What you get: estimates
A sample construction estimate you can check line by line
Quantities with units, the assumptions behind them, what stays out, and the questions to settle before the number is used.
Fixed price in 2 business hours. Pay only after you accept.
- Fixed price agreed before any work starts
- Plan review is free
- You pay only after you accept the price and delivery date
- Your rates, your facts, your final number
- Gaps listed, never guessed
Quick answer
A sample construction estimate from Bidmere shows the format every trade estimate follows: measured quantities and units by scope item, tied to a sheet and revision, priced at your rates, with open questions and exclusions listed. Single-trade estimates are priced from $195 and are ready in 48 hours after you accept a fixed quote.
What is in a Bidmere construction estimate?
Five things, every time. They let you check the estimate without redoing it.
- Plan basis: every quantity ties to a sheet and a revision, so a changed plan shows which lines move
- Quantity, unit, basis: each line keeps the measured quantity, its unit and how it was counted apart
- Your rates: rates and pricing assumptions come from you; we do not invent them
- What it depends on: assumptions and exclusions sit next to the number
- Open questions: conflicts and gaps are listed for you to resolve
Estimates are delivered as an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions.
What does a sample construction estimate look like for one trade?
The fictional sample below is drywall for an invented single-story office of 1,960 SF (56 ft by 35 ft). It shows the format only; it is not a customer estimate or a pricing recommendation. The live page lets you switch between twelve trades on the same plan.
What gets measured in each trade?
Units follow how the trade is bought and installed.
| Trade | Typical lines | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Painting | Wall prep, finish coats, ceilings, doors | SF, EA |
| Drywall | Partition types, furring, board ceilings, openings | LF, SF, EA |
| Flooring | Carpet tile, LVT, tile, base, transitions | SF, LF, EA |
| Ceilings | ACT by type, wall angle, hangers | SF, LF |
| Doors | Frames, doors, hardware sets | EA |
| Electrical | Fixtures, devices, branch conduit and wire, panels | EA, LF |
| Plumbing | Fixtures, water heater, piping by system | EA, LF |
| HVAC | Ductwork, air devices, terminal units, fans | LF, EA |
| Concrete | Slab, footings, rebar, forms | SF, CY, LB |
| Masonry | CMU walls, bond beams, grout, rebar | SF, LF, CY, EA |
| Roofing | Membrane, insulation, edge metal, drains | SQ, SF, LF, EA |
| Sitework | Excavation, fill, paving, curb, structures | CY, SY, LF, EA |
Which open questions does an estimate raise?
Every plan set has conflicts. A useful estimate lists them instead of hiding them in a rate. Examples from the fictional samples:
- Finish schedule sheen conflicts with the painting specification
- Partition heights unclear: to deck or a set distance above the ceiling
- Fixture tag on the plan missing from the fixture schedule
- Fire rating on the life safety plan differs from the door schedule
- Duct sizes missing on branch runs
- Tapered insulation layout not provided, so slope and thickness are assumed
Want this for your own project? Send the plans or the solicitation. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteWhat is typically excluded from an estimate?
Design, engineering and site work that a remote takeoff cannot do. Common exclusions:
- Design, engineering, load calculations or code review
- Site visits and field verification of existing conditions
- Testing, inspection and hazardous material work unless added
- Permits and utility fees
Your quote lists the exclusions for your job before you accept.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partition type A, 3-5/8 in studs at 16 in o.c., 5/8 in board each side, to deck | 85 | LF | Sheet A-101 |
| Partition type B, sound rated | 53 | LF | Conference and restroom |
| Exterior wall furring, hat channel and board | 182 | LF | Interior face |
| Gypsum board ceilings, Level 4 | 417 | SF | Corridor and break room |
| Framed openings | 20 | EA | Door and window heads and jambs |
| Open question | Wall tag does not match the wall type legend |
Fictional example: drywall takeoff for an invented 1,960 SF office
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Will I lose control of my number?
No. We price with your rates. You set markup, review every line and choose the bid price.
Can I check the quantities?
Yes. Every line ties to a sheet and revision, with the unit and counting basis shown.
What if the plans are incomplete?
Gaps go on the open-question list with the source sheet. Nothing is guessed silently.
Monthly estimating plans
Bidding every week? Put estimating on a monthly plan
If plan sets arrive faster than your team can measure them, a monthly plan keeps a remote estimator on your bid calendar. Starter is $1,395 per month for up to 6 bids. Pro is $2,595 per month for up to 12 bids. Scale is $4,795 per month for up to 25 bids. Every estimate uses your rates and lists its assumptions and open questions. Start with one estimate to see the work first.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction estimate cost?
Single-trade estimates are priced from $195, with 25% off your first estimate. Takeoff-only work is priced from $149, and multi-trade estimates are priced from $1,150. Each job gets a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
How fast is an estimate delivered?
Qualifying single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Multi-trade and whole-project estimates get a delivery date in the quote. A 24-hour rush for 30% more option is available when capacity allows. Tell us your bid date in the request.
What file format is the estimate?
Estimates are delivered as an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions. If you want the takeoff mapped to your cost codes or your own estimate template, say so in your request. We confirm what can be matched before you accept the quote.
Is the sample a real project?
No. The sample office is invented to show the format. Real estimates follow your actual plans, specifications and addenda, use your rates and stay confidential to your company. Quantities on this page are not pricing recommendations for any project or any market.
Who sets the rates and markup?
You do. Labor rates, material pricing, equipment costs and markup come from you or from rates you approve. We measure quantities and apply your rates in separate columns, so you can change a rate without touching the takeoff, and you decide the final number.
Do you handle addenda after delivery?
Yes. Each line ties to a sheet and revision, so an addendum shows which quantities move. Whether a revision is inside the original quote or needs a small added quote is confirmed with you before work continues. Send addenda as soon as they are issued.
Is this software or a service?
A service. Estimators measure your plans and check the quantities against sheets, specifications and addenda before delivery. You do not need to buy, learn or maintain takeoff software. Our software versus service guide compares the two approaches for contractors with steady and uneven bid volume.
Get a fixed quote
Share the project basics. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.