Turn direct cost into a bid.
See every markup dollar.
Compare additive and sequential markup methods without uploading project data. Enter direct cost, overhead, profit, contingency, and any other markup to see the selling price and implied gross margin.
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Transparent bid arithmetic
Construction bid markup calculator
Additive markup applies every percentage to direct cost. Sequential markup compounds each percentage on the running subtotal. Neither method determines what your rates should be.
Calculated result
- Direct cost
- $35,547.77
- Effective markup
- 22.00%
- Markup amount
- $7,820.51
- Gross margin on selling price
- 18.03%
- Bid total
- $43,368.28
Each percentage uses direct cost as its basis.
Planning aid only. This arithmetic does not select market prices, overhead, profit, contingency, tax, bond, insurance, labor burden, or legally required charges for you. Confirm your estimating method and contract requirements before bidding.
Worked markup example
See every dollar between direct cost and bid total.
The default values show how a $35,547.77 direct cost becomes a $43,368.28 bid when overhead, profit, and contingency are added separately.
- Direct cost
- $35,547.77
- Overhead
- 8%
- Profit
- 10%
- Contingency
- 4%
- Markup amount
- $7,820.51
- Bid total
- $43,368.28
These rates are examples, not recommendations. Replace them with the overhead, profit, contingency, taxes, risk, and contract terms appropriate to your business and project.
