If you price like your neighbor, you’ll earn like your neighbor. Price from your numbers and you’ll sleep like a boss. This guide shows you the math, the market, and the moves to charge confidently.
Typical range (US)
Common job minimum
Attachment premium
If it costs you money, it belongs in the rate. Period.
Operating cost ≈ $63/hr. Charge under that and you’re donating labor.
Color‑coded ranges show realistic low→high pricing. Black dot marks the midpoint often quoted.
Data reflects common U.S. ranges; adjust for your market and season.
Drop the CSV into your estimating sheet or share the PNG with clients in proposals.
Metro markets consistently command higher hourly rates due to increased demand, tighter timelines, and higher operating costs.
Blue = Metro • Green = Rural/Suburban. Add attachment premiums on top of these base figures.
Use this visual in client decks or to adjust your pricing by region.
Base hourly (rural/suburban)
Base hourly (metro)
Attachment premium
Benchmarks are guide rails, not shackles—your costs and demand decide the final number.
Quote per project, track internally by hours. If the scope grows, so does the price—no surprises.
(Operating Cost + Overhead + Target Profit) ÷ Billable Hours = Your Base Hourly
Base hourly = $95/hr. Add premiums for attachments, travel, or rush windows.
“We’re at $120/hr with a 3‑hour minimum. That includes the machine, a skilled operator, fully insured. Brush cutter adds $45/hr. Travel outside 25 miles is $1.25/mi.”
Round to a clean number (e.g. $120/hr) and enforce minimums.
Most operators land between $85–$150/hr depending on region, demand, and attachments.
Yes—either a per‑mile fee beyond a base radius or add a mobilization line item on project quotes.
2–4 hours is common. Enforce it. Your time has to travel, too.
Grab a simple worksheet that turns your costs into a confident hourly rate—no guesswork, no underbidding.
Re‑price each season. Fuel, demand, and maintenance don’t sit still—neither should your rates.