Understanding Subcontract Retention Percentage
How we calculate. Retention % = retainage held ÷ subcontract billed × 100. The form uses the same arithmetic as the worked examples on this page. See our methodology and accuracy policy.
Real-world scenario: A typical Subcontract Retention Percentage case uses retention held 50000 and subcontract billed 500000. Enter the same figures below to reproduce the worked path.
What is Subcontract Retention Percentage?
A contract cash-flow KPI for GCs and owners. Distinct from punch-list completion—this is dollars retained, not defects closed.
- Same subcontract for both amounts
- Billed = approved pay-app base per policy
- Watch release schedules
The Formula
Worked Example
Common Use Cases
- Pay apps: retainage checks
- Subcontractor cash flow: held funds
- Closeout: retention release readiness
Pro Tips
- Align with contract retainage %
- Separate stored materials rules
- Track cumulative vs period
Limitations: Subcontract Retention Percentage results are educational construction planning aids—not engineering, safety, legal, or cost-estimating advice. Confirm definitions with your project controls, safety, and contract documents. For earned-value SPI/CPI see the Professional hub.
FAQ
Held or contract retainage rate?
This form is held ÷ billed. The contractual retainage rate is often a fixed %—compare actual held to that rule.
What if subcontract billed is 0?
Retention % is undefined—enter a positive billed amount.
Authoritative References
For construction project controls and safety rate concepts, consult: