Construction & estimating · Cost & planning

Cost escalation calculator

Escalate a base estimate by a compound annual rate or by the ratio of cost indices, including mid-construction escalation.

Standard: Compound rate or cost index ratio

Inputs in the worked example

The live calculator starts with these values; change any of them and every result, check and diagram updates instantly.

Diagram for the worked example

Factor = (1 + r)^years; mid-construction adds half the duration
Use published construction cost indices (e.g. ABS producer price indexes) for your region and trade

Labour productivity & crew cost — Man-hours, crew days, labour cost with on-costs, plant cost and unit rate for an activity.
Cash-flow S-curve — Monthly spend and cumulative S-curve from a total budget and profile shape, with peak month.
BOQ builder (bill of quantities) — Add line items with quantities and rates, apply preliminaries, overhead & profit, contingency and GST…
Earthworks cut & fill — Volumes from cross-section areas, loose and compacted volumes, truck loads and a mass-haul diagram.
Excavation, cart-away & disposal — Excavated bank volume with batters, bulking, backfill retained, truck loads, tonnes to tip and cost.
Asphalt & pavement — Asphalt tonnes, tack coat and base course quantities and cost.

For preliminary design and education. Check every result against the current standard and your own engineering judgement before use.