--- title: "Plumber hourly rate calculator: what to charge | LocoTap" description: "Work back from what you need to take home, and the van, stock and insurance, to your hourly rate and the price of a drain clearing or a heater swap." url: "https://locotap.com/plumbing-software/hourly-rate-calculator" --- Free tool # Plumber hourly rate calculator The rate that pays you, and a price for every job. [Find my rate](https://locotap.com/tools/hourly-rate/use?work=plumbing) [Try the sample](https://locotap.com/tools/hourly-rate/use?kit=plumbing) - Free to try - Saved only if you choose Clearwater Plumbing (Sample) Charge at least 110/ hour Price list - Service call, first hour 1 hour **110** - Drain clearing 1 hour 30 min **165** - Water heater swap 3 hours **330** From 7,500 a month take-home · 25% tax · 70% booked · 21,380 a year costs Plumbing · Hourly rate ## What goes into a plumbing hourly rate The example above is made up; yours starts with nothing filled in. [Start yours](https://locotap.com/tools/hourly-rate/use?work=plumbing) 1. **Billable hours, not clock hours** The rate counts only the hours you bill, so it pays for driving and quoting too. 2. **After-hours as its own service** Add an after-hours call to your services, with the time you give it. 3. **Flat prices from one rate** A service call, a drain and a water heater swap, all from the same rate. 4. **What every call has to cover** The van, fuel, insurance, licences, phone and software, spread over each hour you bill. ## The papers of one plumbing job Do heating and cooling too? [HVAC hourly rate calculator](https://locotap.com/hvac-software/hourly-rate-calculator) The same made-up job, every amount before tax. 1. 1 Hourly rate You're here **110.00 / h** worked out once 2. [2 Estimate Next **1,650.00** priced from the rate](https://locotap.com/plumbing-software/estimate-template) 3. [3 Invoice **1,770.00** the estimate and a signed extra](https://locotap.com/plumbing-software/invoice-template) [Next in the job Plumbing estimate template A plumbing estimate with repair, replace and upgrade side by side: the call, labour, fixtures and valves, and taking the old ones away, at your own rate.](https://locotap.com/plumbing-software/estimate-template) Plumber · one van, one apprentice · Example Night calls had paid less than a Tuesday afternoon. An after-hours call went on the list as its own service. **10 min** to price after hours ## The lesson behind it - [What should an hour cost?](https://locotap.com/learn/hour-price): Your pay is only part of the price. ## Where it fits [All tools](https://locotap.com/tools) 1 Before the job **Hourly rate finder** This tool Same step - [**Calls to return**](https://locotap.com/tools/calls) - [**Missed call guide**](https://locotap.com/tools/missed-calls) - [**Rebate finder**](https://locotap.com/tools/rebate-finder) Gets its work - [**Estimate & quote builder**](https://locotap.com/tools/estimate-builder) - [**Flat-rate price book**](https://locotap.com/tools/trade-price-book) **Every step of a job** 1. **01 Before the job** - [**Calls to return**](https://locotap.com/tools/calls) - [**Missed call guide**](https://locotap.com/tools/missed-calls) - **Hourly rate finder** This tool - [Flat-rate price book](https://locotap.com/tools/trade-price-book): Gets its work - [Estimate & quote builder](https://locotap.com/tools/estimate-builder): Gets its work - [**Rebate finder**](https://locotap.com/tools/rebate-finder) 2. **02 Agree it** - [**Renovation contract**](https://locotap.com/tools/renovation-contract) 3. **03 On the job** - [**Jobs**](https://locotap.com/tools/jobs) - [**Change order**](https://locotap.com/tools/change-order) - [**Job photos**](https://locotap.com/tools/job-photos) - [**Before and after photos**](https://locotap.com/tools/before-and-after) - [**Billable hours log**](https://locotap.com/tools/hours-log) - [**Van stock list**](https://locotap.com/tools/van-stock) 4. **04 Get paid** - [**Invoice maker**](https://locotap.com/tools/invoice-maker) - [**Money chase**](https://locotap.com/tools/money-chase) - [**What each job made**](https://locotap.com/tools/job-profit) 5. **05 After** - [**Home profile**](https://locotap.com/tools/home-profile) - [**Equipment warranty certificate**](https://locotap.com/tools/warranty-certificate) - [**Maintenance plan**](https://locotap.com/tools/maintenance-plan) - [**Review reply drafter**](https://locotap.com/tools/review-replies) - [**QR code maker**](https://locotap.com/tools/qr-code-maker) 6. **06 Back office** - [**Customers**](https://locotap.com/tools/customers) - [**Tax set-aside**](https://locotap.com/tools/tax-set-aside) - [**13-week cash flow**](https://locotap.com/tools/cash-flow) - [**Business card maker**](https://locotap.com/tools/business-cards) - [**Job post builder & checker**](https://locotap.com/tools/job-post) ## Questions **Why not just double what an employee earns?** Your rate pays your holidays, costs and unbooked hours too, so it works from the hours that get paid. **Why do I type my own tax share?** It differs from place to place. Last year’s tax over last year’s profit is a good start. **What about sales tax?** Type its name and rate, and clients see the price with and without it. Check the rule where you work. **Where are my figures kept?** Only where you choose: nowhere, on this device, or in your free account. **How sure is the number?** As good as the tax share you type, rounded up. Guidance, not tax advice. ## Free to try. [Find my rate](https://locotap.com/tools/hourly-rate/use?work=plumbing)