Snow Removal Price Calculator
- Time and equipment
- Salt
- Fuel and wear
- Profit
A seasonal contract trades risk: you earn more in a light winter and less in a heavy one. Write a cap on events, or a per-push charge above it, into the contract.
Turn this into a quote
A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.
How the snow removal price calculation works
Time each visit, including the drive
30 minutes on site and 15 minutes of driving is 45 minutes. At $90 an hour with the truck and plow, that's $67.50.
Add salt, fuel and wear
$24 of ice melt and $8 of fuel and blade wear bring the cost to $99.50.
Add profit
20% profit makes the price $119.40 per visit.
Price the season
With 12 snow events in a typical winter, a seasonal contract is about $1,433. Cap the events or charge per push above the cap.
Worked example. A driveway and walk that take 30 minutes plus 15 minutes of driving, at $90 an hour with $24 of salt and $8 of fuel and wear, cost $99.50. With 20% profit you charge $119.40 per visit, or $1,432.80 for a 12-event season, earning $116.53 an hour.
Snow Removal Price FAQ
How much should I charge for snow removal?
Add your time on site and driving at your equipment rate, salt, fuel and wear, then profit. Compare the result with local operators before you publish prices.
Per push, per hour or seasonal contract?
Per push is simplest for residential driveways. Hourly suits large or irregular lots. A seasonal contract gives steady income, but you carry the risk of a heavy winter; this calculator shows both the visit and season price.
How do I price commercial snow plowing?
Time the lot with your truck, add salting as its own line with its own material cost, and use a higher rate for larger equipment. Many commercial contracts price plowing and salting separately.
How many snow events should I plan for?
Use your own records from past winters, or local weather history for storms above the trigger depth written into your contract. Count pushes, not storms, if a long storm needs more than one visit.
Should I charge more for salt?
Yes, put salt or ice melt on its own line at your cost plus profit, so the customer can see what it covers and you can bill extra applications separately.
How much should I charge for shoveling snow?
Use the same method with a lower hourly rate, since there is no truck or plow to pay for. 40 minutes of shoveling at $40 an hour with $5 of ice melt and 20% profit comes to $38 a visit, or about $49.50 an hour after the ice melt.
Is a seasonal contract better than charging per push?
It depends on the winter. In the example, $119.40 a push is $1,432.80 for 12 events. If only 6 events come, per-push billing would bring in $716.40, so the contract pays more; with 20 events, per-push billing brings in $2,388, so the contract pays less. A cap on events limits that risk.