Security guard cost calculator
Work out the billing rate per guard before you quote. Minimum wage, PF, ESIC, bonus, gratuity, relievers and your margin, all on one screen. Your inputs stay saved in this browser.
Rates updated 9 Oct 2026Central sphere VDA w.e.f. 1 Oct 2026EPF ceiling ₹25,000
How we calculate
Everything is per guard per month, then scaled to your deployment. Figures as of 9 Oct 2026.
| Item | Rule used |
|---|---|
| Wage | Central sphere daily rate (Basic + VDA) × 26, or your custom monthly wage |
| Employer PF | 12% + EDLI 0.5% + admin 0.5% on PF wages, capped at ₹25,000 |
| ESIC | 3.25% of gross, only if gross ≤ ₹21,000 |
| Bonus | 8.33% of the higher of ₹7,000 or the wage entered, only if wage ≤ ₹21,000 |
| Gratuity | 4.81% of wage (15 days per year ÷ 26 working days ÷ 12 months) |
| Leave, supervision | Your % of wage |
| Relievers | 7-day posts: each guard works 6 days, so 1/6 extra guard per position (16.7%). 6-day posts: none |
| Margin | Your % on total cost (wage + statutory + overheads + relievers) |
| GST | 18% on the monthly value, shown separately |
- Guards per post = hours per post ÷ shift length, rounded up. A 24-hour post on 8-hour shifts needs 3 positions.
- The calculator treats the whole wage as basic + DA. If you pay allowances that exceed 50% of total pay, the excess counts as wages for PF, gratuity and bonus under the labour codes.
- For bonus we treat the wage you enter as the applicable minimum wage. Bonus can go up to 20%; we use the 8.33% minimum.
- EPF admin charges have a minimum of ₹500 per establishment per month, which this per-guard view ignores.
- State minimum wages differ. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Sources
Minimum wages and VDA: Labour Bureau / MoLE order File No. 6/1/2026-VDA, 30 Sep 2026 — clc.gov.in, SGCMS summary
EPF ceiling ₹25,000, S.O. 5109(E) of 17 Sep 2026 — BDO alert, SGCMS
Bonus under the Code on Wages — SCC Online
Labour codes, wages definition and gratuity — EY alert