Truss Cost Calculator

Truss cost calculator: count times unit price

A truss cost calculator multiplies the number of roof trusses by a material price and a labor price for each one. The default job is 20 trusses with $120 material and $40 labor per truss, which comes to $3,200. These are placeholder prices, so replace them with the figures from your quotes.

Material = count × material price. Labor = count × labor price. Total = material + labor.

The tool shows the total, and the material and labor lines on their own.

Worked examples

Example 1, the default job. 20 trusses.

• Material: 20 × $120 = $2,400
• Labor: 20 × $40 = $800
• Total: $3,200

Example 2, a bigger roof with pricier trusses. 28 trusses, $150 material, $55 labor.

• Material: 28 × $150 = $4,200
• Labor: 28 × $55 = $1,540
• Total: $5,740

Example 3, a small addition. 8 trusses at the default prices.

• Total: 8 × $160 = $1,280

Estimating the truss count

Trusses sit at a regular spacing along the length of the building, usually 24 in on center, and sometimes 16 or 19.2 in. A truss goes at each end. The count is the length in inches divided by the spacing, rounded down, plus one.

Building length	At 24 in	At 16 in
24 ft	13	19
32 ft	17	25
40 ft	21	31
48 ft	25	37

Gable ends, hip sections, and special trusses for a porch or a valley raise the count and the price. The truss maker’s layout is the final count.

What drives the price of a truss

• Span. A wider building needs a longer truss with more lumber.
• Pitch. A steep roof makes a taller truss.
• Loads. Heavy snow, tile roofs, and storage in the attic call for stronger members.
• Type. Scissor, attic, and girder trusses cost more than a standard common truss.
• Lumber and plate prices at the time of the order.

Engineered, so do not alter

Roof trusses are designed for a specific span and load, and the maker supplies a stamped drawing. Trusses must be installed as drawn, with the bracing the drawing shows. Cutting through a web or hanging heavy equipment from a truss can overload it. Roof framing is a structural job, so work with the supplier and your local building department, and use a qualified installer.

Labor and setting

Labor covers lifting, setting, bracing, and fastening the trusses. Most crews use a crane or a telehandler for a full roof, and that may be priced apart from the per-truss labor. Ask whether the labor quote includes sheathing, or only the trusses. Hand setting small trusses is possible for a small addition, but it takes several people and a safe plan.

Comparing quotes

When comparing quotes, line them up on the same basis: the same number of trusses, the same span and pitch, the same load rating, and whether delivery is included. Divide each total by the number of trusses to get a unit price, and compare that with the numbers you typed here.

Common mistakes

• Using a price for a different span or pitch.
• Forgetting the end trusses when counting.
• Leaving out delivery and the crane.
• Treating the calculator’s default prices as quotes.
• Assuming a truss can be trimmed to fit.

Planning the schedule

Trusses are made to order, so there is a lead time between the quote and the delivery. The weather also matters on setting day, since wind makes it risky to lift large frames. Line up the crane, the crew, and the sheathing so the roof can be closed in soon after the trusses go up. An open frame left standing in the rain is slow to dry out and can warp. Ask the supplier for a delivery window, and clear a flat, dry staging area near the building where the trusses can sit on blocks, off the ground.

Related calculators

The roof truss calculator finds the count from the length and spacing, the truss weight calculator estimates how heavy the load is for lifting, and the roofing cost calculator prices the covering that goes on top.