Division 03: Concrete
Concrete estimating services with rebar takeoff included
Send your S-sheets and specs. Get cubic yards by element, form contact area, slab area by thickness and rebar by bar size, priced with the rates you approve.
Fixed price in 2 business hours. Pay only after you accept.
- Fixed price before any work starts
- Plan review is free
- You pay only after you accept the price and delivery date
- Single-trade estimates in 48 hours
- Your rates, your final number
Spanish version: Español
- Slab on grade1,960 SF
- Continuous footings1Callout 1: Continuous around the perimeter13.5 CY
- Reinforcing steel2Callout 2: Bars run both ways2,355 LB
- Edge forms440 SF
Quick answer
Concrete estimating services from Bidmere turn structural plans into a measured takeoff and cost summary for concrete subcontractors and general contractors. You get concrete volume by element, formwork, finishes, embeds and a rebar takeoff by bar size, priced at your rates, plus a question log. Estimates are priced from $195 and are ready in 48 hours.
What a concrete estimate includes
You get an element-by-element concrete number your estimator can check line by line. Every quantity cites its sheet and revision.
You send
- Structural foundation and framing plans, sections, schedules and details
- Structural general notes and Division 03 specification sections
- Architectural plans for slab edges, depressions, ramps and finishes
- Geotechnical report where it affects subgrade, base or slab design
- Civil site plans if site concrete is in scope
- Addenda, and your material, labor, pumping and equipment rates
You get back
- Concrete volume by element and mix
- Formwork contact area by element
- Slab area by thickness and finish
- Rebar by bar size, with lap and waste basis stated
- Embeds, anchor bolts, joints and accessories
- A cost summary with labor, material and equipment split
- A question log of conflicts and scope splits
Delivery is an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions.
What a concrete takeoff measures, by CSI section
A concrete takeoff measures what you pour, what you form, what you finish and what goes inside it. Division 03 work usually falls into these MasterFormat sections.
| Scope item | Typical CSI section | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Formwork by element | 03 11 00 | SF contact area |
| Accessories: anchors, embeds, waterstops | 03 15 00 | EA, LF |
| Reinforcing bars | 03 21 00 | LB or tons |
| Welded wire reinforcement | 03 22 00 | SF |
| Cast-in-place concrete by element | 03 30 00 | CY |
| Finishing by type | 03 35 00 | SF |
| Curing | 03 39 00 | SF |
| Precast elements, if in scope | 03 41 00 | EA |
| Grout under base plates | 03 60 00 | EA, CF |
Volume in CY is length times width times depth in feet, divided by 27. A 4-inch slab over 1,000 SF is about 12.3 CY before waste.
Rebar takeoff and rebar estimating, without shop drawings
A rebar takeoff lists reinforcing weight by bar size, measured from the plans, sections, schedules and general notes. It is for pricing, not for fabrication.
- Bar weights. Bars are converted to pounds using standard weights per foot, such as 0.668 LB/LF for #4 and 1.043 LB/LF for #5.
- Laps and splices. Lap lengths come from the structural notes or schedules. If none are given, the basis is listed as an open question.
- Hooks, dowels and corner bars. Counted from typical details where the drawings show them.
- Chairs and supports. Carried as a stated allowance or counted, as you direct.
- Waste. Shown as its own line, never buried in the bar weight.
Bidmere does not provide rebar detailing services, placing drawings or bar bending schedules. Those are shop drawings prepared by your rebar fabricator or detailer. Bidmere gives you the estimating weight to price and buy out against.
Concrete plan conflicts that cause bid misses
Concrete bids are often lost on documents that disagree. These are the conflicts the question log flags most:
- Footing sizes on the schedule differ from the foundation plan.
- Slab thickness on the architectural plan differs from the structural plan.
- Depressions for tile, showers or freezers are shown on architectural sheets only.
- The spec calls for a floor flatness number the slab detail does not support.
- Lap lengths or bar cover are not stated in the general notes.
- The geotechnical report calls for more base or a different subgrade than the plans.
- Control joint spacing is in the spec but not laid out on plans.
Each item cites the sheets involved, so your team can send an RFI or qualify the bid.
Scope gaps between concrete and adjacent trades
Gaps between trades lose concrete bids more often than miscounted yards. Check each of these before bid day:
- Excavation and backfill for footings: concrete or sitework?
- Base stone and fine grading under slabs: concrete or sitework?
- Vapor retarder under slabs: concrete or another trade?
- Embeds and anchor bolts. Often furnished by steel, set by concrete.
- Metal deck fill on elevated slabs: deck by steel, fill by concrete.
- Stair pan fill in metal pan stairs.
- Equipment and housekeeping pads for MEP gear.
- Site concrete: sidewalks, curbs, dumpster pads and light pole bases.
- Joint sealants at slab joints: concrete or sealant subcontractor?
- Polished or sealed floors: concrete or flooring?
- Testing and inspection, usually by the owner.
What drives a concrete estimate up or down
Formwork labor and placing conditions often move a concrete number more than the yards do.
- Formwork. Contact area, reuse, height and shape drive labor. Curved and tall walls cost more per square foot.
- Placing method. Direct chute, pump or buggy, and pump minimums.
- Mix requirements. Strength, fly ash limits, fibers and admixtures.
- Finish and tolerance. Higher flatness numbers mean more finishing labor.
- Weather. Hot and cold weather protection, blankets and heaters.
- Rebar density. Heavy, congested areas slow placing.
- Wage requirements on public work.
Each assumption is written out so your team can change it.
Have plans for this scope? Send them over. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteConcrete estimating services vs a calculator or software
A concrete calculator gives yards for one pour. A concrete estimator measures every element, form, bar and finish on the project and ties them to a bid.
Concrete takeoff software helps an estimator you already have. An outside concrete estimating company supplies the estimator hours. That suits bid weeks with too many jobs, or projects larger than your usual work. See the estimating software vs service guide.
What the concrete estimate does not include
The estimate measures and prices concrete work as designed. Design and field work stay with others.
- Structural design, mix design or engineering
- Rebar placing drawings, shop drawings or bar lists
- Testing and inspection services
- Dewatering and unsuitable soil removal, unless added to the scope
- Site visits, or signing and submitting your bid
Concrete cost per square foot, estimating software and rebar takeoff tools
Concrete cost per square foot starts with thickness. A 4 inch slab uses about 1.23 cubic yards per 100 SF. A 6 inch slab uses about 1.85. Your ready-mix price, forming, finishing, rebar and pump costs do the rest. Bidmere does not publish a market figure. Enter your own prices in the free concrete calculator to get cost per square foot of slab. It works as a quick concrete takeoff calculator for single pours. For whole-building budgets, see construction cost per square foot.
Concrete estimating software. PlanSwift and On-Screen Takeoff both list concrete among their trades. For rebar takeoff software, STACK offers rebar takeoff for lengths, counts and tonnage. None of the three listed prices on the pages we checked in November 2026.
What software does not do. A rebar estimator still reads bar schedules, laps, hooks and typical details. Someone still checks the specs for mix, finish tolerance and testing, and writes the question log.
Concrete estimate template. The free construction estimate template works for concrete. Use CY for concrete, SF for forms, finish and vapor retarder, and LB or TON for rebar. For a concrete estimate example, see the fictional sample takeoff on this page.
When to outsource. Rebar estimating software helps an estimator with open hours. When bids stack up, Bidmere measures the concrete and rebar and prices them at your rates. See estimating software vs service.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Sheet and basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous footing, 30 x 12 in. | 50.9 | CY | S-101, 550 LF perimeter, net |
| Spread footings, F1 to F3 | 38.4 | CY | Footing schedule S-501 |
| Footing forms, edge | 1,100 | SF | Both sides, 12 in. depth |
| Slab on grade, 6 in., 4,000 psi | 333.3 | CY | S-101, 18,000 SF, net |
| Vapor retarder, 15 mil | 18,000 | SF | Spec 03 30 00 |
| Slab finish, steel trowel | 18,000 | SF | Flatness per spec, see question 3 |
| Rebar, #5 in footings | 6,210 | LB | Laps per general notes S-001 |
| Rebar, #4 in slab, 18 in. each way | 17,640 | LB | S-101, laps included |
| Saw-cut control joints | 2,400 | LF | Layout assumed at 15 ft max |
| Anchor bolts, set only | 96 | EA | Furnished by steel, see scope matrix |
Fictional example: part of a concrete takeoff for an invented 18,000 SF single-story warehouse. Not a customer project.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Is waste built into the yards?
No. Net volume and your waste factor are separate lines, so you see both the measured and priced quantity.
Will my pump and labor rates be used?
Yes. Material, labor, pumping and equipment use rates you approve, each on its own line.
Who owns the final concrete bid?
Your team reviews, sets markup, signs and submits. Bidmere does not sign or submit bids.
Concrete takeoff and estimate pricing
Concrete takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade concrete estimates at $195. The fixed quote for your job usually lands in these ranges:
| Job size | Takeoff only (quantities) | Single-trade estimate (quantities and pricing) |
|---|---|---|
| Small job: up to 10,000 SF | $149 to $295 | $195 to $395 |
| Mid-size job: 10,000 to 50,000 SF | $295 to $695 | $395 to $895 |
| Large job: over 50,000 SF, or several buildings | From $695 | From $895 |
Single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours. Rush (24 hours) adds 30%. 25% off your first estimate. Every job gets a fixed quote within 2 business hours, and you pay only after you accept. Every estimate is delivered as an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions. See pricing for the full price list and scope conditions.
Monthly estimating plans
Bid every week? Put your concrete estimating on a monthly plan
If your team bids every week, a monthly plan is simpler than ordering one estimate at a time. You send bids as they come in, and each one is measured and priced the same way.
- Starter: $1,395 per month for up to 6 bids
- Pro: $2,595 per month for up to 12 bids
- Scale: $4,795 per month for up to 25 bids
Each plan uses your rates, your cost codes and your proposal format, so your numbers stay consistent from bid to bid. See monthly outsourced estimating plans for what each plan covers.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much do concrete estimating services cost?
Bidmere single-trade concrete estimates are priced from $195 for a qualifying project, with 25% off your first estimate. The fixed price depends on sheet count, elements in scope, rebar detail and deadline. You get it within 2 business hours after a free plan review, and you pay only after you accept. See pricing.
How long does a concrete estimate take?
A qualifying single-trade concrete estimate is ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Larger structures and multi-level buildings get a delivery date in the fixed quote. Rush: 24-hour rush for 30% more, subject to capacity. Tell us your bid date when you request a quote.
What do I need to send for a concrete takeoff?
Send the structural plans, sections, schedules, details and general notes, Division 03 specs, architectural plans for depressions and slab edges, the geotechnical report and all addenda. Add civil plans for site concrete. To get a quote, a short description and a plans link are enough.
Is the rebar takeoff included?
Yes, when the plans show enough to measure it. Rebar is listed by bar size in pounds, with lap, hook and waste assumptions stated so your team can adjust them. Welded wire reinforcement is measured by area. If lap lengths are missing, the basis goes on the question log.
Do you provide rebar detailing services?
No. Rebar detailing produces placing drawings and bar lists for fabrication, and those are shop drawings. Bidmere does not produce shop drawings. Bidmere provides a rebar takeoff and rebar estimate by bar size, which you use to price the bid and compare fabricator quotes.
Who sets the concrete, labor and pump rates?
You do. The estimate uses the material, labor, pumping and equipment rates you approve, with each one shown separately. Placement assumptions stay visible, so a change in access or pour sequence does not look like a change in quantity. Bidmere never sets your markup or bid number.
Can I order a concrete takeoff only?
Yes. A concrete takeoff lists volume by element in cubic yards, formwork contact area, slab area by thickness, rebar by bar size and embeds by count, with no pricing applied. Takeoffs are priced from $149; see quantity takeoff services for how takeoff-only orders work.
How are addenda handled?
The estimate names the plan revision and addenda it reflects. If an addendum arrives after that baseline, its effect is reviewed as an agreed revision under your accepted quote. Changed footing schedules and slab details are reconciled before any quantity is shown as current.
How much does concrete cost per square foot?
It depends on thickness, mix, forming, finish, rebar, placing method and local prices. Thickness sets the volume: a 4 inch slab uses about 1.23 cubic yards per 100 SF and a 6 inch slab about 1.85. Bidmere does not publish a market figure. Enter your own ready-mix and labor prices in our free concrete calculator, or send plans for a measured estimate at your rates.
What software do concrete and rebar estimators use?
General takeoff tools such as PlanSwift and On-Screen Takeoff list concrete among their trades, and STACK offers rebar takeoff for lengths, counts and tonnage. Each still needs an estimator to read schedules, laps and details and to check the specs. If your estimator is short on hours, Bidmere measures the concrete and rebar from your plans and prices them at your rates.
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.