Carpenter Rate per Sq Ft: What Is Measured and What the Rate Includes

Short answer: most carpenters charge for wardrobes, kitchens and TV units per sq ft of the front area: width × height. Depth is usually not multiplied in. A 6 ft wide, 7 ft high almirah is 42 sq ft; a 2 ft loft on top adds 12 sq ft. Before work starts, agree on four things in writing: what is measured, whether the rate is labour only or with material, what extra items cost (drawers, lofts, laminate inside), and how payment is split.

We sell plywood, not carpentry, so we don't quote labour rates; they also change by area and by the carpenter. What we see at the counter every day is confusion about how the rate is worked out. This guide explains that.

The four ways carpenters charge

Way	Used for	How it's worked out
Per sq ft (front area)	Wardrobes, almirahs, kitchen units, TV units, crockery units, bookshelves	Width × height of the front
Per running foot	Kitchens (sometimes), counters, long shelves	Length along the wall, base and wall units counted separately
Per piece	Beds, dressing tables, doors, sofas, tables	A fixed amount for each item
Per day	Repairs, small jobs, fixing hardware	Days worked

Some carpenters ask for a percentage of the material cost instead. It's simple, but it means the labour goes up when the material goes up, so a costlier board or more sheets also means more labour. A per-sq-ft or per-piece rate keeps the two separate.

How the front area is measured

Measure width × height of what you see from the front, in feet:

• Almirah 6 ft wide × 7 ft high = 42 sq ft.
• Loft above it, 6 × 2 ft = 12 sq ft, often at a different rate. Ask.
• Kitchen base units 10 ft long × 2.75 ft high = 27.5 sq ft, and the wall units are counted separately.

Converting inches to feet

Divide inches by 12. A kitchen run of 181 inches × 29 inches is 15.08 ft × 2.42 ft = 36.5 sq ft. Agree beforehand whether the carpenter rounds up (29 inches counted as 3 ft) or uses the exact figure; on a big job, rounding every part up adds a lot.

L-shaped and U-shaped units

Measure each wall separately and add them. The corner is counted once, not twice: an L of 6 ft + 4 ft along the walls, with a 2 ft deep counter, is not 6 + 4 ft of front; the corner square sits in both. Ask the carpenter to show how the corner is counted.

Does depth count?

Usually no, for normal depths (about 2 ft for a wardrobe, 2 ft for a kitchen base, 1–1.25 ft for wall units). Some carpenters charge more when the depth goes beyond the normal, because it takes more material and work. Comments under Indian YouTube videos show both practices ("he charges double if depth is over 1 ft", "my carpenter is measuring the depth too"). Neither is wrong; it only has to be agreed before the job.

"Frame" rate vs "box" rate

You may hear two rates:

• Box: the full carcass (sides, top, bottom, shelves, back) plus shutters.
• Frame (or shutters only): only a frame and shutters on an existing cement or brick almirah. Less material, less work, so a lower rate.

If your house already has a cement almirah in the wall, ask for the frame rate. Plan the shutters in 18mm plywood or HDHMR either way: HDHMR vs plywood.

What a rate may or may not include

Ask about each line. These are the usual surprises:

Item	Ask
Material	Is the rate labour only, or with material? If with material, which brand and grade?
Inside laminate (liner)	Is pasting laminate inside the carcass and shutters included?
Edge band	Included on every visible edge?
Drawers	Included in the sq ft, or extra per drawer?
Shelves and partitions	Normally included in the box rate. Confirm.
Hardware fitting	Hinges, channels, locks, handles, baskets: fitting included? Hardware itself bought by whom?
Polish, PU or duco	Almost always extra, quoted separately
Old furniture	Removal and disposal?
Transport and helpers	Included or extra?

If the rate is with material, write the board, grade and thickness for each part into the quote: "carcass 18mm BWR, shutters 18mm HDHMR, back 6mm, 1mm laminate outside, liner inside". Without that, two quotes that look the same can be very different jobs. Our guide 10 questions to ask your carpenter has a one-page checklist.

Labour only? Then you buy the material

Many customers in Delhi pay the carpenter labour only and buy the material themselves. The advantages:

• You see the stamp, grade and thickness of every sheet. How to read it: plywood stamp guide.
• The GST bill and the warranty are in your name.
• The material cost is clear and separate from the labour.

The full comparison: buy the material yourself, or let the carpenter buy it?

To know how much to buy, use the sheet calculator or the full lists for a 7×6 almirah and 9×7 sliding wardrobe, a double bed and a 10 ft kitchen.

A worked example (no prices)

A bedroom wardrobe, 8 ft wide × 7 ft high, with a 2 ft loft, 4 shutters and 2 drawers, labour only:

Line	Measure
Wardrobe front	8 × 7 = 56 sq ft
Loft	8 × 2 = 16 sq ft (rate to agree)
Drawers	2 (included or per drawer?)
Inside laminate	Included?
Hardware fitting	Included?

Multiply the sq ft by the agreed rate, add the agreed extras, and write it down. The material (about 10–11 sheets for this size, an estimate) is a separate bill.

Payment and timing

• Stages: a small advance, a payment when the carcass is up, and the rest after shutters, hardware and cleaning are done.
• Days: agree how many days the job takes, and whether the carpenter works daily on your job.
• After the job: who fixes a shutter that drops or a channel that sticks in the first few months?

FAQ

Is the carpenter rate per sq ft calculated on depth too? Usually not. It's width × height of the front. Some carpenters charge more for depth beyond the normal 2 ft; agree it before the job.

Is a loft counted in the same sq ft? Measure it separately (width × loft height). Some carpenters charge the same rate, others a different one.

How are inches converted to sq ft? Divide each side in inches by 12, then multiply. 181 × 29 inches = 15.08 × 2.42 ft = 36.5 sq ft.

What does "with material" mean in a rate? The carpenter buys and supplies the boards, laminate and hardware. Ask for the brand, grade and thickness of each part in writing, and a bill.

What is the frame rate? The rate for making only a frame and shutters on an existing cement or brick almirah. It's lower than the box rate because there's no carcass.

Nitin Plywood House, Alipur

If you're paying your carpenter for labour only, we'll help you make the material list: send the furniture sizes or the carpenter's cut list on WhatsApp to +91-9212017608 and we'll reply with the sheet count, grade and today's rate. Plywood, HDHMR, laminate, edge band, Fevicol and hardware come in one delivery, anywhere in Delhi, with one GST bill. See all products.