Construction cost estimating
Complete material, labor and equipment pricing from your drawings, organized by CSI MasterFormat division and priced for the project ZIP code.
Construction estimates for all 50 US states
Construction estimating services that help US contractors win more bids
Send your plans today. Get an accurate cost estimate and quantity takeoff with ZIP-code labor and material pricing, organized by CSI division, in 24–72 hours.
- Fixed price before work starts
- Free revision on every estimate
- NDA on request
24–72 hr turnaround
| 03 Concrete | 186 CY | $48,920 |
| 09 Drywall | 11,800 SF | $27,540 |
| 26 Electrical | 3,900 LF | $52,310 |
| Bid total | $128,770 | |
24–72 hrstandard turnaround
50 statesZIP-code pricing
16+ tradesacross all CSI divisions
2-stepestimator + reviewer check
Delivered in the formats your team already uses
- PlanSwift
- Bluebeam Revu
- On-Screen Takeoff
- Trimble Accubid
- Excel
- PDF & DWG
Outsourced construction estimating, without the overhead of an in-house estimator
Most contractors win only a fraction of the jobs they bid. Every lost bid is hours of measuring and pricing that nobody pays for, usually done late at night after a full day on site.
Bidding Estimate works as your on-demand preconstruction department. Our construction cost estimators prepare detailed takeoffs and bid estimates for general contractors, subcontractors, developers and homeowners across the United States. You send plans only when you have a job to bid, pay a fixed price per project, and keep your time for running work and closing clients.
- Bid more projects without hiring
- Prices that match your local market
- Quantities you can check line by line
Our construction estimating and takeoff services
From a quick budget number to a complete multi-trade bid package, each estimate is prepared by an estimator who has priced your type of work before.
Quantity takeoff services
Measured quantities for every item, with color-coded marked-up plans that show exactly what was counted on each sheet.
Bid estimating & proposals
Bid-ready summaries with inclusions, exclusions and alternates, plus a scope letter you can send to the GC or owner the same day.
MEP estimating
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing takeoffs down to fixtures, fittings, conduit runs and ductwork by size and gauge.
Preliminary budget estimates
Early cost models from schematic or design-development sets, so owners and developers can test feasibility before full design.
Change orders & value engineering
Priced change orders and side-by-side material alternates that show where the budget can move without cutting scope.
What you get in every construction estimate
No black-box totals. You see the working behind every number, so you can check it, adjust it and defend it at bid review.
- Itemized cost breakdown
- Material, labor and equipment per line item in Excel, grouped by CSI division.
- Measured quantities
- LF, SF, CY and counts for every item, with waste factors shown.
- Marked-up drawings
- Color-coded PDF plans that show what was measured on each sheet.
- Scope & exclusions
- A clear list you can attach to your proposal.
Trade-specific estimating for every CSI division
Single-trade takeoffs for subcontractors, or complete estimates across all divisions for general contractors.
- Div 03Concrete estimating
- Div 04Masonry estimating
- Div 05Structural steel estimating
- Div 06Lumber & framing estimating
- Div 06Millwork & casework estimating
- Div 07Roofing estimating
- Div 07Insulation estimating
- Div 08Doors & hardware estimating
- Div 09Drywall & ceilings estimating
- Div 09Painting estimating
- Div 09Flooring estimating
- Div 22Plumbing estimating
- Div 23HVAC estimating
- Div 26Electrical estimating
- Div 31Sitework & earthwork estimating
- Div 32Landscaping estimating
Estimates for residential, commercial and industrial projects
Residential estimating
Single-family homes, ADUs, additions, remodels and custom builds.
Commercial estimating
Retail, office fit-outs, restaurants, hotels and multifamily.
Industrial estimating
Warehouses, distribution centers, pre-engineered metal buildings.
Public & institutional
Schools, healthcare and government bids, including prevailing wage.
How our construction estimating process works
Four steps from plans to a bid-ready number.
Send your plans
Upload drawings, specs and addenda, or share a plan-room link. Tell us the trades and your bid date.
Get a fixed quote
We review the set and reply with a fixed price and delivery date, usually within a few business hours.
We measure and price
A trade estimator completes the takeoff and applies ZIP-code pricing. A second estimator reviews it.
Receive and bid
You get Excel, marked-up PDFs and a bid summary. Questions and one revision are included.
Why contractors choose Bidding Estimate
Trade estimators, not generalists
Electrical takeoffs are done by electrical estimators, concrete by concrete estimators. They know what gets missed.
Local pricing, not national averages
Labor and material rates are adjusted to the project ZIP code, including prevailing wage where it applies.
Second-estimator review
Every estimate is checked by another estimator before delivery, to catch missed scope and math errors.
Confidential and fixed price
Your plans are never shared with other bidders, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Outsourced estimating vs. hiring an in-house estimator
A realistic look at cost and capacity, so you can decide what fits your business.
| Bidding Estimate | In-house estimator | Software only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost model | Fixed price per project | Salary, benefits and licenses year-round | Subscription plus your own time |
| Busy-season capacity | Scales with your bid list | Limited to one person’s hours | Limited to your hours |
| Trade coverage | All divisions, trade specialists | Usually one or two trades | Depends on the user |
| Local pricing | ZIP-code rates included | Depends on experience | Extra cost databases |
| Quality check | Second-estimator review | Rarely reviewed | None |
Custom quotes for every construction estimate
No hourly billing and no fixed packages that don’t fit your job. We review your plans and send one firm price before any work begins.
Residential estimates
Single-family homes, ADUs, additions and remodels.
- One or more trades
- Excel and marked-up PDFs
- One free revision
Commercial estimates
Retail, office, multifamily, healthcare and education.
- Single trade or full CSI estimate
- Second-estimator review
- Bid summary and scope letter
Monthly bidding support
For contractors bidding several projects every month.
- Same estimator on every bid
- Priority scheduling
- Volume-based pricing
What your quote is based on
- Project size and type
- Number of trades or CSI divisions
- Level of drawing detail
- Your bid due date
Construction estimators serving contractors across the USA
Labor and material costs in Florida are not the same as in New York or California. Every estimate is priced for the project’s own location, including prevailing wage and union rates where they apply.
We regularly estimate single-family and multifamily housing, retail and restaurants, office fit-outs, warehouses, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels and public works.
A contractor’s guide to construction estimating services
What does a construction estimator do?
A construction estimator reviews the drawings and specifications, measures the quantity of every material the project needs, and applies material prices, labor productivity, labor rates and equipment costs to calculate what the work will cost. The estimator also lists what is included and excluded, so the bid can be compared fairly with others.
Types of construction estimates
A preliminary or budget estimate is prepared early, often from schematic drawings, to check whether a project is feasible. A detailed or bid estimate is prepared from construction documents and is used to submit a price. Change-order estimates price work added or removed after the contract is signed.
Why accuracy decides whether you win or lose
An estimate that is too high loses the bid. One that is too low wins a job that loses money. Missed scope, wrong waste factors and national-average labor rates are the most common causes. Measuring from the latest addenda and pricing for the local market removes most of that risk.
When outsourcing makes sense
Outsourcing works best when your bid volume changes through the year, when you are bidding outside your usual trade or region, or when your team is too busy running jobs to estimate new ones. You pay per estimate instead of carrying a full-time salary during slow months.
Frequently asked questions about construction estimating
Can’t find your answer? Email estimates@biddingestimate.com.
What are construction estimating services?
Construction estimating services are outsourced estimators who read your plans and specifications, measure every quantity, and price materials, labor and equipment so you can submit an accurate bid, without hiring a full-time estimator.
How much does a construction estimate cost?
Every project receives a custom, fixed-price quote. The price depends on project size, the number of trades, the level of drawing detail and your deadline. Send your plans and we reply with a firm price, usually within a few business hours, before any work begins.
How fast will I receive my estimate?
Standard turnaround is 24 to 72 hours after scope is confirmed. Rush delivery is available for bids due sooner. Large multi-trade projects may take longer, and the delivery date is confirmed in writing before we start.
What is the difference between a takeoff and an estimate?
A quantity takeoff measures what the project needs, such as cubic yards of concrete or square feet of drywall. An estimate takes those quantities and applies material prices, labor rates, equipment, overhead and profit to reach a bid total. We can deliver either one or both.
What do I need to send to get a quote?
Send drawings (PDF, DWG or a plan-room link), specifications if available, all addenda, the project ZIP code, the trades you need priced and your bid due date.
How do you price labor and materials for my area?
We apply current material pricing and labor rates adjusted to the project ZIP code, and flag where prevailing wage or union rates apply. You can also send your own labor rates or supplier quotes to be built into the estimate.
Which estimating software do you use?
Our estimators work in PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu, On-Screen Takeoff and Trimble Accubid, and deliver in Excel and PDF. If you use a specific template or format, we can deliver in it.
Do you work with subcontractors or only general contractors?
Both. We prepare single-trade estimates for subcontractors such as electricians, drywall, roofing and concrete contractors, and complete multi-trade estimates for general contractors, developers, architects and homeowners.
Which states do you provide estimates for?
We prepare estimates for projects in all 50 US states. Because pricing is set by ZIP code, a project in Texas and one in New York are each priced for their own local labor and material market.
Can you estimate public and prevailing wage projects?
Yes. For public bids we apply the applicable prevailing wage determination for the project location and follow the bid form and specification requirements of the owner.
What if the drawings change or an addendum is issued?
Every estimate includes one free revision for minor changes. If an addendum changes scope significantly, we quote the update before starting, so there are no surprise charges.
Is my project information kept confidential?
Yes. Plans and pricing are used only for your estimate and are never shared with other bidders. We are happy to sign your NDA before you send drawings.
Get a fixed-price quote for your next bid
Send your plans and bid date. We reply with a price and delivery time, usually within a few business hours.
- +1 (000) 000-0000
- estimates@biddingestimate.com
- Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm EST