FULL-DETAIL TIME LOG
Detail Compass | October 5, 2026

Use an anonymous job reference. Keep customer names, contact details, and license plates out of shared logs.
Follow the exact vehicle instructions, equipment manual, chemical labels, safety data sheets, and local wastewater rules. Put safety and compatibility checks ahead of work.

WORKED EXAMPLE: ONE WORKER (ALL INPUTS HYPOTHETICAL)
Scope: exterior wash and spray protection; interior vacuum and surface clean; glass.
Excludes extraction, polishing, and coating. Stages are sequential. No required waiting remains.
Inspection/setup: 30 worker minutes
Wheels/wash/exterior drying: 75 worker minutes
Interior vacuum/surface clean: 105 worker minutes
Spray protection/glass: 45 worker minutes
Checks/handover/packing: 30 worker minutes
On-site work: 285 minutes / 4 hours 45 minutes
Booking buffer: 45 minutes
Booking total: 330 minutes / 5 hours 30 minutes
Available booking window: 360 minutes / 6 hours
Result: passes with 30 minutes remaining AFTER buffer.
Off-site work: travel 40 + messages 10 + laundry/equipment care 10 = 60 worker minutes.
Estimated worker time: 285 + 60 = 345 minutes / 5 hours 45 minutes, excluding unused buffer.
Count each task once. If the buffer is used, record the actual worker minutes.

LOW/BASE/HIGH BOOKING CHECK (ALL INPUTS HYPOTHETICAL)
Low: 255 on-site + 45 buffer = 300 minutes. Pass: 60 minutes remain.
Base: 285 on-site + 45 buffer = 330 minutes. Pass: 30 minutes remain.
High: 345 on-site + 45 buffer = 390 minutes. Fail: 30 minutes over.
Fix: reserve a longer appointment or agree a smaller scope. Rerun the check.

TWO-WORKER EXAMPLE (HYPOTHETICAL)
Two people working for 60 minutes each = 120 worker minutes / 2 worker hours.
Elapsed time = 60 minutes. Plan actual overlap; do not halve every booking.

BLANK JOB RECORD
Anonymous reference:
Date:
Vehicle size and inspected condition:
Included tasks:
Excluded tasks:
Worker count:
Site and utility checks:
Equipment/product instructions checked:
Scope approval:

For EACH stage, record:
Task:
Planned start/finish:
Actual start/finish:
Each worker's minutes (sum these):
Required waiting duration and start/end:
Other work performed during waiting:
Remaining waiting added to elapsed schedule:
Interruption and reason:

BOOKING CHECK
On-site elapsed schedule (include all work stages and remaining waits once):
Booking buffer (minutes):
Booking total (minutes):
Available on-site window (minutes):
Remaining window = available window minus booking total:
Required further vehicle hold and aftercare:
Can site meet each equipment/product condition? Yes / No
Pass only when booking total fits the window and every required hold and site condition can be met.
Fail fix: extend the booking, change the site, or revise the agreed scope. Obtain approval. Rerun.

WORKER-HOUR RECORD
On-site worker minutes (sum each worker's time):
Travel worker minutes:
Messages/quoting worker minutes:
Laundry/equipment care worker minutes (only work not already counted on site):
Total worker minutes:
Total worker hours = total worker minutes / 60:
Record actual buffer labor when used; do not count an unused buffer as measured work.

ACTUAL CLOSEOUT
Actual handover time:
Actual vehicle hold and care instructions supplied:
Overrun reason and scope changes approved:
Next estimate change:
Review 4 to 8 comparable jobs as a starting practice check, not an industry average.
PRICING TOOL FIELDS
Hands-on hours: vehicle work only.
Support hours: inspection, setup, handover, packing, travel, messages, and equipment care.
Count each task once.
Hypothetical base case: vehicle work 75 + 105 + 45 = 225 minutes = 3.75 hands-on hours.
Support work 30 + 30 + 60 = 120 minutes = 2 support hours.
Both fields sum to 5.75 worker hours. Do not put the combined total in Hands-on hours and add Support hours again.
Pricing tool: https://detailcompass.com/tools/pricing
Guide: https://detailcompass.com/guides/how-long-does-a-full-detail-take