Construction cost estimates built from measured quantities, not guesses.
Detailed, CSI-organized construction cost estimates with measured quantities, labor, and material for bids, budgets, and owner reviews.
A reliable cost estimate starts with a reliable takeoff. We measure every scope item from your drawings, organize it by CSI MasterFormat division, and carry quantities through to material, labor, and equipment so you can see exactly how each number was built.
Whether you need a conceptual budget from schematic drawings or a detailed bid-level estimate from a full construction document set, the estimate is structured the same way: line items with units, waste factors you can review, and unit costs you can adjust in an editable workbook.
Every estimate comes with a written list of assumptions, clarifications, inclusions, and exclusions, so you, your owner, or your lender can understand the scope behind the total before it goes into a bid or a pro forma.
Who it is for
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Developers and owners
- Architects and design teams
- Home builders and remodelers
What's included
- Full quantity takeoff: Every measurable item is taken off the plans in its proper unit: CY of concrete, SF of drywall, LF of trim, EA of fixtures, and TON of steel.
- CSI MasterFormat organization: Line items are grouped by division and section so the estimate lines up with project specifications and subcontractor scopes.
- Material, labor, and equipment: Costs are broken out by component so you can compare self-performed work against sub quotes line by line.
- Reviewable waste factors: Waste and overage are applied as visible factors by material type, not buried in unit prices, so you can adjust them to your crews.
- Regional pricing references: Unit costs can reflect current regional pricing references, and every unit cost remains editable in the workbook for your own numbers.
- Markups and general conditions: Overhead, profit, general conditions, bonds, and contingency are laid out as separate lines you control.
- Scope clarifications: We document assumptions, plan conflicts, and missing information so gaps are visible before bid day rather than after award.
Deliverables
- Editable Excel estimate workbook with quantities, unit costs, and extensions
- Marked-up PDF takeoff drawings showing what was measured
- CSI-organized cost summary by division
- Scope inclusions and exclusions list
- Assumptions and clarifications list
- Plan discrepancy and RFI notes where information is missing
Typical projects
- Custom and production homes
- Multifamily apartments and townhomes
- Retail and restaurant buildouts
- Office buildings and tenant improvements
- Warehouses and light industrial
- Medical and dental offices
- Schools and churches
- Renovations and additions
Related trades
Request a quote
Upload your plans and tell us the trades you need. We review the scope and reply with a written quote before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
What drawings do you need to prepare a cost estimate?
PDF plans are the minimum. A complete set with architectural, structural, and MEP sheets plus the project manual or specifications gives the most detailed result. If you only have schematic drawings, we can prepare a conceptual estimate and clearly note the assumptions behind it.
How long does an estimate take?
Turnaround depends on project size, the number of trades, and the completeness of the drawings. We review your plans first and confirm the delivery date in the quote before any work begins.
How much does a construction cost estimate cost?
Pricing depends on the scope, the number of trades, and the level of detail you need. Send your plans and we will confirm the fee in a written quote.
Can I change the unit costs in the estimate?
Yes. The workbook is fully editable. Quantities, waste factors, unit costs, and markups are separate cells, so you can plug in your own labor rates or supplier quotes and the totals recalculate.