Practice overhead calculator
Your overhead percentage, broken down so you can see what's out of line.
Practice overhead is total non-dentist costs as a percentage of revenue, broken into categories so you can see which one is out of line. Divide each of staff, rent, lab, supplies, marketing and everything else by annual revenue. In most markets general practice overhead sits at 55–65%, with staff around 25–30%, rent 5–8%, lab 6–10%, supplies 5–7% and marketing 2–5%. A category above its range is where to look first, and staff and rent are usually the ones that matter.
How this is calculated
- Each category ÷ revenue gives its percentage.
- Benchmarks are typical general-practice ranges; specialists differ.
Frequently asked questions
My staff cost is 35% of revenue. Is that bad?
It is high against a typical 25–30% in most markets, but check chair utilisation before cutting hours. A full roster serving under-booked chairs shows up as a staff percentage problem when the real issue is revenue. Fill the chairs first and the percentage often falls on its own.
Does overhead include the dentists' pay?
Not in this calculator. Overhead here means the cost of running the practice around the clinicians, so associate pay and your own clinical pay are excluded. Some benchmarks include associate pay, so check the definition before comparing with a published figure.
Why are the category benchmarks different for specialists?
Because the cost mix is different. Orthodontists carry high staff and low lab, prosthodontists carry high lab, and surgical practices carry high supplies and equipment. Use the general-practice ranges only if you are a general practice.
What data do I need to work this out?
Your profit and loss statement for the last full year, with costs grouped into the six categories. Ask your accountant to code the accounts this way if they are not already; it makes the annual comparison much easier.
How often should I review overhead?
Quarterly from management accounts, with a full review annually. Overhead creeps a percentage point at a time, and quarterly is frequent enough to catch it.
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Benchmarks are indicative for general practice in most markets. Last updated 18 Sept 2026. See our methodology.