Calculator Inputs
Enter your sampling plan details. Use the advanced options for overhead, contingency, tax, and minimum charge. The result appears above this form after submission.
Formula Used
The calculator uses a transparent cost build-up so each component can be reviewed or exported.
- Mobilization = mobilization fee + (locations − 1) × extra location fee
- Labor = technicians × days × hours/day × rate
- Overtime = technicians × OT hours × rate × OT multiplier
- Equipment = day rate × equipment days + setup fee
- Travel = mileage × rate + per diem × travel days × technicians + lodging
- Lab = samples × tests/sample × cost/test × (1 + expedite%)
- Consumables = samples × per-sample + fixed
- Direct subtotal = sum of all direct items
- Overhead = direct subtotal × overhead%
- Contingency = (direct + overhead) × contingency%
- Discount = −(direct + overhead + contingency) × discount%
- Tax = (direct + overhead + contingency + discount) × tax%
- Total = direct + overhead + contingency + discount + tax
- Per sample = total ÷ samples
- Per location = total ÷ locations
If “Apply minimum charge” is enabled, the final total is raised to the minimum charge when needed.
How to Use This Calculator
- Set the plan basics: scenario name, currency, samples, and locations.
- Enter field effort: technicians, days, hours, rate, and overtime assumptions.
- Add project extras: equipment, travel, permits, consumables, and lab analysis.
- Apply business factors: overhead, contingency, discount, and tax as needed.
- Calculate: the result appears above the form with full breakdown.
- Export: download CSV for spreadsheets or PDF for client-ready sharing.
Example Data Table
These example inputs show how different site conditions can change totals. Use them to quickly sanity-check your assumptions.
| Scenario | Samples | Locations | Techs | Field days | Lab cost/test | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete cores, local job | 30 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 80 |
| Soil sampling, multiple zones | 60 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 140 |
| Asphalt density, overnight stay | 40 | 4 | 2 | 2.5 | 10 | 220 |
After running your estimate, use the export buttons to keep a record of each scenario.
Scope of sampling costs in construction
Sampling programs mix field collection and verification testing. Common items include mobilization, permits, technician time, equipment charges, packaging, and laboratory analysis. This calculator mirrors bid and change‑order estimating by separating direct costs from overhead, contingency, discounts, and tax. Itemized totals help you compare vendors, justify pricing decisions, and keep quality‑control assumptions consistent across jobs.
Typical labor and productivity drivers
Labor is usually the biggest controllable component. The estimate uses technicians × days × hours/day × hourly rate, plus a dedicated overtime block using an overtime multiplier. Productivity changes with access restrictions, escorts, traffic control, setup time, and sample density per location. Tune technicians and hours to realistic production, then review cost per sample to confirm the plan is achievable.
Equipment, consumables, and lab testing
Equipment can be entered as a day rate plus a setup fee for calibration and preparation. Consumables are split into per‑sample items and fixed one‑time items, which helps when sample counts shift mid‑project. Lab analysis is calculated from tests per sample and cost per test, with an optional expedite surcharge. This supports concrete, asphalt, soil, and material compliance workflows.
Travel, access, and site constraints
Travel includes mileage, per diem, and lodging. Lodging can be auto‑estimated using one room per two technicians, or set manually for strict policies. Access fees and permits are treated as direct costs because they depend on site conditions. For multi‑site work, use location count and the extra location fee to represent repeated setup and coordination not captured by mileage.
Overhead, risk, and commercial adjustments
Overhead is applied to direct costs to reflect supervision, reporting, safety administration, and management time. Contingency is applied to direct plus overhead to cover variability such as re‑samples, weather delays, or unexpected hardness. Discounts reduce the subtotal before tax for client‑rate scenarios without hiding baseline costs. The minimum charge option protects recovery of fixed effort on small scopes. It reduces underbilling on short mobilizations too.
FAQs
1) How is overtime calculated?
Overtime equals technicians × overtime hours × hourly rate × overtime multiplier. Enter overtime hours as the total overtime per technician for the full project, not per day.
2) What does the minimum charge do?
When enabled, the calculator compares the computed total to your minimum charge. If the total is lower, the final total is raised to the minimum to cover fixed mobilization and reporting effort.
3) How are multiple locations handled?
Mobilization includes an extra location fee applied to each location after the first. This is useful for repeated setup, coordination, and separate access requirements across a project footprint.
4) What is the expedite surcharge applied to?
The expedite percentage applies only to lab analysis. It increases the lab subtotal based on faster turnaround, weekend processing, or priority handling fees from the testing provider.
5) Why is cost per sample shown?
Cost per sample helps compare alternative test menus, crew sizes, or lab providers. It is especially helpful when total scope changes, because it normalizes costs across different sample counts.
6) What do the CSV and PDF exports include?
Exports include the scenario name, line‑item breakdown, total estimate, and cost per sample. Use CSV for spreadsheets and PDF for sharing a consistent summary with clients or internal reviewers.