Carpentry Cost Calculator

US rates range $35–$100/hr depending on region and specialty. General framing: $45–$75/hr. Finish/trim: $55–$85/hr. Cabinet makers: $75–$120/hr. These are for skilled journeymen; master carpenters and union rates may be higher.

General contractors typically mark up labor and materials by 10–20%. Specialty subcontractors charge 15–25%. Markup covers overhead, liability insurance, warranty, and profit. Get itemized quotes to understand where markup is applied.

Framing: 5–8%. Trim and molding: 10–15%. Hardwood flooring: 10–15% straight, 15–20% diagonal. Roofing: 10–15%. Decking: 10–15%. Add 5% for complex rooms with many corners or cuts.

Cost per sq ft = total project cost / area in sq ft. It includes materials, labor, waste, tax, and markup. National averages: framing $8–$15/sq ft, hardwood flooring $8–$15/sq ft installed, decking $15–$35/sq ft, cabinetry $150–$500/linear ft.

Square foot pricing works best for straightforward installations (flooring, sheathing). Hourly pricing is better for complex or custom work (cabinetry, trim, custom framing) where time is hard to estimate from area alone.

Markup is applied to cost to set the selling price: Price = Cost × (1 + markup%). Profit margin = Profit / Revenue. A 20% markup produces a 16.7% profit margin. A 25% markup = 20% margin. These are different calculations — contractors typically quote markup, not margin.