Free carpenter template
Carpenter estimate template: attic ladder installation
An estimate template for installing a pull-down attic ladder: framing the opening, setting the unit, and trim, with the labor rate prefilled from real carpenter wage data.
The labor rate, with the math shown
Median carpenter wage (national)
$29.13/hr
Derived from the $60,580 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025) at 2,080 hours a year.
Prefilled billing rate
$60 to $75/hr
The wage times a 2 to 2.5x rule of thumb for overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit. The download prefills $65/hr. A starting point, not market data: set your own rate.
Download the templates
Free, no signup. The CSVs open in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers with the line items and the labor rate already in place.
What's on the estimate
Hours are typical ranges to edit, not measurements. Material quantities and prices stay open because only you know your suppliers.
| Line item | Typical hrs | Rate | Prefilled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locate joists, mark, and cut the opening | 1 to 1.5 | $65/hr | $84.50 |
| Frame or header the opening as needed | 1 to 2 | $65/hr | $97.50 |
| Set, shim, and fasten the ladder unit | 1 to 1.5 | $65/hr | $84.50 |
| Trim the opening and adjust operation | 0.5 to 1 | $65/hr | $52.00 |
| Attic ladder unit (sized to ceiling height) | your quantity and price | ||
| Framing lumber for headers | your quantity and price | ||
| Trim stock | your quantity and price | ||
| Structural screws | your quantity and price | ||
Scope notes printed on the estimate
- Openings that require cutting a truss are stopped and referred for engineering; trusses are never field-cut on a handshake.
- Ceiling paint touch-up beyond the trim line is excluded.
Adjust the rate for your state
Carpenter pay is not one number. These are the highest-paying states TradesPays tracks; the hourly figure is the state median derived the same way (annual over 2,080 hours).
| State | Median (annual) | Derived hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $79,000 | $37.98/hr |
| California | $75,920 | $36.50/hr |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | $36.15/hr |
| Washington | $74,190 | $35.67/hr |
| New York | $72,330 | $34.77/hr |
| Minnesota | $64,930 | $31.22/hr |
Full state-by-state pay: carpenter salary by state.
The carpenter bundle: $24 one time. Checkout opens soon.
- Every estimate and invoice template for your trade, current and future job types included
- Editable spreadsheet versions of each template, not just the free CSV
- Labor rates refreshed with each new BLS wage release, so your numbers never go stale
- A one-page guide to setting your hourly rate from the median wage, with the math shown
No payment today. Leave your email to lock the $24 launch price and get first access when checkout opens. You also get pay-data updates for your trade; one click stops them.
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Carpenter rates and estimates: FAQ
- What should carpenters charge per hour in 2026?
- The national median carpenter wage is about $29.13 an hour, derived from the $60,580 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025). A common rule of thumb for carpenters billing customers is 2 to 2.5 times the wage to cover overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit: roughly $60 to $75 an hour. That range is a starting point, not market data; set your own rate.
- What goes into a attic ladder installation estimate?
- This template breaks the job into 4 labor lines, from "locate joists, mark, and cut the opening" through "trim the opening and adjust operation", lists the usual materials with quantities left open, and prints 2 scope notes so assumptions and exclusions are in writing before work starts.
- Is the template really free?
- Yes. The estimate and invoice CSVs download free with no signup. The $24 per-trade bundle adds editable spreadsheet versions, every job type for your trade, and labor rates refreshed with each BLS release.
More carpenter templates
Wage source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS May 2025), national median for carpenters, 2026 site data. Hourly figures are derived (annual over 2,080 hours) and labeled as such. Billing-rate ranges are rule-of-thumb starting points, not market data.