Right-size your field crew in minutes safely. Account for utilization, overtime, and contingency buffers easily. Export results, brief supervisors, and keep projects moving forward.
Enter workload and project constraints. The form adapts to your preferred input method.
These samples illustrate typical staffing outcomes for different construction support workloads.
| Scenario | Base labor hours | Days | Shift hrs/day | Utilization % | Contingency % | Required techs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior punch list | 240 | 7 | 8 | 85 | 10 | 5 |
| Electrical rough-in support | 520 | 10 | 8 | 80 | 10 | 8 |
| Equipment commissioning | 720 | 12 | 10 | 85 | 15 | 8 |
| Night shift troubleshooting | 300 | 6 | 8 | 75 | 10 | 8 |
| Preventive maintenance sprint | 960 | 15 | 8 | 90 | 5 | 9 |
Utilization reflects real, billable production time. Contingency covers uncertainty and rework. Rounding up is safer for critical milestones.
This tool converts either a single labor-hour total or a task-based estimate into one workload figure. Task estimating multiplies work orders by average hours per task, helping teams model repetitive commissioning, punch lists, or corrective maintenance. For mixed skill crews, use blended hours or run separate scenarios per discipline. Use the same unit scope you plan to staff and supervise.
Capacity is driven by project days and planned daily hours. The calculator combines shift hours and overtime, then applies utilization to reflect real field productivity. Utilization accounts for toolbox talks, coordination, permits, travel within the site, material waits, and safety interruptions. If work is split across zones, use the lowest realistic utilization to avoid understaffing.
Construction environments rarely deliver perfect access or uninterrupted sequences. The contingency percentage increases labor hours to cover rework, RFIs, late deliveries, weather impacts, and testing failures. A higher contingency reduces the chance of falling behind but increases crew demand and cost exposure. Many teams start with 5–15% and refine it using closeout data.
The raw technician value is workload divided by effective hours per technician for the full project. “Round up” is recommended when work is on the critical path, when overtime is capped, or when multiple trades compete for the same access windows. “Nearest” can fit flexible schedules with float, while “Down” should be limited to low-risk backlogs. “Exact” supports scenario comparison and budget planning.
After calculation, export CSV or PDF to share assumptions with supervisors and planners. Track labor hours, utilization, and contingency by project phase to build benchmarks. Over time, compare planned versus actual hours to adjust utilization and contingency values, improving forecast accuracy for future bids. Log scope changes for audits.
Start with 75–90% depending on site friction. Use lower values when access is restricted, permits are heavy, or coordination is frequent. Calibrate by comparing planned labor hours to actual completed hours over several similar jobs.
Sample a small batch of completed work orders, include setup and cleanup, and compute an average. If task times vary widely, group tasks by type and run the calculator per group, then sum technician needs.
Add overtime only when it is approved, sustainable, and supported by supervision and safety controls. If overtime is uncertain, run two scenarios: one with zero overtime and one with planned overtime to see staffing sensitivity.
No. Utilization reduces daily productive time, while contingency increases total required hours. Use utilization for predictable nonproductive time and contingency for uncertainty like rework, RFIs, weather, and testing failures.
Use Round up for critical path work or tight deadlines. Nearest works for flexible schedules with float. Down is risky unless backlog work can slip. Exact is best for comparing scenarios and explaining assumptions.
Yes. Model each shift separately using its daily hours and utilization, then add technician counts. If crews share tools or access windows, reduce utilization to reflect constraints and rerun to avoid optimistic staffing.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.