Equipment Rate Calc

Attachment Profit Calculator

Estimate whether an attachment pays for itself through added hourly rate, utilization, maintenance cost, wear, and resale value. Results update automatically as inputs change.

Inputs

Job assumptions

Use the current loaded business cost, not a rough market guess.

Use the current loaded business cost, not a rough market guess.

Use realistic paid or billable time and keep the unit consistent.

Operating cost

Replace the default with the most recent number you can document.

Ownership

Replace the default with the most recent number you can document.

Calculations stay in this browser unless you explicitly save or share.

Net Cost After Resale0

How this calculator works

Payback hours = net attachment cost / added profit per hour. Added profit per hour = added billing rate - hourly wear and maintenance.

Read the methodology and editorial policy

Use the result as a cost checkpoint

Use this calculator before buying or repricing attachments such as augers, grapples, breakers, trenchers, brush cutters, power rakes, and specialty buckets.

This tool is best for pricing buckets, augers, grapples, breakers, trenchers, brush cutters, and power rakes. Its primary decision is whether an attachment creates enough added hourly profit to justify its cost and wear. Review low utilization, underestimated wear, overestimated resale value, and customers who expect specialty attachments at base machine rates before relying on the result.

Worked example

A $4,500 attachment with $1,500 resale value that adds $37/hour profit pays back in about 81 billable hours.

Only count realistic billable attachment hours, not every machine hour.

Input and quote review

  • Charge specialty attachments separately when they create value or wear.
  • Track billable attachment hours after purchase.
  • Do not use resale value unless you would actually sell the attachment.
  • Raise wear cost for abrasive, demolition, or brush work.

Keep the final scope, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, change triggers, and post-job results with the estimate so future defaults are supported by evidence.

Common questions

Is this the final customer price?

No. It is a planning checkpoint. Walk the site, confirm scope and access, verify current costs, and apply contract, permit, tax, utility, safety, and professional requirements.

Where are saved inputs stored?

Only an explicit Save stores inputs in this browser's localStorage. Share places inputs in the URL hash. The calculator does not send them to Equipment Rate Calc.

Should I copy a competitor's rate?

Use market prices as a reasonableness check after calculating your own cost, scope, utilization, risk, and margin.

Important disclaimerPlanning estimate only. Verify current costs, measurements, production, scope, access, customer requirements, contracts, permits, insurance, taxes, and local rules before quoting or committing money.