Web project estimate calculator
Most project estimates are off by 30%+ because they skip phases, ignore revisions, and forget the contingency. This calculator forces a phase-by-phase breakdown and adds the buffer real projects need.
10–20% is standard.
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Total estimate
$24,150
193 hours including contingency
How to use this tool
- 1Add phases for your project. Each phase has a name, hours, and optional notes.
- 2Set your hourly rate. The total updates as you type.
- 3Add a contingency percentage, it covers scope creep and unexpected revisions.
- 4Copy the breakdown as markdown to paste into your proposal.
About this tool
A good estimate is two things: honest about what you don't know, and broken down enough that the client sees what they are buying. Phases make scope tradeoffs visible, so the client can choose to drop or simplify a phase rather than reject the whole proposal. The contingency line covers what every project has and most estimates don't.
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Frequently asked questions
What contingency percentage should I add?
10% for projects with locked-down scope and a client you've worked with before. 15–20% for new clients or fuzzy scope. 25%+ if the requirements are still being figured out.
Should I show contingency to the client?
Either roll it into the line items (cleaner, more common) or list it as a separate "project management & revisions" line. Avoid calling it "contingency"; it sounds like uncertainty rather than the realistic cost it actually is.
What phases should a typical web project have?
Discovery → Design → Development → QA → Launch → Post-launch support. Adjust to your process. Keep each phase 20–80 hours; if a phase is 100+ hours, split it.
How does this connect to my proposal?
Copy the markdown breakdown into the proposal generator (also in this tools collection) under the "Pricing" section. Clients respond better to a phase breakdown than to a single number.
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