Note: Estimates based on typical professional luthier labor benchmarks. Adjust labor rate and hours to match your shop's actual experience. Always confirm scope with the customer before starting.
Generated by Luthier Refret Job Quote Calculator — supreminders.com/luthier-refret-job-quote-calculator.html
Method: Labor hours estimated from instrument/board type benchmarks × shop rate; materials from per-fret fretwire length at wire cost + markup. Estimate only — adjust to your shop's actual experience.
How to Use This Calculator
This tool helps independent luthiers and guitar repair shops build an itemized refret quote in seconds. It calculates estimated labor hours based on the instrument type, fretboard material, and extra work required, then adds materials and consumables at your markup to produce a total job price.
Set your currency at the top of the page.
Select the instrument and enter the exact fret count.
Choose fretboard material — this is the biggest driver of labor time (maple requires finish work; binding requires nib re-cutting).
Pick fretwire type — stainless steel adds time because it dulls tools and requires more polishing effort.
Set the work scope: fingerboard leveling, nut work, and final setup are all individually priced.
Enter your shop rate and materials markup. The default reflects typical US bench luthier rates.
The quote updates instantly. Print it or share the link to send a pre-filled estimate to a customer.
When & Why Luthiers Use This Tool
Pricing a refret job is surprisingly inconsistent across the industry. Forum threads and luthier communities regularly show $200–$800+ quotes for similar work. The difference comes from: whether fingerboard leveling is included, fretboard material (maple vs rosewood), fretwire type (stainless steel takes far longer to dress and polish), and whether a full setup is part of the job. This calculator forces all those variables to be explicit, so you can produce a consistent, defensible quote every time — and show the customer exactly what they're paying for.
Labor Hour Benchmarks (How This Is Calculated)
The labor estimates are derived from industry-reported time ranges for each stage of a refret job. Key benchmarks used in this calculator:
Base refret labor: Fret removal, cleaning slots, pressing/gluing and seating new wire, initial level, crown, and polish — approximately 0.10–0.14 hours per fret depending on instrument type.
Maple finished boards: Add 30–60 min for masking, carefully removing frets without chipping lacquer, and finish touch-up sealing.
Binding / nib re-cutting: Add 30–45 min for trimming tangs on every fret to preserve binding nibs.
Stainless steel fretwire: Add 45–75 min for extra tool wear, extended dressing, and polishing to a reflective finish.
Full fingerboard leveling: Add 45–90 min for radiusing, sanding, and cleanup before fretting.
Nut cutting: 15–60 min depending on nut material and number of strings.
Final setup: 30–75 min for action, intonation, truss rod, and string change.
You can audit these benchmarks by comparing against your own shop's time logs and adjusting the labor rate or scope checkboxes accordingly.
Materials Cost Basis
Fretwire is typically sold by the foot (30 cm) or in bulk rolls. The calculator estimates linear inches of wire needed based on fret count and average fretboard width per instrument type, then prices that at a per-foot rate for each wire type. Approximate US wholesale prices used as defaults:
Nickel-silver fretwire: ~$0.35–$0.55 per linear foot
Stainless steel fretwire: ~$0.80–$1.20 per linear foot
EVO Gold fretwire: ~$1.40–$2.00 per linear foot
Bone nut blank: ~$4–$8; TUSQ blank: ~$6–$12; Synthetic blanks: ~$2–$5
These are editable via the markup slider. Your actual supplier cost will vary; treat the materials section as a starting point and adjust consumables to reflect your real sourcing costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a guitar refret take?
A standard rosewood-board refret on a 22-fret guitar typically takes 3–5 hours of skilled labor. Maple boards with lacquer finish add 1–2 hours for masking and finish touch-up. Stainless steel fretwire adds roughly 1 hour. A full fingerboard level adds another 45–90 minutes. Most luthiers allocate 4–7 hours total including final setup.
What is the difference between nickel, stainless, and EVO fretwire?
Nickel-silver is traditional — easy to work, affordable, and warm to the touch. Stainless steel (18% chromium) is extremely durable but dulls cutting tools quickly, adding labor. EVO Gold (copper-titanium-zinc) is harder than nickel but easier to file than stainless; it has a gold tint popular on vintage-style instruments. All three produce identical scale accuracy — the difference is wear, labor difficulty, and cost.
Why does a maple fretboard refret cost more?
Maple fretboards are finished with lacquer over the entire surface. Removing frets risks chipping that finish, and reinstalling them requires trimming the tang ends to preserve binding nibs. After the refret, the finish often needs spot-repair or full refinishing. These extra steps add significant time compared to an unfinished rosewood or ebony board.
Should a refret include a fret level, crown, and polish?
Best practice is yes. Even freshly installed frets are rarely perfectly level across the board. A fret level ensures all fret tops are coplanar; crowning restores the rounded profile; polishing removes scratches so strings glide cleanly. Skipping this step risks buzz and intonation issues. Most professional refret quotes include level/crown/polish — always confirm scope with the customer before starting.
How much fretwire do I need for a full refret?
A safe rule of thumb: order fret count × (average board width + 1 inch for overhang) per fret, or buy one 24-inch stick per 6–7 frets. For a 22-fret guitar, four standard 24-inch sticks covers the job with waste. Most luthiers buy in bulk rolls and estimate 2–3 linear feet of wire per instrument.
What should a complete refret cost in 2025–2026?
US market rates for a 22-fret electric guitar with rosewood board and nickel frets range roughly $250–$500. Stainless steel adds $80–$200. Maple boards, bound fretboards, and acoustic instruments run higher. Bass guitars with 20–24 frets are similar. High-cost regions (New York, LA, Nashville) and boutique shops skew toward the top of these ranges.
Method & Assumptions
Labor hours are estimated from benchmarks reported across luthier forums, trade publications, and shop pricing guides; they represent typical professional completion times and will vary by individual skill level and shop workflow. Materials costs use approximate US wholesale fretwire prices as defaults; actual costs depend on your supplier and order quantity. This tool provides an estimate for quoting purposes only — not a guarantee of cost or time. Always inspect the instrument before confirming a fixed price with a customer.