Framing labour calculator
Walls laid out, plated, studded and stood, by the running foot of wall.
Framing
Walls laid out, plated, studded and stood, by the running foot of wall.
Default 8 linear feet an hour, or $9 a foot. Tall walls and headers add hours fast. Price excludes sales tax.
$2,266
$14.16 / linear ftPrice excludes sales tax.
How this calculator prices a job
Walls laid out, plated, studded and stood, by the running foot of wall. Tall walls and headers add hours faster than length does.
The formula
hours = quantity ÷ production rate base = hours × labour rate (or quantity × per-unit rate) burden = base × burden % cost = base + burden price = cost ÷ (1 − margin)
Assumptions and defaults
| Production | 8 linear ft/hr |
| Per-unit rate | $9 per linear ft |
| Labour rate | $65/hr default |
| Payroll burden | 22% of base labour |
| Crew | 3 people, eight-hour days |
| Target margin | 30% |
Pro tips
Nine-foot and ten-foot walls are not proportionally slower — they are slower than that, because everything gets harder to handle.
Headers, corners and tees are where the hours go. Count them off the plan rather than trusting a per-foot average.
Burden is not optional. Payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability and paid time run 20 to 35 per cent on top of the wage you quote — a crew at $65 an hour costs you nearer $80 before a single overhead dollar.
Margin divides, it does not multiply. A 30 per cent margin on $1,000 of cost is $1,429, not $1,300 — the second number is a 30 per cent markup and only a 23 per cent margin.
Common questions
What is a typical framing labour rate?
About $9 a running foot of wall, or 8 linear feet an hour at crew rates with burden.
Does wall height change the rate?
Yes, more than people expect. A 10 ft wall is heavier to stand and slower to sheathe — drop the production rate rather than adding a percentage at the end.
How do I price labour to hit a target margin?
Divide, never multiply: price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). An all-in labour cost of $2,000 at a 30 per cent margin is $2,857. Multiplying by 1.30 gives $2,600, which is only a 23 per cent margin.
What is payroll burden?
Everything you pay on top of the wage: payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability insurance, holiday and any benefits. Twenty-two per cent is a reasonable starting point for a small crew — check yours against last year's numbers and change the field.
Does this include materials?
No. This tool prices labour only, so the number stays honest when material prices move. Work the quantities out in the material calculator and add them as their own line.