Measure completed output per labor-hour and crew-day, then calculate your labor cost per unit.
02 / Result
Your working numbers
Units per labor-hour
15.00
units/labor-hour
Units per crew-day (units/crew-day)
480.00
Total paid labor-hours (hours)
160.00
Total labor cost
$5,600.00
Labor cost per unit
$2.33
How the math works
Labor-hours = workers × paid hours per day × days worked. Units per labor-hour = completed quantity ÷ labor-hours. Units per crew-day = quantity ÷ days. Labor cost = labor-hours × loaded hourly cost; cost per unit = labor cost ÷ quantity.
Workforce assumptions
Measured output uses all entered paid hours, including downtime. Zero completed output gives zero productivity; cost per unit is undefined and is not shown. This is a historical crew average, not a guarantee of future production.
Planning estimate only, calculated locally in your browser. Results are averages from your inputs, not an exact schedule or guaranteed finish date. Confirm crew availability, sequencing, and payroll rules before committing to a customer or bid.
Contractor field notes
Measure crew output before planning the next job
Crew productivity relates completed work to the paid person-hours used to produce it. Measure quantity consistently—square feet, linear feet, or pieces—and include the whole crew’s time. This calculator also reports output per crew-day and labor cost per unit, so you can compare similar scopes using actual records.
Output per person-hour, not per elapsed crew hour
Total labor-hours = workers × paid hours per day × days worked. Productivity = quantity ÷ total labor-hours. Daily crew output = quantity ÷ days worked. Total labor cost = labor-hours × loaded hourly cost. Labor cost per unit = total labor cost ÷ completed quantity.
Worked example
A four-person crew completes 2,400 square feet in five eight-hour days. Total labor-hours are 4 × 8 × 5 = 160. Productivity is 2,400 ÷ 160 = 15 square feet per labor-hour; crew output is 480 square feet per day. At a loaded rate of $35 per labor-hour, labor costs $5,600, or $2.33 per square foot.
Common estimating pitfalls
01Do not divide output only by elapsed site hours; include every crew member’s paid hours.
02Compare equivalent work, conditions, and quantity units. This is not a universal productivity benchmark.
03Do not apply another efficiency reduction to a measured rate unless it represents an additional expected loss.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use square feet, linear feet, or pieces?
Yes. Choose one quantity unit for completed output and keep it consistent when using the resulting rate on another job.
What should the hourly cost include?
Use an average loaded cost across the crew, including wages, payroll burden, and benefits. Materials, equipment, overhead, and profit are not included.
What happens if the crew completes no work?
Productivity and daily output are zero. Labor cost is still shown, but labor cost per unit is undefined and is omitted.
