Before you start
- Your download is a zip with two files. Double-click it to open it. Start with the one marked with examples to see how everything works, then use the blank one for your business.
- Open the file in Microsoft Excel. Using Google Sheets? Upload it to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets.
- Start on the Start Here tab. It has the same steps, right inside the file.
- The sample data is there so you can see how everything works. Type over it with your own when you're ready.
Here's how to build your price book once, then get a shopping list and price for any job.
1Build your price book (one time, about 10 minutes)
- Open Settings. Set your usual markup, the sales tax you pay and the extra for waste.
- Open Price Book. Add the parts you buy often, with unit, store and your cost.
2List the job's parts
- Open Job Parts. Name the job, then pick each part and type the quantity.
- Something new? Type it and your cost per unit on the line.
3Buy it
- The Dashboard shows your cost with tax, the markup and the customer price.
- Print the Shopping List. Copy Materials cost for this job into the Handyman Quote Calculator.
What the messages mean
The tool watches your numbers and tells you in plain words when something needs a look. Here's every message you might see.
What to do: Type the cost on the line.
What to do: Give each its own name.
What to do: Check it and update the date.
Using Google Sheets or your phone
- To use Google Sheets, upload the file to Google Drive, then right-click it and choose Open with, then Google Sheets.
- Dropdowns, colors, and every calculation work the same in Google Sheets.
- On a phone, the Google Sheets and Excel apps work for quick changes. For setup and printing, a computer is easier.
- Want to start fresh? Type over the yellow example cells. Don't delete rows, since other tabs may be reading them.
Ready when you are
Everything above comes with our parts and markup calculator for $14, updates included. Or get it as part of the full handyman toolkit.
Common questions
Why round up?
You can't buy 9.9 deck boards. Waste is added, then each part rounds up to whole units.
Quick reference from the Start Here tab
Welcome
Every handyman job has a parts list, and every missed part is a second trip. This calculator turns your parts list into a store-ready shopping list, adds waste and sales tax, and shows your materials cost and the price to charge with your markup.
Where To Start
Open 'Settings'. Set your usual markup, the sales tax you pay and the extra for waste.
Open 'Price Book'. Add the parts you buy often with what you pay. Do this once and keep it up to date.
Open 'Job Parts'. Name the job, then add a row for each part: pick it from the list and type the quantity.
Buying something new? Type the item and your cost per unit in column E. Add it to the Price Book later if you'll buy it again.
Print 'Shopping List' and take it to the store.
Copy 'Materials cost for this job' from the Dashboard into the Handyman Quote Calculator.
Which Cells To Edit
Yellow cells with blue text are yours to fill in. Italic yellow cells marked (optional) can stay empty. Gray cells calculate on their own and are locked.
Need to change a formula? In Excel go to Review, then Unprotect Sheet. In Google Sheets use Data, then Protect sheets and ranges. No password needed.
What The Results Mean
Quantity to buy: quantity needed plus your waste extra, rounded up to whole units. Set waste to 0% on a row for parts you buy exact, like a faucet.
Your cost (with tax): what you'll pay at the register for that line.
Customer price: your cost plus markup. An item's own markup on the Price Book wins over your usual markup.
Check column: OK, a Note (worth a look) or ⚠ (something to fix).
How To Clear The Examples And Reuse It
Easiest: open the Blank file. Or select the yellow cells on Job Parts and press Delete. Keep your Price Book and Settings for the next job.
New job: save a copy of the file for each job, or clear Job Parts and start again. There are 100 job rows and 300 Price Book rows.
Good To Know
Markup vs margin: a 25% markup on a $100 part bills $125. Your margin on that sale is $25 of $125, which is 20%.
Your cost vs customer price: share your cost with the Quote Calculator. It adds profit on the whole job, so you don't mark up twice.
Sales tax: this is the tax you pay when you buy. Whether you charge tax to your customer depends on your state. Ask your tax pro.
Type each Price Book item name exactly once. Job Parts finds prices by the name.
Share box: the "Share with other EasyWorkTools tools" box on the Dashboard lists the numbers this file gives to or gets from the other Handyman tools. Copy them by hand. The labels match exactly, so it's clear where each one goes.
Getting Updates
Every update is free. When a new version is ready we email you, and you can download it any time.
Moving to a new version: copy the yellow cells from each sheet into the same sheets of the new file.
Using Google Sheets? Upload this file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets (or File, then Import, then Upload). The math works the same.
Your License
This file is licensed to one business, including everyone who works there. Please don't share, resell or post it online.
© 2026 EasyWorkTools. All rights reserved. easyworktools.com
Every tab
This file has 7 tabs, in this order:
- Start Here
- Dashboard
- Job Parts
- Shopping List
- Price Book
- Lists
- Settings