Free calculator · nothing is uploaded
What does a day of delay actually cost?
Most people guess this, and they guess low — because they count the crew and forget supervision, plant on standby, the site establishment that runs whether anyone works or not, and the overhead the job carries. Put the real numbers in and see it.
Plant and equipment on standby
This is what it costs you, not what you can claim. Recovery depends entirely on your contract and on
proving the delay was a qualifying cause. Many contracts exclude profit on delay, treat overheads differently,
and impose short notice periods — miss the notice and a good claim can be barred completely.
Cost and entitlement are two separate questions, and this only answers the first.
Why the number is always bigger than people think
Ask a site manager what a lost day costs and you usually get the crew cost. That is often less than half of it.
The site establishment runs whether anybody works or not. Hired plant is still on hire. Supervision is still
being paid. The head office overhead the job carries does not pause. And if the day pushes completion, there
may be liquidated damages sitting behind it at a rate set in the contract before anyone turned a sod.
Knowing the real daily number changes decisions — it is the difference between
“we will sort it tomorrow” and getting somebody on the phone now.
Questions
Is this what I can claim?
No. It is what it costs you. What is recoverable depends entirely on your contract and on proving the delay was a qualifying cause. Cost and entitlement are two separate questions.
Should I include profit?
Most contracts treat delay costs and profit differently, and many exclude profit on delay entirely. This keeps overheads separate so you can see both parts, but check your contract before claiming either.
What about plant on standby?
Hired plant sitting idle is usually still on hire, and that is a real cost. Owned plant is a different and harder argument. Enter what you are actually paying during the delay.
Does it store my figures?
They stay in your browser on your device. Nothing is sent to us.
Related free tools
A day costs the same whether or not anyone wrote it down
Obras keeps the delay register, the RFI chase trail and the diary running as the job runs — so when a delay has to be proved, the record already exists.
This is a practical site-management tool. It is not legal, engineering or regulatory advice and does not guarantee compliance or a satisfactory inspection outcome. Requirements may vary by jurisdiction, project, contract and circumstances.
