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.
Save your work into QuoteCore+ - plans from $19/mo with a 30-day money-back guarantee
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 |
What this margin calculator does
Three ways to work. Quick mode: enter a single total cost, apply margin or markup, and see the selling price, gross profit and equivalent markup live. Line-by-line mode: add every item in a quote, set a default margin, then override the margin on any line individually. AI import: upload a photo of a supplier list or quote (or paste the text) and the lines populate automatically - fully editable afterwards. When you are done, one click sends the adjusted prices to the free quote generator to build the finished document.
Margin vs markup - the short version
Margin is a percentage of the selling price; markup is a percentage of the cost. A £100 cost sold at £125 has 25% markup but only 20% margin. Selling price from margin is calculated as cost ÷ (1 − margin%). Confusing the two systematically underprices your work - the full explanation with a conversion table is in our guide to margin vs markup for contractors.
How to set different margins per item
Switch to Line-by-line mode, set your default margin at the top, then add your lines. Every new line inherits the default - type a margin into any line to override it, and clear the field to inherit the default again. The totals panel tracks total cost, gross profit, selling price and the blended margin across the whole quote, live as you type. It is the same per-line margin behaviour as the quote editor in the full QuoteCore+ app - plans from $19/mo when you want margins, measurements, material orders and invoicing connected.
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 →