How do you calculate custom option burden?

Multiply the number of custom options by the burden cost per option and the scope percentage, then add fixed engineering and configuration cost. For 9 options at $650 each with $2,200 of engineering, the total is $8,050.

What counts as a custom option on an elevator?

Anything outside the standard catalog: special cab interiors, non-standard entrance sizes, destination dispatch, custom fixtures, ADA or signal upgrades, and bespoke controller programming. Each adds design and documentation work.

Why separate engineering cost from per-option burden?

Engineering and configuration is largely a fixed setup cost for the job — drawings, submittals, and release — that does not scale one-for-one with option count. In the example $2,200 of it sits on top of $5,850 of per-option burden.

What is a good burden per custom option?

It varies with complexity, but the effective figure should stay close to your per-option burden plus a modest engineering spread. Here $894.44 per option versus a $650 base shows fixed engineering adding about 38% across just 9 options — a sign fixed cost is heavy relative to option count.

Does custom option burden include the option's material price?

It depends how you define the per-option burden. Typically this captures the added handling, engineering, and coordination cost; the option's own hardware price is estimated separately and added to the bid.

How does scope captured affect the result?

Scope scales the variable burden. At 100% you price all options; lowering it models a case where some options are standard or handled by others, reducing variable burden while leaving fixed engineering cost in place.

Elevators, Escalators & Vertical Transport Equipment calculator

Custom Option Burden Calculator

Custom options — special cab finishes, non-standard door configurations, destination dispatch, ADA upgrades, and bespoke controller logic — carry hidden burden far beyond their list price. This calculator totals the per-option burden across all customizations and adds the fixed engineering and configuration cost needed to design, document, and release them to the factory. Estimators and applications engineers use it to expose the true cost of saying yes to a customer's special requests before that cost quietly erodes margin. Because each custom option drives drawings, submittals, and field coordination, pricing the burden explicitly keeps custom work profitable rather than a loss leader.

What this calculator does

Estimate cost burden from custom elevator cab, fixture, controller, door, or finish options.
an estimator needs to recover cost from non-standard elevator or escalator options
It computes total custom option burden by multiplying option count by per-option burden and scope, then adding fixed engineering and configuration cost.

Formula used

Variable custom option burden = custom options in scope × burden cost per custom option × custom option scope captured
Total custom option burden = variable custom option burden + engineering and configuration cost

Inputs explained

Custom options in scope:
Burden cost per custom option:
Custom option scope captured:
Fixed engineering and configuration cost:

How to use the result

Use it when quoting an elevator or escalator with non-standard options to price the engineering and handling burden, not just the parts.
It applies one average burden per option, so a mix of trivial finish changes and complex dispatch logic should be split into separate runs.

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Common questions

How do you calculate custom option burden? Multiply the number of custom options by the burden cost per option and the scope percentage, then add fixed engineering and configuration cost. For 9 options at $650 each with $2,200 of engineering, the total is $8,050.
What counts as a custom option on an elevator? Anything outside the standard catalog: special cab interiors, non-standard entrance sizes, destination dispatch, custom fixtures, ADA or signal upgrades, and bespoke controller programming. Each adds design and documentation work.
Why separate engineering cost from per-option burden? Engineering and configuration is largely a fixed setup cost for the job — drawings, submittals, and release — that does not scale one-for-one with option count. In the example $2,200 of it sits on top of $5,850 of per-option burden.
What is a good burden per custom option? It varies with complexity, but the effective figure should stay close to your per-option burden plus a modest engineering spread. Here $894.44 per option versus a $650 base shows fixed engineering adding about 38% across just 9 options — a sign fixed cost is heavy relative to option count.
Does custom option burden include the option's material price? It depends how you define the per-option burden. Typically this captures the added handling, engineering, and coordination cost; the option's own hardware price is estimated separately and added to the bid.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.