Calculators › Change Order Impact

Change Order Impact Calculator

See the real impact before you sign the change order. Enter your original contract value and the change order amount to see the revised total and % impact instantly.

Inputs

Enter a negative value for a credit / deduct change order.

For estimation purposes only. Terms of Use

Result

revised contract value
Original contract value
Change order amount
Revised contract value
Percentage change

A single change order rarely tells the whole story. Log it here, then track every change order for the project with the Change Order & Cost Impact Tracker — automatically running totals so you always know your true contract value.

One change order is easy to track in your head. The fifth one on a job is not.

The Change Order & Cost Impact Tracker logs every change order with a running total against your original contract — part of the Summit Pro Cost Control Bundle.

Get the Change Order Tracker →

Part of the Cost Control workflow.

Formula Used

Revised Contract Value = Original Contract Value + Change Order Amount
Percentage Change = (Change Order Amount ÷ Original Contract Value) × 100

Classification is based on the absolute percentage change: Minor under 5%, Moderate 5–15%, and Major above 15%. Many contracts flag cumulative changes above a set threshold for additional approval, so knowing the percentage impact early matters.

Worked Example

An original contract of $250,000 with an approved change order of $18,500:

Revised = 250,000 + 18,500 = $268,500
% Change = (18,500 ÷ 250,000) × 100 = 7.4% (Moderate)

When to Use This Calculator

Use this to quickly see how a single approved or pending change order moves your contract value and by what percentage, before you sign or submit it.

When Not to Use This Calculator

This checks one change order at a time and does not save results. For a running log of every change order on a job with cumulative totals, use the Change Order & Cost Impact Tracker template.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a change order?

Any approved or pending modification to scope, cost, or schedule from the original contract.

Does this calculator save my change orders?

No — for a running log across the whole project, use the Change Order & Cost Impact Tracker template.

Can I use this for verbal change orders too?

We recommend documenting even verbal changes in writing before proceeding — this calculator helps you see the cost impact either way.