What should it cost to have a wheel built?

The main cost will be the rim you choose.

You can get it built with an $80 Mavic Open Pro, or a $600 Zipp rim. It's up to you.

Spokes are pretty cheap, unless you decide to get Sapim bladed or Ti spokes or something like that.

Labor should run you $50-75 for building the wheel. Your LBS should be able to give you several options.

A custom builder is another option.

Edited by bcart1991 2008-03-21 7:32 AM

Labor is free. Buy Jobst Brandt, "The Bicycle Wheel" and have a beer while you're working. You've built up a bike; take the next leap and lace a wheel!

If you're going to pay the labor, $50-$75 is about right.

Rims are typically ~$70. I like Velocity rims for an Aluminum rim. They rebadge for many wheels including Ritchey, Neuvation, FSA and some others. Strong as snot, aero if you want, box rim if you prefer, tons of colors to choose from.

I just paid $39 for the labor to have the hub built into my exisiting wheel. I then had to purchase new spokes (24 total) that cost me $30. So in total, around $70 including spokes.

Here you go: Pretty step by step. Of course, I've done this a couple times and I remember: It seems difficult at even the third reading. But, if you read carefully, you can do this.
http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

The link to the Damon Rinard spreadsheet is a good one. The spreadsheet knows the dimensions of most every hub and rim manufactured and calculates the spoke length. My LBS actually uses this when they order parts to build wheels with.

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