Free pricing guide
How Much to Charge as a Carpenter
Most carpenters lose money on the parts of a job they forget to price, not on their hourly rate. Work the whole job through below, then send it as a quote.
Field estimate workbench
Price the job before you invoice it.
Build a practical estimate from labor, materials, and other costs. Your draft stays in this browser until you choose to create an invoice.
Keep client names and contact details out of this browser-only draft.
Cost ledger
Labor, materials, and other costs
Add at least one described line with a value greater than $0.
Tax treatment varies by location and job type.
Grand total must be greater than $0.
What drives the price on carpentry
- Labor, usually by the day for anything beyond a small repair
- Lumber and sheet goods, priced with a waste allowance
- Hardware, fasteners, and finishes
- Shop time for anything built rather than installed
Jobs carpenters price most often
- Build closets or built-in storage
- Hang doors and install trim
- Build a deck
- Install kitchen cabinets
- Framing and finish work on an addition
Pricing tips for carpenters
- Add a waste factor to lumber and sheet goods, and show it, rather than absorbing every bad board and offcut.
- Price shop time separately from install time for custom work. Building it and fitting it are different jobs.
- Use a day rate for open-ended trim and finish work, and a fixed price only when the scope is drawn and measured.
- Put finish selections, such as stain color, paint-grade or stain-grade, and hardware, on the quote so changes become change orders.
Licensing and permits for carpenters
Carpenters usually fall under general or residential contractor licensing once a job passes the state's size limit, and decks, stairs, and structural work generally need a permit. Check your state contractor board and local building department.
General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and city.
Guides for carpenters
Turn the number into a quote
ForgeBill takes the same figures straight through to a quote, a work order with photos and sign-off, and an invoice you can get paid on.
No credit card required. Free plan includes 3 sent invoices or quotes a month. Pro is $19.99/month or $199.99/year.
Need a client-ready price first? Free Carpentry Estimate Generator or use the free carpenter invoice template