How It Works
HireOrDIY uses a simple but powerful formula to put an honest dollar value on your time.
Your True Hourly Rate
We start by calculating what one hour of your life is actually worth. By default we use 40 hours/week (2,080 hours/year). You can adjust this — and your tax rate — in the Advanced Options to see your after-tax hourly rate.
Monthly DIY Cost
For each task, we calculate what it costs you in time and materials per month. Example: house cleaning at 2h/week, $5 materials, at $36/hr = (2×4×$36) + ($5×4) = $308/month.
Compare to Professional Cost
We compare your monthly DIY cost to the monthly cost of hiring a professional. If your DIY cost is higher → hire the pro. If lower → keep doing it yourself.
The Breakeven Point
Each task page shows the exact salary at which DIY and hiring cost the same. Below that salary, DIY is more economical. Above it, hiring is the rational choice.
Important Caveat
This calculator provides economic guidance only. Your personal satisfaction, learning goals, health benefits of physical activity, desire for privacy, or other non-financial factors are all valid reasons to deviate from the recommendation. Use it as one data point in your decision, not a directive.
Data Sources
Task times and professional costs are based on US national averages from industry surveys, home services platforms (Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, Angi), and published consumer research. All costs and times are approximate and will vary based on your location, home size, skill level, and specific situation.