Labor rate calculator
Charge at least
$100/hr
- Break-even per billable hour
- $78
- Labor cost per billable hour
- $54
- Overhead per billable hour
- $25
- Service call at this rate (45 min: drive + diagnosis)
- $75
Put this rate on the Labor line of your price book.
Typical garage door prices (US)
Typical US contractor prices, parts and labor installed. A starting point for your own pricing, not a quote.
| Service | Typical range | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Labor (Per Hour)Labor | $75–$175 | 1 hr |
| Service Call / DiagnosticService Calls | $75–$180 | 30 min |
| After-Hours / Emergency SurchargeService Calls | $75–$250 | — |
| Tune-Up & Safety InspectionService Calls | $90–$225 | 45 min |
| Torsion Spring Replacement (Single)Springs | $150–$425 | 1 hr |
| Torsion Spring Replacement (Pair)Springs | $250–$550 | 1 hr 15 min |
| Extension Spring Replacement (Pair)Springs | $150–$350 | 1 hr |
| High-Cycle Spring UpgradeSprings | $75–$175 | — |
| Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster Conversion to Torsion SpringsSprings | $500–$2,250 | 3 hr |
| Lift Cable Replacement (Pair)Cables, Rollers & Hardware | $120–$300 | 45 min |
| Roller Replacement (Nylon, Set of 10)Cables, Rollers & Hardware | $120–$300 | 45 min |
| Hinge ReplacementCables, Rollers & Hardware | $25–$75 | — |
| Bottom Seal / Weatherstrip ReplacementCables, Rollers & Hardware | $100–$300 | 45 min |
| Track RealignmentTracks | $125–$325 | 1 hr |
| Track Section Replacement (One Side)Tracks | $200–$475 | 1 hr 30 min |
| Opener RepairOpeners | $125–$425 | 1 hr |
| Chain-Drive Opener, InstalledOpeners | $450–$850 | 2 hr 30 min |
| Belt-Drive Opener, InstalledOpeners | $550–$1,000 | 2 hr 30 min |
| Wall-Mount (Jackshaft) Opener, InstalledOpeners | $800–$1,550 | 3 hr |
| Safety Sensor ReplacementSensors & Remotes | $100–$250 | 30 min |
| Remote or Keypad, ProgrammedSensors & Remotes | $50–$175 | — |
| Single Panel ReplacementPanels | $300–$950 | 2 hr |
| Single-Car Steel Door (Non-Insulated), InstalledDoor Replacement | $900–$1,800 | 4 hr |
| Single-Car Insulated Steel Door, InstalledDoor Replacement | $1,300–$2,650 | 4 hr |
| Double-Car Steel Door (Non-Insulated), InstalledDoor Replacement | $1,300–$2,650 | 5 hr |
| Double-Car Insulated Steel Door, InstalledDoor Replacement | $1,900–$4,200 | 5 hr |
| Old Door Removal & Haul-AwayDoor Replacement | $75–$250 | — |
What you’ll get from this calculator
- Hourly labor: about $75–$175 for work outside a flat-rate line.
- Service call or diagnostic: about $75–$180.
- Your own rate depends on wages, overhead and how many hours your techs can bill.
How the labor rate is calculated
The calculator builds the rate up from what an hour of a tech's time really costs you.
- 1. Your tech's wage is grossed up for payroll taxes, workers' comp and benefits.
- 2. That cost is spread over billable hours, not paid hours, because drive time and supply runs are paid but not billed.
- 3. Monthly overhead is spread over the whole team's billable hours.
- 4. Your target margin is added on top to give the hourly rate to charge.
Garage Door Labor Rate FAQ
Why is my labor rate so much higher than what I pay my techs?▼
Because a billed hour has to pay for more than the wage: payroll taxes and insurance, the hours techs are paid but can't bill, the truck, the shop, marketing and your profit. A $30 wage often needs a rate near $100.
How many billable hours should I assume per tech?▼
Most service techs bill 60–75% of their paid hours once drive time, supply runs and callbacks are taken out. If you're not sure, start with 28 billable hours out of 40 paid, then check it against last month's invoices.
Should I charge hourly or flat rate for garage door work?▼
Use flat rates for the common jobs (springs, openers, door installs) and keep this hourly rate for unusual work. The hourly rate is also the yardstick for setting those flat rates: estimate the hours a job takes and multiply.
Put Your Rate on Your Price Book
Open the garage door price book builder with labor, service call and after-hours lines ready for your numbers. Building is free; exporting a PDF or CSV takes a Price Book Pass.
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