Division 06 40 00 and Division 12: Woodwork and casework
Millwork estimating services for casework and cabinets
Bidmere’s millwork estimating services take off casework, countertops, paneling and trim from plans and interior elevations. Every item is priced at your shop, material and install rates.
Fixed price in 2 business hours. Pay only after you accept.
- Fixed price and delivery date before any work starts
- Plan review is free, and no files are needed to get a quote
- You pay only after you accept the fixed price
- Single-trade estimates in 48 hours from complete documents
- Priced at your rates; your team sets the final number
Quick answer
Millwork estimating services from Bidmere give casework shops, cabinet installers and general contractors item-by-item millwork takeoffs and priced estimates. We measure base, wall and tall cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, paneling, trim and specialty pieces from plans and elevations. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and ready in 48 hours.
What do millwork estimating services cover?
A millwork estimate covers the architectural woodwork and casework shown on the interior elevations. Bidmere organizes it by CSI section and item type.
- 06 41 00 Architectural Wood Casework: base, wall and tall cabinets, reception desks, built-ins
- 06 42 00 Wood Paneling: veneer and laminate wall panels
- 06 46 00 Wood Trim: standing and running trim, chair rails, crown
- 12 35 00 Specialty Casework: laboratory, healthcare and educational casework
- 12 36 00 Countertops: laminate, solid surface, quartz and stone tops
Order a millwork takeoff only, or a full estimate with a cost summary at your rates.
What does a casework and millwork takeoff measure?
| Scope | Unit |
|---|---|
| Base, wall and tall cabinets, by type and finish | LF or EA |
| Countertops, by material and depth | LF and SF |
| Backsplashes and side splashes | LF |
| Wall paneling, by species or laminate | SF |
| Standing and running trim | LF |
| Shelving and closet systems | LF |
| Reception desks, nurse stations and custom pieces | EA, with dimensions |
| Cutouts for sinks, cooktops and grommets | EA |
| Cabinet hardware, if in your scope | EA |
Each item is tied to its elevation tag. Specialty pieces get a short build description so your shop can price materials and hours.
How does a millwork estimator build the number?
Millwork is priced from the elevations, not the floor plan. A millwork estimator works through the set like this:
- Index every interior elevation and casework detail by room.
- Measure cabinets by type, height and finish, in linear feet or as counted units.
- Measure countertops and splashes by material, with cutouts counted.
- Take off paneling and trim by species, profile and finish.
- Note the quality grade and any construction requirements in the specification.
- Price shop labor, material, finishing and install at your rates.
Your team reviews the numbers, sets markup and submits the bid.
Which plan and spec conflicts change a millwork estimate?
Casework information is split between plans, elevations, details, the finish schedule and the specification. These conflicts come up often:
- Cabinet run lengths on the plan differ from the elevations.
- The quality grade is not stated, or differs between specification and drawings.
- Countertop material on the finish schedule differs from the elevation callout.
- Laminate or veneer finish tags have no matching product.
- Accessible knee spaces are shown on plans but not detailed.
- Sinks or appliances appear on elevations with no supplier named.
- Some casework is marked “NIC” or “by owner” on one sheet but not others.
Each conflict is logged with the room, elevation and items it affects.
Which millwork scope gaps lose money after award?
Millwork depends on work by framing, plumbing and electrical trades. We flag the splits your team needs to assign:
- In-wall blocking: framing contractor or millwork installer.
- Sinks, faucets and appliances: supplied by plumbing, the owner or you.
- Electrical and data cutouts: cut in the shop or in the field, and by whom.
- Countertops: your shop, or a stone fabricator under you or the general contractor.
- Base at casework: flooring contractor or millwork.
- Field measurement and templating: usually yours after award.
- Shop drawings: also after award; Bidmere estimates before award and does not produce them.
For framing and blocking, see drywall and framing estimating. For doors and frames, see doors, frames and hardware estimating.
What drives millwork and cabinet cost?
Linear feet alone do not explain a millwork bid. These drivers matter most:
- Quality grade: higher grades raise material and joinery requirements.
- Core and finish: laminate on particleboard, veneer on plywood or solid wood.
- Countertop material: laminate, solid surface, quartz or stone.
- Custom pieces: reception desks and nurse stations drive shop hours.
- Install conditions: occupied floors, high-rise delivery and night work.
- Hardware: soft-close, locks and specialty pulls.
These drivers are written into the assumptions, so you can see what the price depends on.
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 quoteWhat should you send for a millwork estimate?
- Floor plans and enlarged plans with casework tags
- Interior elevations and casework details
- Finish schedule and countertop schedule
- Division 06 and Division 12 specification sections
- Addenda, your bid form and your shop, material and install rates
Start with a short description on the quote form. We arrange document sharing after confirming the work.
You receive an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions: items by room and elevation, countertops by material, a cost summary at your rates, and the open questions behind the number.
Cabinet estimating software or a cabinet estimator?
Most cabinet estimating software is shop software. It prices what you model, so it fits after you have the job. A cabinet estimator on a bid works from the architect’s elevations, before anything is modeled.
Tools cabinet and millwork shops commonly use:
- Cabinet Vision from Hexagon covers cabinet design, bidding and costing, and CNC output.
- Microvellum runs on AutoCAD or BricsCAD and has built-in cost estimating for commercial millwork and casework.
- Mozaik covers cabinet design, pricing, cut lists and CNC code.
What these tools do not do on bid day:
- Count every cabinet on every elevation across a large set
- Catch casework shown on elevations but missing from the plans
- Check the spec for quality grade, core and finish
- Split scope with countertops, appliances and plumbing fixtures
Modeling every cabinet for a bid you may not win takes time. A takeoff from the elevations is usually faster at the bid stage. The free construction estimate template works for small jobs. Use LF for base and wall cabinets, EA for custom pieces and SF for countertops.
Bidmere prices millwork from your documents at your rates. It does not produce shop drawings or models. Compare the options in estimating software vs a service.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic laminate base cabinets | 186 | LF | Exam rooms and break room |
| Plastic laminate wall cabinets | 142 | LF | Per elevations A-501 to A-508 |
| Tall storage cabinets | 12 | EA | 84 in. high |
| Quartz countertops, 25 in. deep | 214 | LF | 446 SF |
| Solid surface vanity tops | 38 | LF | Restrooms |
| 4 in. backsplash | 214 | LF | Matches quartz tops |
| Sink and grommet cutouts | 31 | EA | Sinks by plumbing |
| Wood veneer wall paneling | 860 | SF | Lobby, sheet A-510 |
| Reception desk, custom | 1 | EA | Detail 3/A-520 |
| Accessible knee space panels | 9 | EA | Open question: not detailed |
Fictional example: millwork takeoff for a two-floor outpatient clinic. Not a customer project or pricing recommendation.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Do you make shop drawings?
No. We estimate before award. Shop drawings are your shop’s or your drafter’s work.
Will you use my shop rates?
Yes. Shop labor, finishing and install are priced at your rates.
Will I lose control of my number?
No. You approve the rates, set markup and decide the final bid.
Who submits the bid?
Your company. Your team reviews, signs and submits. Bidmere never signs or submits.
Millwork takeoff and estimate pricing
Millwork takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade millwork 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 millwork every week? Put estimating on a monthly plan
A monthly plan suits contractors who price millwork work every week. It gives you a steady estimating desk without a new hire. 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. Each bid follows the same process as a single order: your documents, your rates, your review and your final number. Ask about monthly estimating plans to compare the tiers.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much do millwork estimating services cost?
Single-trade millwork estimates are from $195, with 25% off your first estimate. Large buildings, heavy custom work and combined millwork and countertop packages are quoted to scope. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours, plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept. See pricing.
Do you offer casework and cabinet estimating services?
Yes. Casework and cabinets are measured by type, height and finish from the interior elevations, in linear feet or counted units. Countertops, splashes and cutouts are listed with them. Laboratory, healthcare and educational casework in Division 12 is handled the same way, tied to each elevation tag.
Can I order a millwork takeoff without pricing?
Yes. A millwork takeoff lists every item by room, elevation and type, in the units your shop prices by. Your team applies its own rates. Open questions, such as missing grades or unclear countertop materials, are still listed. See quantity takeoff services for takeoff-only orders.
Do you price custom pieces like reception desks?
Yes. Custom pieces are listed with their dimensions, materials and a short build description from the details. Your shop applies its hours and material rates. If a piece is only sketched, it goes on the open questions list with the information your shop needs to price it.
Is millwork estimating software better than a service?
Software helps a shop with an estimator who prices from elevations every week. It still needs someone to index every elevation and match finishes. A service fits when bid volume swings or your estimator also runs the shop. Many millwork shops use both.
How fast can I get a millwork estimate?
Qualifying single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Larger projects get a delivery date in the fixed quote. Tell us your bid date in the request, and rush work is quoted when capacity allows.
How do you handle addenda that change casework?
Send the revised sheets and tell us what changed. We review the effect as an agreed revision and update the affected items. The revision behind each quantity is recorded, so an older elevation is never shown as current. If a change affects price, the new total is shown next to the old one.
Can Bidmere be our cabinet estimator on bids?
Yes, from documents. Bidmere measures cabinets, countertops and custom pieces from the elevations and specs and prices them at your rates. Assumptions such as quality grade and finish are listed. Bidmere does not produce shop drawings. You get a fixed quote within 2 business hours and pay only after you accept the price and delivery date.
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.