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Actually,How Much?
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For home projects

Actually, should you do it yourself?

A contractor's quote is only half the story. Add the materials and what your time is worth, and see which choice costs less.

The quote What you'd pay someone else.

Your costs Materials, plus any tools or extras you want counted.

Your time The hours, priced at a rate you choose.

Try it with your project

Tools, extra expenses, and a surprise cushion start at zero. Open Additional options if this job needs them. Nothing is saved, and the result updates as you type.

Your project

Optional. It shows up in the explanation.

Currency

A label only. Amounts are not converted.

The numbers that matter

Supplies you expect to buy for this project. Enter 0 if there are none.

CAD

Your own time on this project. Use 0 only if you want the comparison to ignore time.

hrs

A figure you choose. This site does not estimate wages or local rates.

CAD

The amount you would pay the professional, as a single figure.

CAD
Additional optionsTools, extra costs, and a cushion. These start at zero.Show

Starts at zero. Enter only the share you want this project to carry.

CAD

Starts at zero. Add delivery, disposal, permits, or tax if you want them counted.

CAD

Starts at zero. Applied only to DIY cash, as a cushion for surprises.

%

Result

Fill in the main numbers to compare.

Materials, hours, the value of your time, and the quote are required. Tools, extra costs, and contingency already count as zero.

  • Still needed: material costs
  • Still needed: estimated hours
  • Still needed: what an hour of your time is worth
  • Still needed: the contractor's quote

Why this helps

Hiring looks expensive until you add up the stuff you'd still buy, and the weekend you'd spend. This page does that addition and shows the gap. It does not tell you which job you're able to do, or what a project "usually" costs.

Want the formula? It's on the method page, and again under Show the math on every result.

The library

One calculator, room for more

DIY vs. hire is the first tool. More home calculators will land on the same shelf when their math is ready. Empty spots stay empty.

See the library