Abrasive Blasting, Shot Peening & Surface Prep calculator
Blast Quote Margin Calculator
Abrasive blasting quotes need enough margin to absorb abrasive variation, access delays, equipment wear, containment, and rework risk. This calculator compares quote price with estimated job cost so owners and estimators can see whether the job is priced safely before it is submitted.
What this calculator does
- Calculate gross margin percentage from quoted surface prep price, estimated job cost, and quote price reference.
- you are checking whether a blast, peening, or surface prep quote has enough gross margin before approval
- Returns gross margin percentage and margin dollars for the surface prep quote.
Formula used
- Gross margin dollars = quoted job price - estimated blast job cost
- Gross margin percentage = gross margin dollars รท margin reference price
Inputs explained
- Quoted job price: undefined
- Estimated blast job cost: undefined
- Margin reference price: Usually the quoted job price.
How to use the result
- Use it before bid submission, change-order pricing, or accepting rush work with uncertain abrasive and labor exposure.
- It does not model tax, financing, retainage, liquidated damages, or risk reserves unless those are included in estimated job cost.
Common questions
- Why enter quote price twice? The margin formula requires a reference price for the percentage calculation. For standard gross margin, enter the quoted job price in both "Quoted job price" and "Margin reference price" fields.
- What should estimated job cost include? Include labor, abrasive, equipment, compressor energy, disposal, masking, inspection, mobilization, and expected rework allowance.
- What is a good margin? That depends on your shop, risk, and market. Use the result to compare against your required margin policy.
- How do I use this with cost per square foot? Build the job cost from square-foot cost and fixed adders, then check the quote margin here before sending the price.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.