Free Margin Calculator
Enter costs, add margin, see your profit - free, no signup required.
Calculate gross margin on a single total or line by line across a whole quote. Works for materials, labour, installation, delivery - any cost at all.
Sign up free for higher AI limits and branding removal across QuoteCore+ tools
Quick margin
Selling price
£0.00
Gross profit
£0.00
Equivalent markup
25.0%
Margin vs markup - they are not the same
Margin is a percentage of the selling price. Markup is a percentage of the cost.
£100 cost + 20% margin
£125.00
100 ÷ (1 - 0.20)
£100 cost + 20% markup
£120.00
100 × 1.20
| Margin % | Same as markup | Sell price on £100 cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 11.1% | £111.11 |
| 15% | 17.6% | £117.65 |
| 20% | 25.0% | £125.00 |
| 25% | 33.3% | £133.33 |
| 30% | 42.9% | £142.86 |
| 35% | 53.8% | £153.85 |
| 40% | 66.7% | £166.67 |
| 50% | 100.0% | £200.00 |
Margin questions, answered
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Markup is calculated on your cost. Margin is calculated on your selling price. £100 cost marked up 20% sells for £120 - but that is only 16.7% margin, because £20 profit on a £120 sell price is 16.7%. If you want a true 20% margin, you must sell at £125. Trades who confuse the two systematically underprice their work.
Should I apply different margins to materials and labour?
You can - and it is common practice, though the right split varies by trade and business model. Some trades apply a higher margin to labour than materials (or the other way round) because of where their risk sits: rework and errors usually eat labour time, while material price changes eat material profit. There is no universal rule - this calculator simply lets you set a different margin on every line so you can price each part of the job the way your business works.
What is a safe margin for a small trade business?
This calculator shows gross margin: profit on the costs you enter, before overheads like insurance, vehicles, office costs and your own time quoting. There is no single right number - the appropriate margin depends on your trade, your costs, your overheads, the risk and complexity of the job, material price volatility, and how competitive your local market is. Many trades work at different margins for materials versus labour, and change margin by job type. If you are unsure, an accountant or trade association for your trade can help you find a number that covers your overheads and leaves a real profit.
Can I use this on a quote I already built?
Yes. Generate your quote in our free quote generator, then click "Check / Add Margin" - every line transfers straight into this calculator. Set your margins line by line and send the adjusted prices back to the quote in one click.
Is this calculator really free?
Yes - the calculator itself is completely free, no signup required, with no limits on how many calculations you run. Everything calculates in your browser. The only limited feature is the AI quote import (photo upload or paste text), which has a small number of free scans per day and offers a free account for more. If you want quote tracking, follow-ups, digital takeoff and client management, try QuoteCore+ free →