Hobby Project Cost and Hours Tracker

Who this is for

What a project really came to. Log every purchase and every working session on one build, make or restoration, and the tracker adds up the money, the hours and what each hour of the project cost.

Model builders, woodworkers, restorers, knitters and makers of all kinds who want an honest answer to how much a finished piece cost them in money and time.

What this helps you track

• Every material, tool and part bought for the project
• Every session spent on it and how long it took
• The running total of money and hours from start to finish
• Spending split into materials, tools and other costs
• What each hour of the project cost overall

How to use it

1. Write the hobby, the project and the date you started it.
2. Each time you buy something for it, add a row with the date, the item, the type and the cost.
3. Each time you work on it, add a row with the date, what you did and the hours spent.
4. Totals and cost per hour are worked out in the browser and the workbook; on paper, add the columns at the foot.
5. Fill in the finish date when it is done, then compare the totals with what you expected.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Should tools count towards the project?

That is your call. A tool bought only for this project probably belongs on it; one you will use for years might not. The type column lets you see the total with and without tools.

Does it put a value on my time?

No. It counts hours and divides the money by them to show what each hour cost you. It does not charge for your time, because for a hobby that is up to you.

Can I track more than one project on the sheet?

Use one sheet per project so the totals mean something. The browser version saves in your own browser, so you can keep a copy for each project.

What if I sell the finished piece?

Write the sale in the notes with the date and amount. If you sell regularly, the collection purchase and sale ledger keeps money in and out side by side.