Calculator Inputs
Example Data Table
Sample scenarios to illustrate typical rentals. Replace values with your supplier’s quote.
| Scenario | Pump | Basis | Billable Time | Rate | Fees & Travel | Fuel | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small slab pour | Line Pump | Hourly | 4 hr (min) | 12,000 | Setup 5,000 + Mob 8,000 | 0% | 0% | 61,000 |
| Mid-rise core | Boom 36m | Hourly | 6 hr | 26,000 | Setup 8,000 + Mob 15,000 + 20km×250 | 3% | 16% | 225,701 |
| Day package | Boom 24m | Daily | 1 day | 125,000 | Mob 12,000 | 2% | 0% | 139,500 |
Totals above are illustrative and may not match your invoice terms.
Formula Used
The calculator combines time-based rental costs with fixed and variable surcharges:
- Billable time:
max(planned, minimum)then rounded up to your chosen increment. - Base cost:
billable_hours × hourly_rate(orbillable_days × daily_rate). - Standby:
standby_hours × hourly_equivalent × standby%. - Overtime:
overtime_hours × hourly_equivalent × overtime_multiplier. - Distance charge:
distance_km × per_km_charge. - Fuel surcharge:
(base+standby+overtime) × fuel%. - Discount:
(subtotal) × discount%(applied before tax). - Tax:
(subtotal − discount) × tax%. - Grand total:
subtotal − discount + tax.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your currency, pump type, and billing basis.
- Confirm the default rates, then overwrite them if needed.
- Enter planned time and minimum billable time from your supplier.
- Add standby and overtime if delays or extended hours are expected.
- Fill in setup, mobilization, and travel charges to match your quote.
- Apply fuel surcharge, discount, and tax to mirror invoice terms.
- Press Calculate, then export results to CSV or PDF.
Professional Guide to Concrete Pump Rental Estimating
Concrete pumping is often priced as a time-based service with additional site-related charges. A clear estimate helps you compare suppliers, avoid surprise overtime, and plan pour logistics around realistic production. This calculator organizes the most common pricing components into an easy breakdown, so your team can review assumptions before issuing a purchase order.
Start by selecting a pump type that matches access and reach. Line pumps suit smaller pours, tight sites, and shorter hose runs. Boom pumps are designed for higher reach and faster placement, but they usually carry a higher hourly or daily rate. After choosing the billing basis, confirm the quoted rate and minimum billable time. Minimums protect suppliers from short dispatches, so a planned two-hour job may still invoice at four hours.
Next, include standby and overtime. Standby covers delays such as traffic, formwork adjustments, or batching interruptions. Overtime applies when pumping exceeds the normal service window or when crews stay beyond scheduled hours. For travel-sensitive jobs, add mobilization and distance charges according to the supplier’s policy. Fixed fees like setup, priming, and hose handling can materially affect short pours, so keep them visible in the estimate.
If you enable the productivity estimator, the calculator converts volume into time using pump output and adds setup time. This helps prevent underbooking on larger pours. For example, pumping 40 m³ at 28 m³/hr with 0.5 hr setup yields about 1.93 hr, which is then rounded up to your chosen increment and compared against your planned time. You can still enter your own planned hours if your site constraints limit output.
Example data: The sample table on this page shows typical scenarios, including a small slab pour billed at the minimum hours, a mid-rise core pour with distance charges, and a daily package where fuel surcharge is applied to time-based costs. Use those rows as templates, then replace rates, fees, and taxes with your local quotation.
For best results, document assumptions in your notes: concrete volume, access limitations, staging distance, and expected delays. When suppliers quote different terms, adjust the same fields for each option and export CSV or PDF to share internally. This approach creates consistent comparisons and supports faster approvals.
FAQs
1) What is usually included in a pump rental rate?
Rates commonly cover the pump unit and operator for the billed time. Hoses, priming, setup, and washout may be separate. Always confirm what the supplier includes in writing.
2) How do minimum billable hours affect small pours?
If a supplier has a four-hour minimum, any dispatch under four hours is still billed at four. Small pours should budget fixed fees and minimum time, not only active pumping.
3) When should I use daily billing instead of hourly?
Daily billing fits long pours, multiple placements, or uncertain site schedules where hourly costs could escalate. If the supplier offers a day package, compare the breakeven against your expected hours.
4) What is standby time and why is it charged?
Standby is time the pump is on site but not pumping due to delays. It is charged because the equipment and crew remain committed and cannot be reassigned to another job.
5) How accurate is the productivity estimator?
It provides planning-level guidance using average output. Actual output depends on mix design, slump, hose length, placing method, and crew coordination. Use it to avoid underbooking, then refine with site experience.
6) Are fuel surcharges applied to the full invoice?
Policies vary. Many suppliers apply fuel surcharge to time-based services rather than fixed fees. This calculator applies fuel to base, standby, and overtime, which you can adjust by setting fuel percentage to zero.
7) What should I export for approvals?
Export PDF for approvals and recordkeeping, and CSV for comparing multiple supplier quotes. Include your assumptions on minimums, travel distance, and expected standby to reduce disputes later.