Divisions 31, 32 and 33: Earthwork, Exterior Improvements, Utilities
Sitework estimating services and earthwork takeoffs
Bidmere’s sitework estimating services turn your civil plans into cut and fill volumes, utility runs, paving areas and erosion control quantities. Pricing uses your equipment, labor and material 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
- Excavation180 CY
- Structural fill120 CY
- Asphalt paving1Callout 1: Parking area with striped stalls1,067 SY
- Concrete curb and gutter320 LF
- Concrete sidewalks640 SF
- Storm structures2Callout 2: 2 inlets, CB-1 and CB-22 EA
Quick answer
Sitework estimating services from Bidmere give site contractors and general contractor estimators measured earthwork takeoffs and priced estimates from civil plans. We report cut, fill and net volumes by area, utility pipe and structures, paving and erosion control, with factors shown. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and ready in 48 hours.
What do sitework estimating services cover?
A sitework estimate covers everything outside the building line on the civil set. Bidmere measures it by CSI section so it drops into your bid structure.
- Division 31, Earthwork: 31 10 00 Site Clearing, 31 20 00 Earth Moving, 31 23 16 Excavation, 31 23 23 Fill, 31 25 00 Erosion and Sedimentation Controls.
- Division 32, Exterior Improvements: 32 11 23 Aggregate Base Courses, 32 12 16 Asphalt Paving, curbs, walks and pavement markings.
- Division 33, Utilities: storm, sanitary and water piping and structures from the utility plan.
Order a takeoff only if you price with your own rates, or a priced estimate if you want a cost summary.
How does an earthwork takeoff calculate cut and fill?
An earthwork takeoff compares the existing surface with the proposed surface and reports the difference by area. The proposed surface must be subgrade, not finish grade, or the volumes will be wrong.
A civil estimator works through these steps:
- Build the existing surface from the survey contours and spot elevations.
- Build the finish surface from the grading plan.
- Drop the finish surface to subgrade by the pavement section, slab and base thicknesses.
- Strip topsoil at the depth in the geotechnical report.
- Compute cut, fill and net volumes by grid, cross section or surface comparison.
- Apply your shrink and swell factors as separate lines.
Measured cut is bank cubic yards. Fill is reported as compacted cubic yards. Haul is loose cubic yards. Keeping the three states apart is what makes import and export numbers believable.
What is measured, and in which units?
| Scope | Unit |
|---|---|
| Clearing and grubbing | AC or SF |
| Topsoil strip and respread | CY |
| Mass cut and fill to subgrade | CY (bank and compacted) |
| Building pad undercut and replacement | CY |
| Trench excavation and backfill | LF and CY |
| Pipe by size and material | LF |
| Manholes, inlets, cleanouts, headwalls | EA |
| Aggregate base by thickness | SY, CY or TON |
| Asphalt and concrete paving | SY or SF |
| Curb and gutter | LF |
| Silt fence, inlet protection, construction entrance | LF and EA |
| Seeding and sod for stabilization | SY or AC |
Which civil plan conflicts change a sitework estimate?
Most sitework surprises are already on the drawings. We list each one with the sheet and the quantity it affects.
- Pavement section on the paving plan differs from the geotechnical recommendation.
- Topsoil stripping depth missing, or different between the geotechnical report and the notes.
- Building pad undercut depth stated in the report but not on the grading plan.
- Spot elevations on the grading plan disagree with the contours.
- Pipe inverts on the plan view do not match the profile sheets.
- Structure rim elevations do not match finish grade.
- Survey benchmark or datum differs between the survey and civil sheets.
When a conflict changes volume, we report the quantity both ways so your team can choose.
Which sitework scope gaps lose bids or money?
Sitework sits between the building trades and the civil design, so gaps hide at every edge. We flag these splits for your team to assign:
- Building pad: who brings the pad to subgrade, and who places the capillary base under the slab.
- Utility connections: where the site contractor stops and the plumber starts, usually 5 ft outside the building.
- Paving: whether the site contractor or a paving sub carries asphalt and base.
- Landscape grading: rough grade vs fine grade and topsoil respread.
- Unsuitable soil and rock: allowance or unit price if the documents are silent.
- Dewatering: often excluded unless the geotechnical report shows groundwater.
- Testing and staking: usually by the owner or a separate consultant.
For paving detail, see paving estimating. For slabs and footings, see concrete estimating.
What drives sitework and excavation cost?
For a quick check before a full estimate, try the free demolition cost calculator or asphalt calculator.
Volume is the start, but haul and soil conditions usually decide the number.
- Balance: a site that balances avoids import and export trucking.
- Haul distance: to an off-site disposal or borrow source.
- Soil type: clay, rock and wet soils change production rates and compaction effort.
- Shrink and swell: the factors you approve can move import or export by hundreds of yards.
- Trench depth: deeper trenches need shoring or benching and more backfill.
- Phasing: a site worked in stages costs more mobilization.
Searchers asking about excavation cost per square foot get a wide spread for these reasons. A per-square-foot number cannot see haul or soil, so we price from measured volumes instead.
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 sitework estimate?
- Civil grading, paving, utility and erosion control plans
- Existing topographic survey, with contours and spot elevations
- Geotechnical report, including stripping depth and pad recommendations
- Specification sections for earthwork, base, paving and utilities
- Surface or CAD files, if you have them (PDFs at a known scale also work)
- Addenda, your bid form and the equipment, labor and material rates you want applied
Start with a short description on the quote form. We arrange document sharing after confirming the work.
What do you get back from an earthwork takeoff service?
You receive an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions, containing:
- Earthwork quantities: cut, fill and net by area, with the surfaces, stripping depth and section thicknesses stated.
- Utility takeoff: pipe by size and material and structures by type, from plan and profile.
- Paving and curb takeoff: areas by pavement section and curb by type.
- Cost summary: quantities priced at your approved rates, if you ordered pricing.
- Open questions: conflicts and gaps, each tied to a sheet.
Your team reviews the numbers, sets markup and submits the bid. Bidmere does not visit the site, survey or stake.
Excavation estimating software, and when to outsource the takeoff
Excavation estimating software calculates volumes fast, but an excavation estimator still has to build and check the surfaces. Widely used sitework takeoff software includes AGTEK and InSite Elevation Pro. AGTEK takes off earthwork, materials and underground utilities from PDF, CAD and drone data. InSite includes TrenchVision 3D for trench excavation and backfill. Neither listed prices on the pages we checked in November 2026.
What software does not do:
- Decide subgrade depths under each pavement and slab section.
- Pick shrink and swell factors and the topsoil strip depth.
- Catch conflicts between the grading plan, the geotech report and the specs.
- Write the question log, assumptions and exclusions.
What an excavation estimate or grading estimate needs. Existing and proposed surfaces, cut and fill by area, import or export, haul distance, topsoil, trench excavation and backfill, and erosion control. Each quantity ties back to a sheet. If you price in a spreadsheet, the free construction estimate template works. Use CY for earthwork, LF for trench and SF or SY for fine grading.
When to outsource. Excavation takeoff software pays off when someone on your team runs it every week. When the bid calendar is full, Bidmere builds the takeoff from your plans and prices it at your rates. See estimating software vs service.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil strip, 6 in. | 1,694 | CY | 2.1 AC disturbed area |
| Site cut to subgrade | 6,420 | CY bank | Surface comparison, sheet C-201 |
| Site fill to subgrade | 4,980 | CY compacted | Below pavement and pad |
| Fill need at 15% shrink | 5,859 | CY bank | 4,980 / 0.85 |
| Net export | 561 | CY bank | Cut minus fill need |
| Building pad undercut, 2 ft | 889 | CY | 12,000 SF pad, per geotech |
| 15 in. RCP storm pipe | 640 | LF | Profile sheet C-301 |
| Storm inlets | 6 | EA | Type per detail 4/C-501 |
| Silt fence | 1,850 | LF | Erosion control plan C-101 |
Fictional example: earthwork and storm takeoff for a 2.1-acre retail pad site. Shrink factor of 15% is an assumed customer input. Not a customer project or pricing recommendation.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Will you use my shrink and swell factors?
Yes. Measured volumes come first, and your factors are applied as visible lines.
Do you visit the site or check grades?
No. Existing grades come from your survey. Field checks go on the open questions list.
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.
Sitework and earthwork takeoff and estimate pricing
Sitework and earthwork takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade sitework and earthwork 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 sitework every week? Put estimating on a monthly plan
A monthly plan suits contractors who price sitework 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 sitework estimating services cost?
Single-trade sitework estimates are from $195, with 25% off your first estimate. Larger sites or combined site and building scopes 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 for scope conditions.
Do you offer earthwork takeoff services without pricing?
Yes. An earthwork takeoff reports cut, fill and net volumes by area, with the surfaces, stripping depth and section thicknesses stated. Order it without pricing if you apply your own equipment rates. Utility and paving quantities can be added. See quantity takeoff services for takeoff-only orders on other trades.
How are import, export and unsuitable soil handled?
Measured cut and fill stay separate from your approved shrink, swell and haul assumptions, so import or export is visible as its own line. Unsuitable soil or rock that the documents do not quantify goes on the open questions list. We can price it as an allowance or unit price that your team sets.
Do I need CAD or surface files for an earthwork takeoff?
No. PDF grading plans at a known scale with contours and spot elevations are enough for most sites. Surface or CAD files can speed the work and reduce interpolation. If a sheet is not to scale, we say so in the open questions and agree how to measure it before pricing.
Is a civil estimator service different from earthwork estimating software?
Earthwork takeoff software still needs someone to build surfaces, set subgrade and check the result. A civil estimator service does that work for you and returns quantities and a priced estimate. Contractors who own software often send overflow bids out when the bid calendar is full.
How fast can I get a sitework estimate?
Qualifying single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Turnaround for large sites or full civil packages is set in the fixed quote. Tell us your bid date in the request, and rush work is quoted when capacity allows.
What happens when an addendum changes the grading plan?
Tell us which sheets changed. We review the effect as an agreed revision and update the affected volumes, so a quantity from an older sheet is never shown as current. The revision behind each quantity is recorded in the takeoff.
Are my plans and rates kept confidential?
The quote form takes text only, so you do not need to upload files to get a price. After you accept, we arrange a secure document exchange. Please keep private rates out of the quote form. See how we handle data for details.
What goes into an excavation estimate?
An excavation estimate starts with cut and fill volumes from existing and proposed surfaces. It adds subgrade under paving and slabs, topsoil strip, import or export, haul distance, trench excavation and backfill, compaction and erosion control. Shrink and swell factors and soil conditions decide production. Bidmere measures these from your civil plans and prices them at your rates.
Do I need excavation estimating software to bid sitework?
Not always. Sitework estimating software such as AGTEK or InSite pays off when someone on your team builds surfaces every week. If you bid sitework a few times a month, sending the takeoff out can cost less than a license and the training time. Bidmere returns quantities and a priced estimate at your rates. You pay only after you accept the fixed quote.
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.