Free construction delay economics tool
Construction Jobsite Delay Cost Calculator
Translate jobsite delay into actual project-cost exposure by separating critical-path days from float, then pricing overhead, standby, productivity, financing and damages.
Simple delay event
Float & Concurrency GateSeparate calendar delay from true critical-path exposure
Delay timing
Daily cost stack
Disruption, financing & damages
Acceleration alternative
Delay logicCritical-path delay is calendar delay less available float and concurrent/overlapping delay, floored at zero. Daily delay costs apply only to those exposed critical-path days. Productivity loss, working-capital carry, one-time restart cost and liquidated damages are then added separately. Recoverability affects how much of the delay cost is expected to be reimbursed, not whether the cost occurred.
Delay Cost Stack
Simple scenarioWhere the delay cost comes from
Duration sensitivity
Cost as critical-path exposure grows
| Critical-path delay | Gross delay cost | Expected recoverable | Net contractor exposure | Cost / critical day |
|---|
Advanced delay portfolio
Delay Threat QueueModel eight separate delay events
Global project assumptions
Delay events
Delay eventCalendar daysFloatConcurrentIdle labor / dayEquip. / daySubs / dayRestart / disruptionRecoveryLD days
Acceleration option
Portfolio logicEach event calculates exposed critical-path days after float and concurrency, then prices daily overhead/standby, restart/disruption, financing and entered LD days. Events are ranked by net contractor-retained exposure after expected recovery. The stress matrix scales delay duration and crew/equipment disruption while holding recovery assumptions constant.
Delay Threat Queue
Highest exposure firstDelay events ranked by contractor-retained cost
| Priority | Delay event | Calendar days | Critical days | Gross cost | Expected recovery | Net exposure | LD exposure | Signal |
|---|
Portfolio Delay Cost Stack
Where the portfolio cost is accumulating
Delay duration × disruption stress matrix
Cells show net exposureNet contractor exposure under tougher delay conditions
Recovery sensitivity
Net delay exposure as claim recovery changes
| Recovery scale | Gross delay cost | Expected recovery | Net contractor exposure | Exposure / critical day |
|---|
Scope
This tool prices delay exposure; it does not determine entitlement
Critical-path status, concurrency, excusability, compensability, liquidated damages, recoverability and acceleration entitlement depend on the project schedule, contract, notices, causation records and applicable law. Use CPM schedule analysis and the project contract when making claim, time-extension or damages decisions.