Labor and equipment productivity calculator

In estimating, Sage Construction Management tracks costs by type of work, such as sitework, concrete, or electrical, using Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), as well as by resource type, including material, labor, equipment, subcontract, and other costs.

You can use the Labor and Equipment Productivity Calculator to determine conversion factors and rates when the unit of measure (UOM) for a labor or equipment resource differs from the UOM used for the estimate item.

  • Item Description: Structural concrete, in place, column, round, avg reinforcing, 12" diameter, includes forms, reinforcing steel, and finishing

  • Item Units: CY

  • Resources:

    Resource Conversion Waste Units Base cost rate Burden cost rate Total cost rate
    Materials (M) 1.00 0.00% CY $670.00 $670.00
    Labor (L) 14.00 Man Hrs. $35.00 $10.00 $630.00
    Equipment (E) 1.00 Hrs. $120.00 $0.00 $120.00
    Sub (S) 0.00 $0.00 $0.00
    Other (O) 0.00 $0.00 $0.00

  • Item Units: CY

  • Item Quantity: 45 CY

  • Productivity: 15

  • Productivity units

    Productivity Time Measure
    Productivity unit option Units/Hr Hrs/Unit Units/Man Hr Man Hrs/Unit Units/Day Days/Unit Units/Shift Shifts/Unit
    Implies 15 CY/Hr 15 Hrs/CY 15 CY/Man Hr 15 Man Hrs/CY 15 CY/Day 15 Days/CY 15 CY/Shift 15 Shifts/CY

Download an example file in an Excel format.

Use the calculator

  1. Open the details page for either a work item in the cost database or an estimate item.

  2. Select the Use Labor and Equipment Calculator to set corresponding Conversion Factor and Rates link.
  3. In the Shift Hours and Average Productivity section, enter the number of Shifts Per Day, the Productivity quantity, and select the Productivity Units from the dropdown.
  4. Optionally, in the Labor Resources needed for Average Productivity section, do the following to import labor resources:
    1. Select Import.
    2. Optionally, use the Search field to filter the list.

      This search includes both the Code and Description fields.

    3. Enter the Quantity for each labor item that will be part of the calculation.
    4. Select Save.
  5. Optionally, in the Equipment Resources needed for Average Productivity section, do the following to import equipment resources:
    1. Select Import.
    2. Optionally, use the Search field to filter the list.

      This search includes both the Code and Description fields.

    3. Enter the Quantity for each equipment item that will be part of the calculation.
    4. Select Save.
  6. Optionally, review the information in the Total Labor and Equipment Cost Per Work or Estimate Item Unit of Measure section.
  7. Optionally, review the existing and calculated conversion factors and rates for labor and equipment.

  8. Select Set & Close.

    The calculated entries are saved.

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Posted February 20, 2026 © 2026 The Sage Group plc or its affiliates ("Sage") or its licensors. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Use of non-Sage trademarks is not an endorsement of any person or product.