Sauna & Cold Plunge Install Bid Calculator

1. The install

Build or install hours on site

Site prep, hookup and cleanup hours on site

Helper hours on site

Heater or plunge unit, lumber, insulation and trim ($)

Electrician or other subcontract you pay ($)

Markup you charge on equipment and subcontract (%)

A bid you were offered or plan to submit ($, optional)

2. Getting there

Miles one way from your shop or supplier

Average driving speed (mph)

Truck and trailer cost per mile ($)

3. Your costs

Lead builder pay per hour, loaded ($)

Helper pay per hour, loaded ($)

Tool and equipment wear per on-site hour ($)

Screws, sealant, stain and blades per build hour ($)

Fixed costs per month: insurance, truck payment, phone, software ($)

Hours per month you can really bill, drive included

4. Pricing and the month

Profit margin you want on each install (%)

Card or payment fee (%)

Minimum job price ($)

Test: install runs over on site by (%)

Installs you do per month

Questions people ask

How do I price a sauna or cold plunge install?

Add up the hours on site and the drive, crew pay, tools and consumables, the truck cost per mile, the heater or plunge unit, lumber and the electrician, and a share of your fixed monthly costs, then divide by what is left after the card fee and the margin you want. The calculator does that and shows each line so you can see what the customer is paying for.

Should I charge for delivery and travel?

The drive costs you hours you cannot bill elsewhere plus truck cost per mile, so the calculator prices both and shows what share of the quote is the drive. The distance table shows how the price climbs from 0 to 80 miles out, which is where a flat delivery fee stops covering the trip.

What does it cost me when an install runs over?

With the price fixed, extra hours on site are pure cost. The planner shows profit and margin if build, prep and helper time run over by the percentage you choose. The drive does not stretch, so only on-site time is affected.

How many installs a month do I need to break even?

Each job leaves a contribution after variable costs and card fees. Fixed monthly costs divided by that contribution is the number of installs needed, and the planner also warns if your installs per month need more hours than you said you have.

Is this a quote, a code or a legal document?

No. It is arithmetic on the numbers you type in. It does not decide electrical or building code, permits, clearances, inspection, licensing, insurance or tax treatment, and the defaults are placeholders, not market rates.

Not decided

Electrical and building code, clearances, permits and inspection, whether the job needs an electrician or engineer, licensing and insurance, what customers in your area will pay, tax treatment, and how long an install really takes (an estimate you make, not a measurement). The defaults are placeholders, not market rates: check every figure against your own books.

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Want the margin, walk-away price and overrun headroom as well, or pricing a different trade? Price this job in the Bid Price Engine, one calculator for 121 trades.

What should you bid on a sauna or cold plunge install?