diff --git a/src/components/cost-estimator/step-3-project-stage.tsx b/src/components/cost-estimator/step-3-project-stage.tsx
index e1a4bee..179f1ef 100644
--- a/src/components/cost-estimator/step-3-project-stage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/cost-estimator/step-3-project-stage.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+
 "use client";
 
 import type { FormData } from './cost-estimator-form';
@@ -28,8 +29,8 @@ const stageLabels = [
 ];
 
 const calculateHours = (projectStage: number): number => {
-    // Scale hours linearly from 0 to 50 as projectStage goes from 0 to 100.
-    return Math.round((projectStage / 100) * 50);
+    // Scale hours from 50 down to 0 as projectStage goes from 0 to 100.
+    return Math.round(((100 - projectStage) / 100) * 50);
 };
 
 export function Step3ProjectStage({ onNext, onBack, onUpdateData, formData }: Step3Props) {