Learn to build and use construction production rates step-by-step. Practical formulas, examples, and pitfalls so you bid faster and win profitable work.
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Youâve probably felt it: the gap between what you bid and what the crew actually produces. That gap eats margin. Production rates close it. Theyâre simpleâhow much work a crew completes in a defined time under defined conditions. With solid rates, you price fast, schedule realistically, and hold the line in the field. In this guide, weâll build your rate library step-by-step, show you how to adjust for real-world conditions, and run through clear examples. Then weâll tie it to proposals so you turn rates into revenue quickly.
Production rates quantify outputâsquare feet per hour, linear feet per day, pieces per crew-dayâunder defined conditions. Theyâre the backbone of accurate labor estimates and realistic schedules.
Problem: Many contractors price work on gut feel. Itâs common for setup, material handling, and access to consume more time than expected and blow the budget.
Solution: Document a repeatable rate with assumptions (crew size, materials, access, height, tools). Then apply it consistently.
Data points you can expect:
Choose units your crew already thinks in: SF/hour for drywall, LF/day for baseboard, blocks/day for CMU, LF/hour for trenching. Write the crew size and shift length that rate assumes.
Group tasks that repeat with similar effort: âhang 1/2-inch drywall on open walls,â âpaint first coat walls, unoccupied,â âtrench 24 inches deep in soft soil.â Avoid mixing conditions in one rate.
Use a simple time study for a few hours or a full day. Count quantity installed and time elapsed, and note conditions (weather, access, height, congestion).
Tools: phone stopwatch, tally sheet, laser measure, photos.
Account for breaks, safety talks, material handling, inspection pauses.
Record crew size, tools, standard shift hours, site type, and whatâs included/excluded (e.g., excludes lifts, includes fasteners). This avoids apples-to-oranges later.
Use simple math:
Example: 1,200 SF drywall at a rate of 1,000 SF per 2-person crew-day (8 hours). Crew-days = 1,200 á 1,000 = 1.2; Labor hours = 1.2 à 2 à 8 = 19.2 hours.
Price a small job with the draft rate, track actuals, and tweak. Once it aligns, lock it as your baseline.
Revisit weekly. Update rates when tools, crew mix, or materials change.
Use these as directional checks; set your own based on your crews and conditions.
| Task | Common Baseline Rate | Drivers | Improvement Idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall hang, open walls/ceilings, 2-person crew | Commonly, 800â1,200 SF/day | Ceiling height, congestion, number of cutouts | Pre-cut and stage board near rooms |
| CMU 8-inch block, 3-person crew | Commonly, 200â400 blocks/day | Weather, lift height, mortar type | Mix station within 30 feet of wall |
| Interior paint, one coat, 2 painters | In general, 1,500â2,500 SF/day | Prep level, masking, color changes | Mask once, spray then back-roll |
| Trenching 24 inches deep, 3-ton mini | In soft soil, 80â150 LF/hour |
Problem: Baselines rarely match site realityâoccupied spaces, tight access, weather swings, inspections. Ignoring this is a fast path to profit fade.
Solution: Apply simple multipliers based on common factors. Write them down with your rate so the estimator and foreman see the same target.
Pick your baseline rate, then multiply by the combined factor. Example for a drywall crew: baseline 1,000 SF/crew-day. Height factor 0.9 (10% slower), occupied factor 0.85 (15% slower). Adjusted rate = 1,000 Ă 0.9 Ă 0.85 = 765 SF/crew-day.
Scenario: 3,200 SF of 1/2-inch board, 10â12 foot ceilings, occupied clinic after hours, 2-person crew, 8-hour shifts.
Tip: Stage lifts and board per room. In general, pre-staging reduces nonproductive time by 10â15% on interior trades.
Scenario: 1,800 blocks of 8-inch CMU, 3-person crew, hot weather (95°F), mixer 80 feet from wall, 8-hour shifts.
Tip: Moving the mix station within 30â40 feet can reclaim a noticeable 10â15%.
Scenario: 220 LF trench, 24 inches deep, soft soil except 40 LF of hard clay, 3-ton mini excavator, 1 operator + 1 laborer.
Tip: Call in locates early and paint the route. Many contractors find it prevents stop-start delays that can cut hourly production by 20% or more when utilities surprise you.
Problem: Rates drift when no one measures. Crews work hard but not always on the right constraintsâmaterial flow, access, inspection timing.
Solution: Track quantity and hours daily, review weekly, and remove the biggest blocker first.
Use your live rates to price faster and more accurately.
Many contractors find this cuts proposal prep by a few hours a week and reduces back-and-forth because the assumptions are written right in the proposal.
A production rate is how much work a defined crew completes in a defined time under defined conditions, like â1,000 SF of drywall per 2-person crew-day, open walls, 9-foot ceilings.â Itâs the bridge between quantity and labor hours.
Measure installed quantity over time under clear conditions, include allowances, and divide quantity by hours. Lock the assumptions (crew size, tools, access). Then use Hours = Quantity á Rate to estimate labor.
Review weekly on active tasks and after any change in crew, tools, or material. Commonly, crews improve 5â15% in the first month just by aligning on targets and removing obvious blockers.
Build required meal/rest periods into your allowance and donât assume eight continuous installation hours. Check local requirements and your agreement; plan your rate around the actual productive window.
You can, but add mobilization and cleanup. Commonly, small jobs carry 1â3 crew-hours of mobilization/cleanup regardless of quantity, so use a minimum labor charge or separate line item.
Production rates arenât theoryâtheyâre your crewâs real output turned into a simple, repeatable tool. Define units, measure a baseline, adjust for conditions, and keep the loop= tight with daily quantities and weekly reviews. Then use those rates to price work fast: speak your scope and assumptions into Donizo, generate a branded proposal, get an e-signature, and convert to an invoice in one click. Do the simple things consistently and your bids, schedules, and profits get a whole lot steadier.
| Soil type, utilities, shoring |
| Spotter and painted locates ahead |