so a tradesperson can tell us where they are wrong. Each row is read from the calculator that uses it; nothing is typed twice.
Floors
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate · per sq ft | Floor layers | 18.8 sq ft an hour | $3.20 ($2.13–$5.44) |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) · per sq ft | Floor layers | 17.2 sq ft an hour | $3.50 ($2.33–$5.95) |
| Engineered wood · per sq ft | Floor layers | 13.0 sq ft an hour | $4.60 ($3.07–$7.82) |
| Solid hardwood · per sq ft | Floor layers | 9.2 sq ft an hour | $6.50 ($4.33–$11.05) |
| Hardwood, nail down, cleats · per sq ft | Floor layers | 10.9 sq ft an hour | $5.50 ($3.67–$9.35) |
| Hardwood, staple down · per sq ft | Floor layers | 12.0 sq ft an hour | $5.00 ($3.33–$8.50) |
| Hardwood, glue down · per sq ft | Floor layers | 8.0 sq ft an hour | $7.50 ($5.00–$12.75) |
| Hardwood, floating, click or glued edge · per sq ft | Floor layers | 15.0 sq ft an hour | $4.00 ($2.67–$6.80) |
| Carpet, installed · per sq ft | Carpet installers | 39 sq ft an hour | $1.35 ($0.97–$2.22) |
| Carpet on stairs · per step | Carpet installers | 2.4 step an hour | $22.00 ($15.77–$36.11) |
| Old carpet taken up · per sq ft | Carpet installers | 76 sq ft an hour | $0.70 ($0.50–$1.15) |
| Carpet removal, stretched-in over pad · per sq ft | Carpet installers | 88 sq ft an hour | $0.60 ($0.43–$0.98) |
| Carpet removal, glued direct to the floor · per sq ft | Carpet installers | 31 sq ft an hour | $1.70 ($1.22–$2.79) |
| Carpet removal, glued over a glued pad · per sq ft | Carpet installers | 25 sq ft an hour | $2.10 ($1.50–$3.45) |
| Carpet removal, carpet tiles · per sq ft | Carpet installers | 76 sq ft an hour | $0.70 ($0.50–$1.15) |
| Tile, floor · per sq ft | Tile and stone setters | 6.6 sq ft an hour | $9.00 ($5.95–$13.88) |
| Tile, wall · per sq ft | Tile and stone setters | 4.9 sq ft an hour | $12.00 ($7.93–$18.51) |
| Tile, shower walls · per sq ft | Tile and stone setters | 4.1 sq ft an hour | $14.50 ($9.59–$22.37) |
| Floor sanding, three grits · per sq ft | Floor layers | 21 sq ft an hour | $2.90 ($1.93–$4.93) |
| Floor finish coats · per sq ft | Floor layers | 35 sq ft an hour | $1.70 ($1.13–$2.89) |
| Subfloor, new panel · per sq ft | Carpenters | 16.0 sq ft an hour | $4.00 ($2.69–$6.63) |
| Subfloor, cut out · per sq ft | Carpenters | 37 sq ft an hour | $1.75 ($1.17–$2.89) |
| Epoxy coating, applied · per sq ft | Painters | 25 sq ft an hour | $2.10 ($1.62–$3.35) |
| Floor heating, electric mat under tile or stone · per sq ft | Electricians | 13.4 sq ft an hour | $5.00 ($3.36–$8.58) |
| Floor heating, electric film under a floating floor · per sq ft | Electricians | 27 sq ft an hour | $2.50 ($1.68–$4.29) |
| Floor heating, hydronic tubing in a new slab · per sq ft | Plumbers | 16.8 sq ft an hour | $4.00 ($2.81–$6.87) |
| Floor heating, hydronic · per sq ft | Plumbers | 11.2 sq ft an hour | $6.00 ($4.21–$10.30) |
| Floor heating, hydronic · per sq ft | Plumbers | 9.6 sq ft an hour | $7.00 ($4.91–$12.02) |
Walls and ceilings
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall, hang · per sq ft | Drywall and ceiling tile installers | 88 sq ft an hour | $0.70 ($0.46–$1.22) |
| Drywall, tape and finish · per sq ft | Drywall and ceiling tile installers | 59 sq ft an hour | $1.05 ($0.69–$1.83) |
| Interior painting · per sq ft | Painters | 27 sq ft an hour | $1.90 ($1.46–$3.03) |
| Interior painting, walls (whole house) · per sq ft | Painters | 50 sq ft an hour | $1.05 ($0.81–$1.68) |
| Interior painting, ceilings · per sq ft | Painters | 55 sq ft an hour | $0.95 ($0.73–$1.52) |
| Interior painting, trim · per ft | Painters | 35 ft an hour | $1.50 ($1.15–$2.39) |
| Interior painting, a door · per door | Painters | 0.77 h per door | $40.00 ($30.77–$63.84) |
| Interior painting, room set-up · per room | Painters | 1.15 h per room | $60.00 ($46.15–$95.77) |
| Wall prep, sound · per sq ft | Painters | 526 sq ft an hour | $0.10 ($0.08–$0.16) |
| Wall prep, patching · per sq ft | Painters | 149 sq ft an hour | $0.35 ($0.27–$0.56) |
| Wall prep, heavy · per sq ft | Painters | 55 sq ft an hour | $0.95 ($0.73–$1.52) |
| Wallpaper, each strip hung · per strip | Painters | 0.50 h per strip | $26.00 ($20.00–$41.50) |
| Wallpaper, per foot of strip · per ft | Painters | 26 ft an hour | $2.00 ($1.54–$3.20) |
| Wallpaper, stripping the old · per sq ft | Painters | 29 sq ft an hour | $1.80 ($1.38–$2.87) |
| Skim coat after popcorn · per sq ft | Drywall and ceiling tile installers | 65 sq ft an hour | $0.95 ($0.63–$1.65) |
| Drywall repair, nail pops and dings · per repair | Drywall and ceiling tile installers, visit | 6.1 repair an hour | $14.00 ($9.06–$24.21) |
| Drywall repair, small hole · per repair | Drywall and ceiling tile installers, visit | 0.71 h per repair | $60.00 ($38.82–$104) |
| Drywall repair, medium hole · per repair | Drywall and ceiling tile installers, visit | 1.35 h per repair | $115 ($74.41–$199) |
| Drywall repair, large hole or section · per repair | Drywall and ceiling tile installers, visit | 2.47 h per repair | $210 ($136–$363) |
| Drywall repair, water damage · per sq ft | Drywall and ceiling tile installers, visit | 11.3 sq ft an hour | $7.50 ($4.85–$12.97) |
| Baseboard, installed · per ft | Carpenters | 16.8 ft an hour | $3.80 ($2.55–$6.30) |
| Baseboard, old removed · per ft | Carpenters | 61 ft an hour | $1.05 ($0.71–$1.74) |
| Baseboard, caulked and painted · per ft | Painters | 27 ft an hour | $1.90 ($1.46–$3.03) |
| Baseboard, coped inside corner · per corner | Carpenters | 9.1 corner an hour | $7.00 ($4.70–$11.60) |
| Crown moulding, installed · per ft | Carpenters | 7.8 ft an hour | $8.20 ($5.51–$13.58) |
| Crown moulding, blocking behind · per ft | Carpenters | 25 ft an hour | $2.60 ($1.75–$4.30) |
| Crown moulding, coped inside corner · per corner | Carpenters | 5.3 corner an hour | $12.00 ($8.06–$19.88) |
| Crown moulding, outside corner · per corner | Carpenters | 4.0 corner an hour | $16.00 ($10.75–$26.50) |
| Insulation, blown fibreglass · per sq ft | Insulation workers | 87 sq ft an hour | $0.60 ($0.45–$0.95) |
| Insulation, blown cellulose · per sq ft | Insulation workers | 80 sq ft an hour | $0.65 ($0.49–$1.04) |
| Insulation, fibreglass batts · per sq ft | Insulation workers | 94 sq ft an hour | $0.55 ($0.41–$0.88) |
| Insulation, mineral wool batts · per sq ft | Insulation workers | 84 sq ft an hour | $0.62 ($0.46–$0.99) |
| Stucco, hairline cracks · per ft | Plasterers and stucco masons, visit | 24 ft an hour | $3.50 ($2.41–$5.91) |
| Stucco, wider cracks · per ft | Plasterers and stucco masons, visit | 9.2 ft an hour | $9.00 ($6.18–$15.18) |
| Stucco, damaged patch · per sq ft | Plasterers and stucco masons, visit | 3.5 sq ft an hour | $24.00 ($16.48–$40.49) |
| Stucco, soft or bulging · per sq ft | Plasterers and stucco masons, visit | 2.3 sq ft an hour | $36.00 ($24.72–$60.72) |
| Stucco, re-stucco a whole wall · per sq ft | Plasterers and stucco masons, visit | 12.8 sq ft an hour | $6.50 ($4.46–$10.96) |
Kitchens and bathrooms
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet box, hung and joined · per cabinet | Carpenters | 1.44 h per cabinet | $92.00 ($61.81–$152) |
| Cabinet box, old removed · per cabinet | Carpenters | 2.5 cabinet an hour | $26.00 ($17.47–$43.06) |
| Cabinet crown · per ft | Carpenters | 5.8 ft an hour | $11.00 ($7.39–$18.22) |
| Refacing, a door · per door | Carpenters | 0.81 h per door | $52.00 ($34.94–$86.13) |
| Refacing, a drawer front · per drawer front | Carpenters | 0.59 h per drawer front | $38.00 ($25.53–$62.94) |
| Refacing, veneer on the boxes · per sq ft | Carpenters | 7.1 sq ft an hour | $9.00 ($6.05–$14.90) |
| Cabinet painting, old holes filled · per door | Painters | 7.4 door an hour | $7.00 ($5.38–$11.17) |
| Vanity, old one out · per job | Plumbers, visit | 1.79 h per job | $165 ($115–$280) |
| Vanity, set and fixed · per job | Plumbers, visit | 3.48 h per job | $320 ($223–$543) |
| Vanity, plumbing connected · per job | Plumbers, visit | 2.23 h per job | $205 ($143–$348) |
| Vanity, drain and supplies moved · per job | Plumbers, visit | 7.50 h per job | $690 ($480–$1,170) |
| Toilet, old out and new set · per toilet | Plumbers, visit | 2.88 h per toilet | $265 ($184–$449) |
| Bathtub, installed · per tub | Plumbers, visit | 8.26 h per tub | $760 ($529–$1,289) |
| Bathtub, set in a mortar bed · per tub | Plumbers, visit | 2.50 h per tub | $230 ($160–$390) |
| Walk-in tub, installed · per tub | Plumbers | 37.31 h per tub | $2,500 ($1,754–$4,291) |
| Shower valve and plumbing · per job | Plumbers, visit | 6.30 h per job | $580 ($403–$983) |
| Shower drain moved · per job | Plumbers, visit | 7.50 h per job | $690 ($480–$1,170) |
| Shower door, framed · per door | Glaziers, visit | 3.17 h per door | $260 ($171–$412) |
| Shower door, frameless · per door | Glaziers, visit | 8.29 h per door | $680 ($448–$1,078) |
Outside the house
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siding, vinyl · per square | Carpenters | 4.69 h per square | $300 ($202–$497) |
| Siding, fiber cement (hardie) · per square | Carpenters | 9.06 h per square | $580 ($390–$961) |
| Siding, engineered wood · per square | Carpenters | 7.03 h per square | $450 ($302–$745) |
| Siding, aluminium · per square | Carpenters | 5.47 h per square | $350 ($235–$580) |
| Exterior painting, a coat · per sq ft | Painters | 94 sq ft an hour | $0.55 ($0.42–$0.88) |
| Exterior trim painting · per ft | Painters | 20.0 ft an hour | $2.60 ($2.00–$4.15) |
| Metal roof, corrugated, exposed fastener · per sq ft | Roofers | 16.4 sq ft an hour | $3.60 ($2.44–$5.25) |
| Metal roof, ribbed / r-panel, exposed fastener · per sq ft | Roofers | 15.1 sq ft an hour | $3.90 ($2.64–$5.68) |
| Metal roof, standing seam, snap-lock · per sq ft | Roofers | 7.9 sq ft an hour | $7.50 ($5.08–$10.93) |
| Metal roof, standing seam, mechanically seamed · per sq ft | Roofers | 6.2 sq ft an hour | $9.50 ($6.44–$13.85) |
| Shingle tear-off, one layer · per square | Roofers | 1.05 h per square | $62.00 ($42.03–$90.37) |
| Window, insert / retrofit · per united inch | Carpenters | 30 united inch an hour | $2.10 ($1.41–$3.48) |
| Window, full frame · per united inch | Carpenters | 16.0 united inch an hour | $4.00 ($2.69–$6.63) |
| Exterior prep, sound · per sq ft | Painters | 87 sq ft an hour | $0.60 ($0.46–$0.95) |
| Exterior prep, peeling in places · per sq ft | Painters | 35 sq ft an hour | $1.50 ($1.15–$2.39) |
| Exterior prep, failing · per sq ft | Painters | 17.9 sq ft an hour | $2.90 ($2.23–$4.63) |
| Fascia board, painted · per ft | Painters | 40 ft an hour | $1.30 ($1.00–$2.08) |
| Soffit, painted · per sq ft | Painters | 35 sq ft an hour | $1.50 ($1.15–$2.39) |
| Gutter taken down and rehung · per ft | Roofers | 29 ft an hour | $2.00 ($1.36–$2.92) |
| Old gutter removed · per ft | Roofers | 33 ft an hour | $1.80 ($1.22–$2.62) |
| Gutter guard, foam inserts · per ft | Roofers | 39 ft an hour | $1.50 ($1.02–$2.18) |
| Gutter guard, brush inserts · per ft | Roofers | 39 ft an hour | $1.50 ($1.02–$2.18) |
| Gutter guard, snap-in screens · per ft | Roofers | 24 ft an hour | $2.50 ($1.70–$3.65) |
| Gutter guard, aluminium mesh · per ft | Roofers | 14.7 ft an hour | $4.00 ($2.71–$5.83) |
| Gutter guard, stainless micro-mesh · per ft | Roofers | 5.9 ft an hour | $10.00 ($6.78–$14.58) |
| Gutter guard, reverse-curve hood · per ft | Roofers | 5.4 ft an hour | $11.00 ($7.46–$16.03) |
| Glass unit, vinyl or aluminium sash · per pane | Glaziers, visit | 0.98 h per pane | $80.00 ($52.68–$127) |
| Glass unit, wood sash · per pane | Glaziers, visit | 1.22 h per pane | $100 ($65.85–$159) |
| Glass unit, sliding patio door panel · per pane | Glaziers, visit | 2.68 h per pane | $220 ($145–$349) |
| Window screen, rescreened · per screen | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 3.3 screen an hour | $22.00 ($15.59–$33.92) |
| Sliding screen door, rescreened, fitted · per door | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 2.4 door an hour | $30.00 ($21.25–$46.25) |
| Sliding screen door, new, fitted · per door | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 1.04 h per door | $75.00 ($53.13–$116) |
| Hinged screen door, fitted · per door | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 2.50 h per door | $180 ($128–$278) |
| Retractable screen door, fitted · per door | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 2.08 h per door | $150 ($106–$231) |
| Interior shutters, hung · per window | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 0.90 h per window | $65.00 ($46.04–$100) |
| Exterior shutters, fixed · per pair | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 0.76 h per pair | $55.00 ($38.96–$84.79) |
| Blind, hung · per blind | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 2.1 blind an hour | $35.00 ($24.79–$53.96) |
| Blind across a patio door · per blind | Maintenance and repair workers, visit | 0.83 h per blind | $60.00 ($42.50–$92.50) |
| Egress window, set in the new opening · per window | Carpenters | 3.91 h per window | $250 ($168–$414) |
Yard and structure
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck framing · per sq ft | Carpenters | 6.4 sq ft an hour | $10.00 ($6.72–$16.56) |
| Decking boards · per sq ft | Carpenters | 8.0 sq ft an hour | $8.00 ($5.38–$13.25) |
| Deck railing · per ft | Carpenters | 2.5 ft an hour | $26.00 ($17.47–$43.06) |
| Deck stairs · per step | Carpenters | 1.33 h per step | $85.00 ($57.11–$141) |
| Fence, wood privacy — pressure treated · per ft | Fence erectors | 2.7 ft an hour | $19.00 ($14.16–$27.57) |
| Fence, wood privacy — cedar · per ft | Fence erectors | 2.7 ft an hour | $19.00 ($14.16–$27.57) |
| Fence, wood picket — spaced · per ft | Fence erectors | 3.2 ft an hour | $16.00 ($11.92–$23.21) |
| Fence, vinyl · per ft | Fence erectors | 2.7 ft an hour | $19.00 ($14.16–$27.57) |
| Fence, chain link · per ft | Fence erectors | 3.9 ft an hour | $13.00 ($9.69–$18.86) |
| Fence, aluminium / ornamental · per ft | Fence erectors | 2.3 ft an hour | $22.00 ($16.39–$31.92) |
| Pavers, laid on base · per sq ft | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 4.4 sq ft an hour | $15.00 ($10.68–$24.09) |
| Retaining wall, segmental block, 12 × 4 in · per sq ft of face | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 2.2 sq ft of face an hour | $30.00 ($21.36–$48.18) |
| Retaining wall, large segmental block, 18 × 6 in · per sq ft of face | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 2.5 sq ft of face an hour | $26.00 ($18.51–$41.75) |
| Retaining wall, poured concrete · per sq ft of face | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 0.57 h per sq ft of face | $34.00 ($23.23–$51.00) |
| Retaining wall, concrete block (cmu), reinforced · per sq ft of face | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 2.4 sq ft of face an hour | $27.00 ($19.23–$43.36) |
| Retaining wall, treated timber, 6 × 6 · per sq ft of face | Construction laborers | 3.1 sq ft of face an hour | $16.00 ($11.84–$26.56) |
| Retaining wall, natural stone, dry-stacked · per sq ft of face | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 0.68 h per sq ft of face | $45.00 ($32.04–$72.27) |
| Concrete block, laid · per block | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 8.3 block an hour | $8.00 ($5.70–$12.85) |
| Block wall footing · per ft | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 5.0 ft an hour | $12.00 ($8.20–$18.00) |
| Drain, yard or curtain drain · per ft | Construction laborers | 2.5 ft an hour | $20.00 ($14.80–$33.20) |
| Drain, exterior footing drain · per ft | Construction laborers | 1.80 h per ft | $90.00 ($66.60–$149) |
| Drain, interior basement drain tile · per ft | Construction laborers | 1.40 h per ft | $70.00 ($51.80–$116) |
| Asphalt, laid and rolled · per sq yd per inch | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 11.7 sq yd per inch an hour | $5.40 ($3.86–$9.17) |
| Asphalt, base course · per sq yd | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 9.0 sq yd an hour | $7.00 ($5.00–$11.89) |
| Concrete slab, formed and poured · per sq ft | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 11.1 sq ft an hour | $5.40 ($3.69–$8.10) |
| Concrete slab, finished · per sq ft | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 29 sq ft an hour | $2.10 ($1.44–$3.15) |
| Concrete slab, dug out · per sq ft | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 33 sq ft an hour | $1.90 ($1.36–$3.23) |
| Sidewalk, dug to grade · per sq ft | Construction laborers | 45 sq ft an hour | $1.10 ($0.81–$1.83) |
| Sidewalk, placed and finished · per sq ft | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 18.8 sq ft an hour | $3.20 ($2.19–$4.80) |
| Flagstone, dry-laid on compacted base · per sq ft | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 3.7 sq ft an hour | $18.00 ($12.82–$28.91) |
| Flagstone, mortared on a concrete slab · per sq ft | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 2.1 sq ft an hour | $31.00 ($22.08–$49.79) |
| Flagstone, mortared on a slab you already have · per sq ft | Brickmasons and blockmasons | 2.5 sq ft an hour | $26.00 ($18.51–$41.75) |
| Snow melt, electric mats in a new slab · per sq ft | Electricians | 11.2 sq ft an hour | $6.00 ($4.03–$10.30) |
| Snow melt, hydronic tubing in a new slab · per sq ft | Plumbers | 11.2 sq ft an hour | $6.00 ($4.21–$10.30) |
| Snow melt, electric cable saw-cut into existing concrete · per sq ft | Electricians | 5.2 sq ft an hour | $13.00 ($8.73–$22.31) |
| Ramp, pressure-treated timber · per sq ft | Carpenters | 2.1 sq ft an hour | $30.00 ($20.16–$49.69) |
| Ramp, modular aluminium · per sq ft | Construction laborers | 5.0 sq ft an hour | $10.00 ($7.40–$16.60) |
| Ramp, poured concrete · per sq ft | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 2.1 sq ft an hour | $28.00 ($19.13–$42.00) |
| Ramp handrail, pressure-treated timber · per ft | Carpenters | 2.1 ft an hour | $30.00 ($20.16–$49.69) |
| Ramp handrail, poured concrete · per ft | Carpenters | 0.75 h per ft | $48.00 ($32.25–$79.50) |
| Stairs, interior, finished · per step | Carpenters | 2.50 h per step | $160 ($108–$265) |
| Stairs, exterior · per step | Carpenters | 1.48 h per step | $95.00 ($63.83–$157) |
| Stair railing · per ft | Carpenters | 1.02 h per ft | $65.00 ($43.67–$108) |
| Chain link, fabric and rails · per ft | Fence erectors | 4.4 ft an hour | $11.50 ($8.57–$16.69) |
| Chain link, gate hung · per gate | Fence erectors | 1.86 h per gate | $95.00 ($70.78–$138) |
| Chain link, old fence removed · per ft | Fence erectors | 11.3 ft an hour | $4.50 ($3.35–$6.53) |
| Shed kit, assembled · per sq ft | Carpenters | 12.8 sq ft an hour | $5.00 ($3.36–$8.28) |
| Shed, framed on site · per sq ft | Carpenters | 3.6 sq ft an hour | $18.00 ($12.09–$29.81) |
| Shed siding, painted · per sq ft | Painters | 43 sq ft an hour | $1.20 ($0.92–$1.92) |
| Lawn, ground prepared · per sq ft | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 68 sq ft an hour | $0.60 ($0.48–$0.88) |
| Sod, laid · per sq ft | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 58 sq ft an hour | $0.70 ($0.56–$1.03) |
| Seed, sown · per sq ft | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 204 sq ft an hour | $0.20 ($0.16–$0.29) |
| Artificial turf, laid on base · per sq ft | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 5.9 sq ft an hour | $7.00 ($5.63–$10.24) |
| Mulch, spread · per cu yd | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 1.17 h per cu yd | $48.00 ($38.63–$70.24) |
| Sprinkler head, fitted · per head | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 3.4 head an hour | $12.00 ($9.66–$17.56) |
| Sprinkler zone, valve and wiring · per zone | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 2.32 h per zone | $95.00 ($76.46–$139) |
| Backflow preventer, installed · per job | Plumbers, visit | 2.28 h per job | $210 ($146–$356) |
| Crawl space vapour barrier · per sq ft | Insulation workers | 58 sq ft an hour | $0.90 ($0.67–$1.44) |
| Pool liner, old out and new hung · per pool | Construction laborers | 25.00 h per pool | $1,250 ($925–$2,075) |
| Pool pump, direct swap · per pump | Plumbers, visit | 3.37 h per pump | $310 ($216–$526) |
| Pool heater, direct swap · per heater | Plumbers, visit | 8.48 h per heater | $780 ($543–$1,323) |
| Pool heater, first install · per heater | Plumbers, visit | 16.85 h per heater | $1,550 ($1,078–$2,628) |
Heating and cooling
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini split, wall head · per head | Heating, visit | 9.66 h per head | $850 ($560–$1,323) |
| Mini split, floor console · per head | Heating, visit | 10.23 h per head | $900 ($593–$1,401) |
| Mini split, ceiling cassette · per head | Heating, visit | 15.91 h per head | $1,400 ($923–$2,180) |
| Mini split, concealed ducted head · per head | Heating, visit | 19.32 h per head | $1,700 ($1,120–$2,647) |
| Mini split, vacuum, charge and start-up · per system | Heating, visit | 7.95 h per system | $700 ($461–$1,090) |
| Humidifier, bypass · per job | Heating, visit | 4.55 h per job | $400 ($264–$623) |
| Humidifier, fan-powered · per job | Heating, visit | 5.11 h per job | $450 ($297–$701) |
| Humidifier, steam · per job | Heating, visit | 7.95 h per job | $700 ($461–$1,090) |
| Dehumidifier, ducted in · per job | Heating, visit | 10.23 h per job | $900 ($593–$1,401) |
| Dehumidifier, standalone · per job | Heating, visit | 2.95 h per job | $260 ($171–$405) |
Electrical
| Task | Trade | Hours / pace | Labour per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recessed light, open ceiling (new construction) · per fixture | Electricians, visit | 1.04 h per fixture | $95.00 ($64.73–$164) |
| Recessed light, finished ceiling (remodel) · per fixture | Electricians, visit | 1.81 h per fixture | $165 ($112–$285) |
| Dimmer, fitted · per switch | Electricians, visit | 0.88 h per switch | $80.00 ($54.50–$138) |
| GFCI outlet, fitted · per outlet | Electricians, visit | 2.0 outlet an hour | $45.00 ($30.66–$77.64) |
| GFCI breaker, swapped in · per breaker | Electricians, visit | 0.77 h per breaker | $70.00 ($47.69–$121) |
| Main breaker, swapped with the meter pulled · per job | Electricians, visit | 4.40 h per job | $400 ($273–$690) |
What this does not include
These are labour rates and paces, not quotes. A real job adds a trip charge or a minimum, materials, disposal and, for most of the trades above, a regional adjustment — the regional price index applied to the labour half only. The calculators add all of that; this table is the part of them you can check against your own experience.
Send this to whoever is paying
The link carries your measurements, so whoever opens it sees the same numbers you are looking at — and you can come back to it yourself tomorrow with the delivery note in front of you.
Plain links, no tracking scripts. Nothing here reports back that you shared it.
About the author
Pablo Ruiz Quintero — Editor
Editor of MaterialsEstimator. Decides which documents count as a source, what every default value is, and where the line sits between what the reader parses and what the engines compute.
More about how this site is edited