Demobilization-Remobilization Cost Calculator

Full demob-remob cycles are expensive. This calculator sizes the round trip.

Subcontract value

Mob+demob fee %

Weeks off-site

Staff retention cost/week

Cycle cost

$141,000

Fees cost

$114,000

Retention cost

$27,000

How the math works

Cycle cost = fees + retention over off-site period.

Cycle costs often exceed 15% of subcontract. Budget cycle exposure during planning; require 30-day notice from owner on known pauses.

How to Use

Enter subcontract value.
Enter mob and demob fee %.
Enter weeks off-site.
Enter key staff retention cost.
Read cycle cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cycle components?

Demob fee on exit. Trailer/tool transport. Staff retention during off-period (or lose them). Re-mob fee on return. Lost time during ramp-up. Can exceed 20% of subcontract.

Long pauses?

Pauses over 6 weeks often cause contractor to bid job new — original pricing no longer holds. Material and labor may have inflated. Treat long pause as effectively terminated sub.

Partial remob?

Send half crew back to start while remaining builds momentum elsewhere. Stage re-mob over 2 weeks. Reduces standby and re-mob fee while sub ramps back up.

How often should I rerun this?

Rerun this calculator whenever inputs change materially — new rent roll data, rate moves, loan balance updates, or quarterly operating data. For active deals, monthly refresh is typical. For stabilized assets under monitoring, quarterly is fine. Treat the output as a decision tool, not a one-time answer — market conditions evolve and so should your analysis.