Rework cost calculator
Every piece of work that comes back costs twice. See the number.
How the math works
We keep it simple and show every step.
- Pieces finished per month = people × pieces per week × 4.
- Pieces redone per month = that × the share that comes back.
- Hours lost = redone pieces × (worker redo hours + manager review hours).
- Cost = worker hours × worker rate + manager hours × manager rate.
- Share of time = hours lost ÷ (people × 160 hours a month).
With the example numbers: 10 people × 8 pieces × 4 weeks = 320 pieces. 30% come back, so 96 redos. Each redo costs 1.5 worker hours and 0.5 manager hours, so 144 + 48 = 192 hours. At $40 and $70 an hour, that is $5,760 + $3,360 = $9,120 a month.
What the number does not include
It leaves out the slow parts. Waiting for the review. Waiting for the fix. The client who saw the first version. The teammate who was blocked. These are real costs too. The number on the page is the floor, not the ceiling.
Where does your number come from?
If you do not know your "share that comes back," count for one week. Every time you send something back, make a tick. Most teams who count are surprised. Thirty percent is common. Fifty is not rare.
How to bring the number down
Rework has a few causes, and you can find yours. An unclear request. A missing fact. A rushed first draft that nobody checked. The fix is almost always earlier: a clearer brief, and a check before the handoff, not after.
M-Tracker does the check for you. When work is marked done, it compares the work with the request and shows the person what is missing before the manager sees it. Teams see fewer redos, and the redos they do see are smaller.
Start free · Guide: How much do revisions really cost a 10-person team?
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