How to Set Up a Conversion Formula for a Labor Task

Use Set Up Conversion Formula to tell the system how a labor task should calculate automatically based on the quantity of the line item.
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This is helpful when you are building a blank line item from scratch and want labor to scale automatically instead of updating it manually every time.
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For example, if 300 Sq. Ft of drywall removal usually takes 1 man hour, you can save that as the production rate. Then, when the quantity changes, the labor adjusts automatically.

Use a conversion formula when the labor needed for a task depends on the quantity of work being estimated.
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This is useful for work such as:

Instead of typing labor hours manually, you create a rule once and let the system calculate it for you.

Before setting up a conversion formula, make sure:

Note: Based on current testing, this option appears when working with a blank line item, not on pre-built templates.
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A conversion formula connects the line item quantity to the labor required.
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In simple terms, you are telling the system:
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“For this amount of work, this is how much labor it takes.”
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Example:
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If 300 Sq. Ft of drywall removal takes 1 man hour, the system will use that rule to calculate labor for larger or smaller quantities.
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That means:

This keeps the labor task consistent and saves time when the estimate changes.

Go to the labor task at the bottom of the blank line item.
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Click the 3 dots menu and select Set Up Conversion Formula.
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This opens the production rate setup window.
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IIn the Convert Based On field, select the value that should control the labor calculation.

From your line item, the dropdown may show options such as:

For a new user, this means the system can calculate labor from different parts of the line item, not only from the main quantity.
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When to use each option
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Line Item - Qty
Use this when labor should follow the main quantity of the line item.
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Example:
If the estimate quantity is 300 Sq. Ft, labor will be calculated from those 300 square feet.
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Custom field or element
Use this when labor should follow a specific measurement entered inside the line item.
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Example:
If labor depends on Length of Wall, choose that field instead of the main quantity.
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This is useful when the main quantity and the labor-driving measurement are not the same.

In the Qty and Unit fields, you will define the amount of work used as the base production rate.
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Example:

This means the labor production rate is being built using 300 square feet as the reference point.
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If you selected Line Item - Qty in the Convert Based On field, these values will usually be auto-populated using the same quantity and unit from the main line item.
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That means the system pulls the base quantity directly from the line item you are building, helping keep the labor conversion aligned with the main estimate details.
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For a new user, this is important because it means you do not always need to enter the quantity and unit manually. The values may already appear based on what was entered in the main line item.
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Next, enter how much labor is needed for that quantity.
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Example:

This means the total labor for 300 square feet is 1 man hour.
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If the work is done by a crew of 3 people, that same labor is spread across the crew, which is why the time shows as 0.33 hours.
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This helps the system understand both the total labor effort and how that labor is distributed.
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At the bottom of the window, the Conversion / Production Rate section shows the rule being created.
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This section confirms how the system will apply the labor rate.
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Example:
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300 Sq. Ft per 1 of Remove damaged drywall
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This means the labor task will scale automatically using the production rate you entered.
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Turn on Round Up if you want the result to round up instead of showing smaller decimals.
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This can be useful when you want cleaner labor values.
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For example, if a calculation results in a small decimal, rounding up can make the labor easier to review and use in the estimate.
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Once the production rate is correct, click Save.
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The labor task will now use that rule to calculate labor automatically when the line
item quantity changes.
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The conversion setup also includes additional options that make the labor calculation more flexible.

Use Add Dependency when the production rate should change based on another value or condition.
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For example, labor may take longer if the work is more difficult than normal.
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After clicking Add Dependency, you can select a dependency and apply a Scale.
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This allows the same labor task to adjust based on the condition selected.
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Use Add Variation when the labor should behave differently depending on a dropdown option.
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When you click Add Variation, the system asks you to choose a dropdown field.
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This is useful when one labor task can change depending on the type of work selected.
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Example:
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A dropdown could contain:

Each option may require a different production rate.
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This helps keep the estimate flexible without creating multiple separate labor tasks.
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​Enter the Element name
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In the Element field, enter the name of the variation field.
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This is the label the user will see on the line item.
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Examples:

Use a clear name so the user understands what they are selecting

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​Choose a color
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Use the Color field to assign a color to the variation field.
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This is mainly for visual organization and does not change the labor calculation.
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In the Search production rates field, choose the production rates that will be available for this variation.
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If the production rate does not already exist, you can create a new one.
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When creating a new production rate, enter a name and save it.

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​Add variation options
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In the Default Option field use Add Variation to create each option the user will be able to choose from.
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When the Add Variation window opens, complete:

Each variation option should have its own matching production rate.

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​Choose where the variation appears
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In the Select Tab field, choose where the variation field should appear inside the line item.

Available options shown in your example include:

For most users, Main is usually the best option because it keeps the variation visible with the main estimate details.
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​Save the variation
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Once the variation field, options, production rates, default option, and tab location are ready, click Save.
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The user will then be able to select the variation from the line item, and the labor task will follow the linked production rate.
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Use Size Conditions when the production rate should change depending on the quantity range.
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This is helpful because small jobs and large jobs do not always perform at the same speed.
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Example:

In this example, larger jobs become more efficient because the crew can complete more work in less time per unit.
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Size conditions are useful when production improves or changes as the project gets larger.
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A user creates a blank line item called:
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Remove damaged drywall
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They add a labor task and open Set Up Conversion Formula.

They enter:

Now the labor task will scale automatically.
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If the line item quantity is:

This means the user does not need to update the labor manually every time the quantity changes.