Free HVAC tool
HVAC Estimate Calculator
Input materials, labor hours, markup %, and tax. Get a professional job total in seconds. No signup, no email, no watermark.
How to use this calculator
The calculator follows the standard HVAC estimating structure: materials at cost, materials marked up, labor at an hourly rate, and sales tax on the whole thing. For each material line, enter the wholesale cost you're paying — the calculator applies your markup percentage automatically. That way you can see the markup as a separate line and know exactly what profit margin you're building in.
What should HVAC contractors mark up materials?
The standard range is 30–50%. Go higher on small-dollar parts (a $2 capacitor marked up 50% is only $3 — nothing to get rich on) and lower on big-ticket items (a $4,200 condenser marked up 50% is $6,300, which is noticeably above market). Most HVAC shops settle on 35–40% as their default and adjust from there.
Important reminder: markup is not profit. If your shop overhead eats 25% of revenue, a 40% markup actually leaves you with roughly 15% net profit before you pay yourself. If you want a deeper breakdown of that math, read our guide on how to write an HVAC estimate.
What's a typical HVAC labor rate?
HVAC labor rates in the U.S. run $95–$150/hour depending on your market. Urban areas, specialty work (commercial refrigeration, VRF systems), and after-hours calls push toward the top of the range. Residential tune-ups and standard service calls land near the bottom. If you're charging less than $95/hour, you're probably underpricing — check the market rate in your zip code before you set your defaults.
Want this to happen automatically?
This calculator is great for double-checking your math on a specific job. But if you're typing estimates into a form every day, you're still spending your evenings doing paperwork. Tiko drafts full estimates from a chat message — "draft Mrs. Johnson an estimate for a new 3-ton condenser, $4,200 plus 6 hours install" — and applies your templates, your markup, and your tax rate automatically. Then your customer signs from their phone and the invoice drafts itself. No calculator, no form, no typing.
Tired of doing this by hand?
Tiko drafts estimates from a chat message. Customers sign on their phone. Invoices close themselves.
3 days free. No credit card surprises.