KEVOS® WORKOS · Projects
Contingency Allowance
How much project contingency is reasonable?
Gives a screening contingency allowance from ratings of uncertainty, complexity and risk.
Open the calculatorRuns in your browser. No account needed.
How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Base project cost | $ | Base estimate before contingency |
| Estimate uncertainty | 1–5 score | How well defined the estimate is (1 detailed, 5 conceptual) |
| Complexity | 1–5 score | Technical complexity (1 routine, 5 novel) |
| Risk exposure | 1–5 score | Overall risk exposure (1 low, 5 high) |
Method and formulas
- Combined rating p = (uncertainty + complexity + risk) ÷ 15
- Rate = 5% + 20% × p
- Allowance = base × rate
Limitations
- A screening heuristic, not a quantified risk analysis
- Does not replace your estimating standard
Typical uses
- Early estimates and budget requests
- Sense-checking a contingency proposed by others
Who it is for
- Estimators
- Project managers
What you get
- Contingency rate (9–25%) and allowance
- Total including contingency
Interpreting the result
- For large or poorly defined projects, use range estimating or Monte Carlo analysis
- Do not double-count risks already priced in the base estimate
References
- AACE International Recommended Practice 40R-08, Contingency Estimating — General Principles
WORKOS tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.
