Security Guard Cost Estimator
Work out what guard cover actually costs — guards, hours, armed or unarmed, supervision and patrols — before you speak to anyone.
What will security cover cost?
Set the cover you need and the estimate updates as you go. It is arithmetic on a published rate card, running in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere and no one calls you because you moved a slider.
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| Line item | Basis | Per week |
|---|
This is an estimate, not a quote. Rate card last reviewed July 2026. Real pricing comes off a site survey — risk grading, post orders, licensing in your jurisdiction, overtime and holiday rules, and how hard the post is to staff can each move the figure in either direction. Treat the number above as a budget range, not a price.
Get the real number
Send the estimate above with your site details and Fast Guards will come back with a firm, survey-backed quote. The form below opens your own email client with everything filled in — this page has no server and stores nothing.
The rate card this uses
| Site type | Unarmed | Armed |
|---|---|---|
| Retail / shopping centre | $24.00 | $34.00 |
| Construction site | $26.00 | $36.00 |
| Event / crowd control | $28.00 | $40.00 |
| Residential / gated community | $23.00 | $32.00 |
| Corporate / office reception | $27.00 | $38.00 |
- Overnight shift uplift+12%
- Weekend cover uplift+10%
- Supervision+8% of guard hours
- Vehicle patrol$5.00 per site hour
- Month4.33 weeks (52 / 12)
These are bill rates — what a client pays — not guard wages. They carry the guard's pay, employer taxes, liability insurance, licensing, uniform, supervision overhead, and cover for absence. A rate materially below this table usually means one of those is missing, and it is normally the insurance.
Why use this tool
Licensed guards
Armed and unarmed cover, matched to the site.
Know the cost first
Estimate weekly and monthly cost before you call anyone.
Scaled to your site
Retail, construction, events, residential or corporate.
What to check before you sign
Licences are yours to verify
Any guard you engage should hold a current licence for the state they work in. We tell you which body issues it and how to check the number yourself.
An estimate in about a minute
The calculator works from published rates for armed and unarmed cover. Treat it as a budgeting figure — real pricing follows a site survey.
What this site does not do
We take no bookings and no payments here, and we don't list companies we cannot verify. Use the estimate to brief providers directly.
How to use it
- Step 1
Tell us the site type, how many guards, and the hours.
- Step 2
Choose armed or unarmed, and whether you need supervision or patrol.
- Step 3
You get an indicative weekly and monthly cost. A site survey confirms the final price.
Frequently asked questions
Is the estimate binding?
No. It is indicative. Final pricing follows a site survey.
Armed or unarmed?
Unarmed suits most retail and residential sites. Armed cover is usual for cash handling and high-risk sites.
How quickly can guards deploy?
That depends on the city and the licence checks required.
Are the guards licensed?
Any guard you engage should hold a valid licence. Ask to see it.