Project time estimator
"How long will this take?" is the question woodworkers get wrong the most. The right answer depends on the project, the skill level, and (importantly) what's included. This calculator gives a starting estimate with a stage breakdown and contingency buffer — what you actually need to plan around.
Estimator
Why project estimates always overrun
The woodworker's planning fallacy isn't about being bad at math. It's that we estimate the time assuming the joinery comes out perfect on the first try, the lumber is straight and true, the glue-ups don't fail, and the finish goes on smoothly. None of those are true. A 25% contingency is the minimum for hobbyists; 50% for first-time builds.
Shop time vs elapsed time
"10 hours" means 10 hours with tools running. A dining table with multiple glue-ups and three coats of finish might be 20 shop hours but a 2-week calendar project (waiting for glue to cure, finish to dry). Plan around calendar time, not shop hours.
The bottleneck is finishing
Most hobbyist projects spend more calendar time finishing than building. Three coats of poly with proper drying between is at least three days. A multi-step finish (stain, sealer, two coats poly, wax) is a week. If you want fast turn-around, use a fast finish like shellac or wipe-on poly.
Limitations
- Estimates assume the design is final; mid-project design changes add 30–50%.
- Doesn't model shop setup time — clearing benches, dust collection, tool changes.
- Doesn't include waiting for lumber delivery.
- Doesn't capture the time spent staring at the piece wondering what to do next — that's a real cost, but hard to estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my builds always late?
Most hobbyist builders underestimate finishing time by 2–3× and don't budget for the inevitable re-do. The calculator adds a 25% contingency as a starting point; raise it to 50% if you've been bitten by this before.
Should I quote by the hour?
For small commissions, hourly makes sense. For larger work, project-based quotes are cleaner — and let the woodworker profit from efficiency, not be punished for skill. The calculator gives the underlying hours; pricing strategy is separate.
How do I speed up?
The biggest speed wins are: (1) batch your cuts — mill all the lumber at once, don't stop after each piece; (2) use power-tool joinery where appropriate; (3) use a fast-cure finish like shellac; (4) don't sand past 220 — it doesn't help.