What should I use for my hourly value?

Your after-tax wage is a fair start; use more if the time would otherwise be leisure you value, or less if you'd enjoy the project.

What about skill and risk?

This is pure cost. If a botched job is costly or dangerous, lean toward hiring even when DIY looks cheaper.

Calculators › Everyday Money Decisions › DIY vs Hire Calculator

Calconomics

DIY vs Hire Calculator

"I'll just do it myself" isn't free — your time is worth something. Enter the quote, your materials, the hours it'll take, and what your time is worth, to see whether DIY actually beats hiring it out.

Hire it

The pro's quote

Do it yourself

Materials if you DIY

Hours it'll take you

hrs

What your time is worth / hr

Verdict

DIY — worth your time

Cash saved by DIY

$200

True DIY cost (incl. your time)

$170

The numbers

Net benefit after valuing time

$80

US$3.99 · download & own it forever

Prices in

How it's calculated

Cash saved = quote − your materials cost.
True DIY cost = materials + (hours × what your time is worth).
If the quote is more than your true DIY cost, doing it yourself pays.

Our methodology & 2026 data sources →

Frequently asked questions

What should I use for my hourly value?: Your after-tax wage is a fair start; use more if the time would otherwise be leisure you value, or less if you'd enjoy the project.
What about skill and risk?: This is pure cost. If a botched job is costly or dangerous, lean toward hiring even when DIY looks cheaper.