Contractor Pricing Sheet for Countertop Fabrication Shops
Quick Definition
A contractor pricing sheet is a standardized document that lists all your fabrication shop's material costs, labor rates, edge profiles, cutout charges, and service fees in one place. It gives your sales team and contractors a consistent reference so every quote goes out with accurate, up-to-date numbers instead of guesswork.
TL;DR
- A contractor pricing sheet prevents inconsistent quotes and lost profit margins
- Include material costs per square foot, labor rates, edge profile charges, and cutout fees
- Update pricing quarterly or when supplier costs change by more than 5%
- Separate pricing tiers for builders, designers, and direct homeowners
- Track which line items generate the most margin and adjust accordingly
- Use digital pricing tools to eliminate manual errors and speed up quoting
- A well-structured sheet can cut your quoting time from 20 minutes to under 3 minutes
Why Every Fabrication Shop Needs a Contractor Pricing Sheet
If you've ever had two salespeople quote different prices for the same kitchen, you already know the problem. Without a centralized pricing sheet, your shop bleeds money through inconsistent markups, forgotten add-on charges, and awkward conversations when a contractor calls back asking why their price changed.
The average countertop fabrication shop handles 15-30 quotes per week. At 20 minutes per quote - pulling up supplier prices, checking edge profile costs, calculating cutout fees - that's 5-10 hours of admin time. A structured pricing sheet drops that to a fraction.
More importantly, it protects your margins. When every team member works from the same numbers, you stop giving away free sink cutouts or undercharging for waterfall edges because someone forgot the upcharge.
What to Include in Your Pricing Sheet
Material Costs Per Square Foot
This is the backbone of your sheet. Break materials into categories:
| Material Category | Typical Price Range (per sq ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Granite (Group 1-2) | $8-15 | Builder-grade colors |
| Granite (Group 3-5) | $16-35 | Exotic and premium slabs |
| Quartz (Standard) | $12-25 | Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone |
| Quartz (Premium) | $26-45 | Calacatta looks, thick veining |
| Marble | $15-50 | Wide range by variety |
| Quartzite | $20-60 | Natural stone, high demand |
| Porcelain | $10-30 | Sintered stone slabs |
List your actual supplier costs alongside your sell price so the team knows the margin on each material.
Labor and Fabrication Charges
Break labor into clear line items:
- Standard fabrication: Cost per square foot for cutting, polishing, and finishing
- Template fee: Flat rate or included in square footage pricing
- Installation labor: Per square foot or flat rate per job
- Removal of existing countertops: Flat fee by material type
- Plumbing disconnect/reconnect: If your crew handles this
Edge Profile Pricing
Edge profiles are where many shops leave money on the table. List every profile you offer:
| Edge Profile | Charge Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Straight/Eased | Included | $0 |
| Beveled | Per linear foot | $5-10/LF |
| Bullnose (Half) | Per linear foot | $8-15/LF |
| Bullnose (Full) | Per linear foot | $12-20/LF |
| Ogee | Per linear foot | $15-25/LF |
| Dupont | Per linear foot | $18-30/LF |
| Waterfall/Mitered | Per linear foot | $25-50/LF |
| Laminated edges | Per linear foot | $20-40/LF |
Cutouts and Add-Ons
Every cutout, notch, and special request needs a price:
- Sink cutout (undermount, standard)
- Sink cutout (farmhouse/apron)
- Cooktop cutout
- Faucet holes
- Outlet cutouts
- Inside corner radius
- Backsplash (4" standard)
- Full-height backsplash
- Corbels or support brackets
Additional Fees
Don't forget the charges that often get skipped:
- Rush job surcharge (24-48 hour turnaround)
- After-hours installation
- Stairs or difficult access fee
- Travel surcharge beyond a set radius
- Seam placement for oversize layouts
- On-site fabrication (if offered)
How to Structure Pricing Tiers
Most shops should run at least two pricing tiers:
Contractor/Builder Pricing: Lower margins, higher volume. Builders bring repeat business, so a 10-20% discount off retail makes sense. Set minimum job sizes or monthly volume requirements to qualify.
Retail/Homeowner Pricing: Full margin. These are one-time buyers who found you through Google or a referral. No discount necessary.
Designer/Referral Pricing: Middle ground. Designers bring steady work but expect a courtesy discount. A 5-10% reduction keeps them referring without gutting your margins.
Document these tiers on your sheet, but keep the contractor and retail versions separate. You don't want a homeowner seeing builder pricing.
Step-by-Step: Building Your Pricing Sheet
Step 1: Gather Current Supplier Costs
Pull invoices from the last 90 days. Note the cost per slab and calculate your actual cost per square foot for each material group. Don't use last year's numbers - stone prices shift regularly.
Step 2: Calculate Your True Labor Costs
Add up all labor expenses: wages, benefits, workers' comp, vehicle costs, equipment depreciation. Divide by the number of square feet your shop produces monthly. That's your real labor cost per square foot.
Step 3: Set Target Margins
Most successful fabrication shops target:
- Materials: 40-55% gross margin
- Labor/Fabrication: 50-65% gross margin
- Edge profiles and add-ons: 60-75% gross margin
Add-ons and upgrades should carry higher margins because customers are less price-sensitive on a $15/LF edge upgrade than on the base material cost.
Step 4: Build the Document
Use a spreadsheet or pricing tool. Organize sections clearly. Include:
- Date of last update
- Version number
- Material section with cost and sell columns
- Labor section
- Edge profiles
- Cutouts and add-ons
- Disclaimers (prices valid for 30 days, etc.)
Step 5: Test with Real Quotes
Run 10 recent jobs through your new sheet. Compare the new total against what you actually charged. If the sheet consistently prices higher or lower, adjust your rates.
Step 6: Distribute and Train
Give every salesperson and estimator the sheet. Walk through it in a team meeting. Make sure everyone knows where to find the current version - and that using old versions is not an option.
Common Pricing Sheet Mistakes
Not updating regularly. Supplier costs change. If you're quoting with numbers from six months ago, you're either losing jobs or losing margin.
Forgetting travel and access fees. That third-floor condo with no elevator and a 45-minute drive costs more to service. Price it.
Giving away edge profiles. Many shops include basic edges but forget to charge for upgrades. Those $15/LF upcharges add up fast on a 40 LF kitchen.
No expiration on quotes. Material prices fluctuate. Every quote should include a validity window - 30 days is standard.
Mixing up cost and price. Your cost is what you pay. Your price is what you charge. Make sure the sheet clearly labels both to avoid quoting at cost by accident.
Going Digital: Automating Your Pricing
A spreadsheet works, but it has limits. Manual entry means manual errors. Version control gets messy when three people save different copies.
Digital quoting tools let you build pricing logic once and generate accurate quotes in minutes. SlabWise's Quick Quote feature pulls from your pricing structure and generates customer-ready quotes in about 3 minutes - compared to the 20-minute industry average. That means more quotes out the door and fewer pricing mistakes.
When your pricing sheet lives in software instead of a spreadsheet, updates push to everyone instantly. No more "I was using the old sheet" conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I update my contractor pricing sheet?
Review pricing quarterly at minimum. Update immediately when supplier costs change by more than 5% or when you add new materials to your inventory. Many shops do a full pricing review in January and July.
Should I show my costs on the pricing sheet?
Only on internal versions. Contractor-facing sheets should show sell prices only. Internal versions with cost and margin columns help your team understand profitability but should never leave the shop.
How do I handle pricing for materials I don't stock?
Include a "special order" section with estimated ranges and a note that final pricing requires a supplier quote. Add a lead time estimate so contractors can plan accordingly.
What's a reasonable markup for countertop fabrication?
Most shops target a 40-55% gross margin on materials and 50-65% on labor. Your specific numbers depend on local market rates, overhead, and how much volume you process.
Should I offer volume discounts to contractors?
Yes, but structure them carefully. Set clear thresholds - for example, 5% off at 500+ sq ft per month, 10% at 1,000+ sq ft. Require a signed agreement and track volume monthly.
How do I price materials with high waste factors?
Add a waste factor to your cost calculation. Most shops add 10-15% for standard layouts and up to 20% for complex patterns or bookmatched slabs. Build this into the square footage price.
Should I include installation in my fabrication pricing?
List it as a separate line item. Some contractors handle their own installation. Bundling it into the fabrication price means you're giving away labor when they don't need it.
How do I handle price increases mid-project?
Your pricing sheet should include a validity period. If a project was quoted within that window, honor the price. For projects that drag beyond the quote validity, include language allowing a price adjustment.
What format works best for a pricing sheet?
PDF for distribution to contractors (prevents editing). Spreadsheet or software for internal use (allows quick updates). Avoid Word documents - they're too easy to modify accidentally.
Do I need different pricing sheets for different regions?
If you serve areas with significantly different costs of living or competitive landscapes, yes. A shop covering both urban and rural markets may need separate rate sheets.
Start Building Smarter Quotes Today
A well-organized contractor pricing sheet is the foundation of consistent, profitable quoting. But maintaining it manually takes time you could spend on production.
SlabWise automates your pricing structure with Quick Quote - turning 20-minute estimates into 3-minute quotes with accurate, up-to-date numbers. Start your 14-day free trial and see how much time and margin you recover.
Start Your Free 14-Day Trial →
Sources
- Natural Stone Institute - Fabrication Cost Benchmarking Reports
- Marble Institute of America - Industry Pricing Standards
- ISFA (International Surface Fabricators Association) - Labor Rate Surveys
- Countertop Fabrication Industry Reports - Average Markup Analysis
- SBA (Small Business Administration) - Contractor Pricing Guidelines
- National Kitchen & Bath Association - Material Cost Trends 2024-2025
Related Articles
- Slab Inventory Sheet - Track your material stock accurately
- Daily Production Report - Monitor shop output and efficiency
- Scope of Work Template - Define project expectations clearly
- How Are Countertops Measured? - Understanding the template and measurement process
- Why Are Countertops So Expensive? - Breaking down the cost factors