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Framing cost calculator: price the job before you bid

Most framing bids are a number per square foot that "feels right". This calculator works it out from your real costs (crew hours, payroll costs, WCB, nails and hardware, equipment and your overhead), then tells you whether the price on the table makes money.

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What goes into the price

Seven costs every framing bid has to cover

Crew labourWorkers × days × hours per day, at your average wage. Count every hour on site, including setup, cleanup and the half day lost to weather.
Payroll costsEmployer CPP and EI plus 4% vacation pay add roughly 12% on top of wages. Add benefits if you pay them.
WCBFraming pays one of the higher WCB rates. The 2026 Alberta industry rate for framing contractors is $5.37 per $100 of payroll; use the rate on your own premium notice.
Nails, hardware and consumablesOn a labour-only job: nails, hangers, hurricane ties, poly, tape and blades. Add lumber and trusses if you supply them.
Equipment and fuelGenerator and scaffold rentals, truck mileage, disposal and delivery.
Your share of overheadTruck payments, insurance, phones, office and software, spread over the jobs you finish each month.
Waiting to get paidBuilder terms plus a 10% holdback that is usually held 60 days after the work is finished. You carry the crew's wages the whole time.
Worked example

Example: a 2,400 sq ft two-storey house, labour only

4 framers × 9 days × 9 hours = 324 crew hours at $34/hour. Overhead of $12,000 a month over 4 jobs. Target margin 15%.

Crew labour with CPP, EI, vacation pay and WCB$12,929
Labour contingency (10%)$1,293
Materials$600
Equipment, fuel and disposal$900
Share of overhead$3,000
Cost of waiting to be paid$117
Break-even price$18,840
Price for a 15% margin$22,164
Target price per square foot$9.24

These are example numbers to show how the math works, not market prices. Your wages, rates and overhead will be different, so put in your own. WCB uses the 2026 Alberta industry rate for Construction Framing Contractor (42143).

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Questions

Framing pricing questions

How do I price a framing job per square foot?

Add up every cost of the job (labour with payroll costs and WCB, materials you supply, equipment and your share of overhead), add your profit margin, then divide by the house size. Prices per square foot vary a lot by region, house design and whether you supply lumber, so work it out from your own costs instead of copying someone else's rate.

What profit margin should a framing contractor aim for?

That is your call, but know what it covers. If you work on the crew, your wage is already in the labour cost, so even a 0% margin pays you. Many contractors aim for 10 to 20% on top to cover slow months and growth.

Does the calculator include holdback?

Yes. Set the holdback percentage and when it is released, and the cash timeline shows how long you carry costs before you are paid in full.

Is it free?

The job check is free. Proposals, invoices and your logo come with Pro, and new accounts get a 14-day Pro trial with no card needed.

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Check your next framing job before you bid it.

It takes about two minutes. Then turn it into a proposal with your logo and GST number.

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