Estimate how long a project will take start to finish. Enter each phase in working days, add a buffer, and pick your schedule.
Project Duration
— days
Calendar time start to finish.Usage Tip
Order long-lead materials and book inspections as early as you can — waiting on parts and approvals delays more projects than the actual work. Build in a buffer and expect to use it.
THE MATH
Work days = sum of all phase durations
With buffer = work days × (1 + buffer%)
Weekdays-only calendar time = work days ÷ 5 × 7
With buffer = work days × (1 + buffer%)
Weekdays-only calendar time = work days ÷ 5 × 7
Add up the working days for each phase, then pad with a buffer for the delays every project hits. Working only weekdays stretches the calendar time by about 40% versus the raw work days.
This assumes phases run one after another; overlapping them shortens the calendar.
This assumes phases run one after another; overlapping them shortens the calendar.
Permits and inspections are the big wildcards — they wait on other people and can stall everything behind them, so pad generously.
Material lead times and delivery dates often drive the schedule more than the labor does; order long-lead items early.
Weather, deliveries, and waiting for a phase to cure or pass inspection all add calendar time the work-day count misses.
Material lead times and delivery dates often drive the schedule more than the labor does; order long-lead items early.
Weather, deliveries, and waiting for a phase to cure or pass inspection all add calendar time the work-day count misses.