Free carpenter template
Carpenter estimate template: deck build
An estimate template for a roughly 200 square foot pressure-treated deck: footings, framing, decking, rails, and stairs, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout, dig, and pour footings | 6 to 8 | $65/hr | $455.00 |
| Frame ledger, beams, and joists | 10 to 14 | $65/hr | $780.00 |
| Install decking and railings | 10 to 14 | $65/hr | $780.00 |
| Build stairs and finish details | 4 to 6 | $65/hr | $325.00 |
| Pressure-treated framing lumber | your quantity and price | ||
| Decking boards | your quantity and price | ||
| Joist hangers, screws, and structural hardware | your quantity and price | ||
| Concrete and footing forms | your quantity and price | ||
| Railing system | your quantity and price | ||
| Permit fee | your quantity and price | ||
Scope notes printed on the estimate
- Priced against a roughly 200 square foot rectangular deck at standard height; adjust the hours to your plan.
- Demolition of an existing deck and haul-away are separate lines if needed.
- Composite decking changes the materials list, not the labor structure.
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 deck build estimate?
- This template breaks the job into 4 labor lines, from "layout, dig, and pour footings" through "build stairs and finish details", lists the usual materials with quantities left open, and prints 3 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.