ATO benchmarks for carpenters
Carpenters earn from framing, fit-out, decks and repairs, working for builders or directly for homeowners, while timber, fixings, tools, vehicles and labour are their main costs.
General information
Total expenses as a share of turnover
Low and high end of each published range
| Turnover range | Financial year | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 to $110,000 | 2023-24 | 32% | 50% |
| $50,000 to $110,000 | 2022-23 | 32% | 52% |
| $110,001 to $400,000 | 2023-24 | 46% | 66% |
| $110,001 to $400,000 | 2022-23 | 49% | 69% |
| More than $400,000 | 2023-24 | 76% | 87% |
| More than $400,000 | 2022-23 | 77% | 88% |
Australian Taxation Office, Small Business Benchmarks, key ratios for 2023-24 and 2022-23 (data.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What sits behind these figures in the books
- The main day-to-day expenses are timber and fixings, power tool repairs and consumables, vehicle running costs, apprentices and subcontractors, equipment hire and insurance.
- Timber and hardware bought on trade accounts are checked against each monthly supplier statement, so bills are neither missed nor doubled up.
- Nail guns, saws and other tools bought to keep are recorded as equipment, and tools or materials bought for personal projects are kept out of the business books.
Sources
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2023-24 financial year, released 16 March 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2022-23 financial year, released 17 March 2025. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
Get your books in order
Cost of sales and total expenses are only as reliable as the books behind them. Tell us how your business runs and we will suggest a bookkeeping plan that fits.