Recover every direct cost
Include materials, delivery, labor, equipment, disposal, permits, subcontractors, and other job-specific expenses.
How to price landscaping jobs
Price landscaping jobs without guessing at the margin.
A reliable job price starts with the work—not a competitor's number. Measure the scope, calculate direct costs, account for overhead and risk, then present the price in a way the customer can understand.
Protect the margin
Apply markup after the complete job cost is known and keep markup separate from any sales tax collected.
Explain the value
Turn the calculation into a professional scope and price instead of sending the customer an unexplained number.
Connected workflow
A practical landscaping pricing formula
- 01
Measure and define the scope
Confirm the work area, material depth, preparation, access, hauling, cleanup, and anything expressly excluded.
- 02
Calculate direct job costs
Add supplier quotes, loaded labor cost, equipment, delivery, disposal, subcontractors, and a reasonable waste allowance.
- 03
Account for overhead and profit
Use a consistent markup or pricing method that contributes to insurance, vehicles, office time, software, and profit.
- 04
Review and send
Check the total against the job's difficulty and risk, state the assumptions, and send an estimate with a clear acceptance path.
What to know
Markup is not the same as profit margin
Markup is added to cost, while margin is the portion of the final selling price left after cost. For example, adding a 25% markup to a $1,000 cost produces a $1,250 price and a 20% gross margin—not a 25% margin.
No single percentage is right for every contractor. Your price needs to reflect your actual labor burden, overhead, market, capacity, risk, and target profit. YardMeasure organizes the inputs, but the business owner remains responsible for the final price and tax treatment.
Common questions
Questions contractors ask
What costs should be included in a landscaping estimate?
Include materials, delivery, labor, equipment, disposal, subcontractors, permits, and other direct costs, then account for overhead and profit using your chosen pricing method.
Should labor be marked up?
Many contractors price labor above the employee's wage because the real labor cost also includes payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, nonbillable time, supervision, and overhead. Use figures from your own business.
Does YardMeasure calculate the tax rate for me?
No. Tax rules vary by location and project type. YardMeasure lets you enter the rate you have verified for the job.