Planning · DIY or contractor
DIY vs hire renovation savings.
Cash savings can look big until you price your own hours. See both, plus the hourly value at which hiring breaks even.
Inputs
DIY or hire
Enter the numbers above.
How this works
DIY saves the contractor's labour and margin, but it costs materials with waste, tool rental, mistakes and, above all, your own hours. This calculator adds them up: DIY cash = materials x (1 + waste / 100) + tool rental + mistake allowance; DIY total = DIY cash + hours x the hourly value you put on your time. Savings = contractor quote - DIY total. The break-even value of an hour = (quote - DIY cash) / hours: if your time is worth more than that, hiring wins.
Two cautions. First, price your time honestly, including the weekends you give up. Second, some work (electrical, gas, structural) is regulated or needs a licensed trade where you live, so DIY may not be an option at any price. Nothing here is advice on what you may legally do yourself.
Worked example. Quote $12,000. Materials $4,500 with 10 percent waste is $4,950; add $350 tool rental and a $300 mistake allowance for DIY cash of $5,600, a cash saving of $6,400. At 80 hours worth $25 an hour your time is $2,000, so the DIY total is $7,600 and the savings after time are $4,400. Hiring breaks even if an hour of your time is worth $80.00.
Frequently asked questions
Is DIY always cheaper than hiring a contractor?
No. It is cheaper in cash only if materials, rental, waste and mistakes cost less than the quote, and cheaper overall only if the hours you spend are worth less than the savings.
What hourly value should I put on my time?
Use what you could earn or what your free time is worth to you. There is no standard figure, so try a low and a high value and compare the results.
How much waste should I add to materials?
It depends on the material and the layout; the percentage is your own input. Ask the supplier or check the material calculator for that trade.
Can I legally do all of this work myself?
Not always. Electrical, gas, plumbing and structural work can require a licence or permit where you live. Check your local rules before you plan DIY.
Sources
Checked
- Method: arithmetic on the numbers you enter. No outside data or published figures are used.
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Planning note
Estimates only, not financial, legal or professional advice. You supply every price; this page contains no regional cost data. Confirm real costs with written quotes from licensed local contractors. Check local licensing and permit rules before doing regulated work yourself.