Snow Removal Rate Calculator
Professional Bidding & Estimation Tool
Truck plow: 15k-40k | Snowblower: 2k-5k
Quote Estimation Results
Estimated Time:
0 hours
Operating Cost:
$0.00
Calculated Profit:
$0.00
Recommended Quote:
$0.00
How to Calculate Snow Removal Rates: A Professional Guide
Calculating snow removal rates accurately is the difference between a profitable winter and losing money on every blizzard. Pricing isn't just about guessing; it requires understanding your overhead, equipment capability, and local market conditions.
Common Snow Removal Pricing Methods
- Per Push: You charge a flat fee every time you clear the property. This is common for residential driveways and small retail lots.
- Per Event: You charge one price for a single snow storm, regardless of how many times you visit the site.
- Per Hour: Best for commercial sites with unpredictable variables. You charge for the time spent on-site by trucks and shovel crews.
- Per Inch: Tiered pricing (e.g., $50 for 1-3 inches, $85 for 3-6 inches). This protects you from heavy accumulation that takes longer to move.
Key Factors to Include in Your Bid
To use our calculator effectively, you must understand these three pillars of snow pricing:
- Production Rates: A standard pickup with a 7.5′ plow can typically clear 20,000 to 40,000 square feet per hour of open lot. If there are many obstacles (cars, light poles), this drops significantly.
- Overhead and Equipment: You aren't just paying for gas. You must account for plow maintenance, salt spreader wear-and-tear, insurance, and the depreciation of your vehicle.
- Material Costs: Bulk salt or bagged calcium chloride varies in price. Always calculate your "per-pound" or "per-bag" cost and add your markup.
Example Calculation
Suppose you are bidding on a 10,000 sq ft parking lot. Your truck clears roughly 20,000 sq ft per hour, so the job will take 0.5 hours. If your labor is $40/hr and equipment overhead is $60/hr, your base cost is $50. Adding $30 for salt brings you to $80. If you want a 30% profit margin, you would divide $80 by 0.7, resulting in a $114.28 quote per push.