Calculator Inputs
Enter all values in your working currency and preferred field units. The layout stays single column overall, while the calculator fields adapt responsively.
Example Data Table
This example uses the default values shown in the form.
| Metric | Example Value |
|---|---|
| Tract Area | 15 hectares |
| Timber Volume | 900 m³ |
| Productivity | 18 m³/hour |
| Operating Hours | 50.00 hours |
| Truck Trips | 30 trips |
| Labor Cost | 4,500.00 |
| Equipment Cost | 8,500.00 |
| Fuel Cost | 1,890.00 |
| Hauling Cost | 1,254.00 |
| Direct Cost | 19,694.00 |
| Overhead | 2,363.28 |
| Profit | 2,205.73 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 24,263.01 |
Formula Used
- Operating Hours = Timber Volume ÷ Productivity
- Truck Trips = Ceiling(Timber Volume ÷ Truck Capacity)
- Total Haul Distance = Truck Trips × One-Way Distance × 2
- Labor Cost = Operating Hours × Crew Size × Labor Rate
- Equipment Cost = Operating Hours × Equipment Count × Equipment Rate
- Fuel Cost = Operating Hours × Equipment Count × Fuel Burn Rate × Fuel Price
- Hauling Cost = Total Haul Distance × Hauling Rate per km
- Direct Cost = Labor + Equipment + Fuel + Hauling + Permits + Maintenance + Insurance + Contingency
- Overhead Cost = Direct Cost × Overhead %
- Profit Amount = (Direct Cost + Overhead Cost) × Profit %
- Grand Total = Direct Cost + Overhead Cost + Profit Amount
- Unit Cost = Grand Total ÷ Timber Volume
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the harvest area, estimated recoverable timber volume, and crew productivity.
- Add labor, equipment, and fuel assumptions that match your site plan.
- Enter hauling distance, truck capacity, and transport rate.
- Include fixed allowances such as permits, maintenance, insurance, and contingency.
- Set overhead and desired profit percentage, then submit the form.
- Review the total estimate, unit costs, cost breakdown table, and graph.
- Use the export buttons to save the calculated results as CSV or PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What does this logging cost estimator measure?
It estimates total logging cost using production, crew, machinery, fuel, hauling, compliance, contingency, overhead, and profit inputs. It also returns operating hours, trip count, cost per cubic meter, and cost per hectare.
2) Can I use this for different currencies?
Yes. The calculator is currency-neutral. Enter all rates and fixed costs in the same currency, and every output will remain consistent in that same unit.
3) Why is truck capacity important?
Truck capacity controls the estimated number of trips. More trips increase haul distance and transport cost, especially on longer routes or when road conditions reduce payload efficiency.
4) What is included in direct cost?
Direct cost combines labor, equipment, fuel, hauling, permits, maintenance, insurance, and contingency. Overhead and profit are then added afterward to produce the final bid-ready estimate.
5) Should I include contingency?
Yes, especially for remote sites, weather delays, repair risk, slope difficulty, or uncertain production. A contingency line helps protect the estimate against common field variability.
6) Does this replace a field time study?
No. It is a planning and budgeting tool. Final estimates should still be checked against site inspections, crew availability, haul constraints, road access, and actual machine performance data.
7) How should I choose the productivity value?
Use a realistic average based on timber type, terrain, weather, extraction method, operator skill, and loading delays. Conservative productivity estimates usually create more dependable bids.
8) Why show both cost per m³ and cost per hectare?
Cost per cubic meter helps compare production efficiency, while cost per hectare helps compare tract-level spending. Using both makes proposal review and internal benchmarking easier.