How do you calculate gross margin on a blasting quote?

Subtract the estimated job cost from the quoted price to get margin dollars, then divide by the reference price. On an 18,500 quote with 13,200 cost, margin dollars are 5,300 and gross margin is about 28.6%.

What is a good gross margin for abrasive blasting jobs?

Many surface-prep shops target 25-40% gross margin to absorb media wear, equipment maintenance, and idle time. The 28.6% in the example sits at the lower-healthy end and would be acceptable for a steady, repeat customer.

What costs should I include in the estimated blast job cost?

Include abrasive media (net of reclaim), blast and prep labor, containment and masking, consumables, equipment and compressor run time, disposal of spent media, and any mobilization. Underloading media or disposal is the usual reason quotes go negative.

Why is margin different from markup on a blast quote?

Margin divides profit by the price; markup divides profit by cost. The 5,300 margin on this job is 28.6% margin on price but a higher percentage as markup on the 13,200 cost — don't confuse the two when bidding.

How does media reclaim affect blast job margin?

Recyclable abrasives like steel grit can be reused many cycles, sharply lowering media cost per square foot and lifting margin, while one-shot media like garnet or coal slag raises cost. Always estimate net media after expected reclaim.

Should mobilization and containment be in the job cost?

Yes for on-site work. Travel, rigging, containment setup, and dust collection are real direct costs; leaving them out of the estimated job cost inflates the margin the calculator shows.

Abrasive Blasting, Shot Peening & Surface Prep calculator

Blast Quote Margin Calculator

Blast quote margin is the gross profit a surface-prep shop keeps on a job after the direct cost of abrasive media, labor, containment, consumables, and equipment time is subtracted from the quoted price. Estimators and owners in abrasive blasting, shot peening, and coating-prep shops use it to make sure a bid covers cost and leaves enough cushion for slow days, blast-pot wear, and reclaim losses. Media consumption and labor hours are the swing variables in this trade, so a quote that looks profitable on paper can erode fast if recyclable media breaks down or surface profile rework is needed. This calculator turns a quoted price and an estimated job cost into both margin dollars and a margin percent against a reference price.

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
It computes gross margin dollars (quoted price minus estimated job cost) and the gross margin percent against a reference price for a blasting or surface-prep job.

Formula used

Gross margin dollars = quoted job price - estimated blast job cost
Gross margin percentage = gross margin dollars ÷ 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 while building or reviewing a bid, before sending a quote, to confirm the price clears your shop's minimum acceptable margin.
It uses your estimated job cost as entered — if media reclaim rate, containment, or labor hours are under-scoped, the real margin will land below the figure shown.

Common questions

How do you calculate gross margin on a blasting quote? Subtract the estimated job cost from the quoted price to get margin dollars, then divide by the reference price. On an 18,500 quote with 13,200 cost, margin dollars are 5,300 and gross margin is about 28.6%.
What is a good gross margin for abrasive blasting jobs? Many surface-prep shops target 25-40% gross margin to absorb media wear, equipment maintenance, and idle time. The 28.6% in the example sits at the lower-healthy end and would be acceptable for a steady, repeat customer.
What costs should I include in the estimated blast job cost? Include abrasive media (net of reclaim), blast and prep labor, containment and masking, consumables, equipment and compressor run time, disposal of spent media, and any mobilization. Underloading media or disposal is the usual reason quotes go negative.
Why is margin different from markup on a blast quote? Margin divides profit by the price; markup divides profit by cost. The 5,300 margin on this job is 28.6% margin on price but a higher percentage as markup on the 13,200 cost — don't confuse the two when bidding.
How does media reclaim affect blast job margin? Recyclable abrasives like steel grit can be reused many cycles, sharply lowering media cost per square foot and lifting margin, while one-shot media like garnet or coal slag raises cost. Always estimate net media after expected reclaim.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.