Division 26 and 48: Photovoltaic systems
Solar estimating for installers and EPC subcontractors
Bidmere counts modules, racking, inverters and balance of system from your PV plan set, measures conduit and trench runs, and prices the takeoff at your rates.
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
- Single-trade estimates in 48 hours
- Your rates, your markup, your final number
Quick answer
Solar estimating from Bidmere gives solar installers and EPC subcontractors measured takeoffs and cost estimates from PV plan sets. We count modules, racking, inverters and combiners, measure conduit, wire and trench runs, and price them at your rates. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and ready in 48 hours, after a fixed quote.
Who needs outsourced solar estimating?
Outsourced solar estimating fits commercial and utility-scale contractors who price from engineered plan sets. It suits teams bidding more projects than their estimators can measure.
- Commercial rooftop installers bidding carports, rooftops and small ground mounts
- EPC subcontractors pricing electrical, civil or mechanical installation packages
- Electrical contractors adding PV scope to a building project
- General contractors checking solar sub bids on a larger job
A note on the term “solar estimator”: many searches for it are homeowners looking for a savings calculator. Bidmere does not size systems or estimate energy production. We price installation scope from drawings for contractors.
What does a solar takeoff measure?
A solar takeoff counts the equipment on the array and measures every run that connects it. Units follow how you buy and install each item.
| Item | Unit | Typical source sheet |
|---|---|---|
| PV modules by model | EA | Array layout |
| Racking: rails, clamps, attachments or ballast | EA, LF | Racking plan and details |
| Ground-mount piles or posts | EA | Pile plan |
| Trackers or fixed-tilt tables | EA | Array layout |
| String inverters or central inverters | EA | Single-line diagram |
| Combiner boxes, disconnects, rapid shutdown devices | EA | Single-line and equipment plan |
| DC wire by size, home runs and strings | LF | Wiring plan and string map |
| AC wire by size | LF | Single-line and site plan |
| Conduit by size and type | LF | Conduit routing plan |
| Trench by depth and width | LF | Civil or electrical site plan |
| Grounding conductors and rods | LF, EA | Grounding plan |
| Equipment pads and transformers | EA | Site plan |
Conduit and wire lengths follow the routing drawn. Where routing is not shown, we state the assumed path and list it as an open question.
What does a sample solar takeoff look like?
The fictional sample below covers a commercial rooftop array. Your estimate adds pricing at your labor units and material costs, plus the assumptions behind each line.
Which PV plan set conflicts change a solar bid?
PV plan sets go through many revisions, and the sheets do not always move together. These conflicts are listed as open questions:
- Module count on the array layout that does not match the single-line diagram
- String sizes on the string map that differ from the inverter schedule
- Module or inverter model changed on one sheet but not others
- Conduit routing not drawn between the array and the inverter or point of interconnection
- Roof attachment spacing not stated for each roof zone
- Trench detail missing depth, width or backfill requirements
- Utility interconnection work shown as “by others” without a clear split
Each item notes the assumption used, so your team can accept it or send an answer.
Which solar scope gaps lose money after award?
Solar margins are often lost on work around the array. We show each of these as included, an allowance or excluded:
- Roof repairs, re-roofing or structural reinforcement
- Equipment hoisting, crane time and staging
- Monitoring hardware, data acquisition systems and communication wiring
- Utility interconnection, metering and witness testing
- Commissioning, testing and as-built documentation
- Vegetation control, fencing and gates on ground mounts
- Geotechnical or pull testing for piles
- Permits and inspections
A written exclusion list keeps the boundary clear with the EPC or owner.
What should you send for a solar estimate?
Send the full PV plan set and the specs that set the equipment. The single-line diagram and array layout are the minimum.
- Array layout and module schedule
- Single-line or three-line diagram
- String map and inverter schedule
- Racking plan and attachment or pile details
- Conduit routing plan and site plan with trench runs
- Equipment specifications and cut sheets
- Scope split or bid form from the EPC or GC
- Your labor units or rates and material pricing
The first form takes text only. We arrange document sharing after confirming the work.
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 quoteSolar estimating software or a solar estimating company?
Solar estimating and proposal software is built mostly for residential sales: design, production modeling and customer proposals. Commercial and EPC bids need a measured takeoff from engineered drawings.
Bidmere does that takeoff and prices it at your rates. If your team already has a commercial estimator with spare hours, software may be enough. If plan sets are piling up, outsourcing the takeoff frees your team for vendor pricing and bid strategy. See estimating software vs service.
Solar proposal software vs a measured takeoff for commercial bids
Solar proposal software builds a sales proposal from a design. It is not a measured takeoff of an engineered plan set. Widely used tools include Aurora Solar and OpenSolar. Aurora’s Sales Mode turns a design into an interactive proposal with pricing, financing and savings. OpenSolar says its software is free of charge and includes a proposal tool. Aurora describes its tools as residential solar design and sales software.
What proposal software does not do for a commercial or EPC bid:
- Measure DC and AC wire, conduit, trenching and grounding from the drawings.
- Count racking, attachments, piles and combiner boxes from the details.
- Check the plan set against the specs and the interconnection scope.
- Write the question log, assumptions and exclusions.
Where each fits. Use solar proposal software to sell residential systems to homeowners. Use a measured takeoff when you bid a commercial roof, carport or ground mount from engineered drawings. The quantities feed your pricing, and the total goes into your own proposal.
If you price in a spreadsheet, the free construction estimate template works for solar. Use EA for modules, inverters and attachments, LF for wire, conduit and trench, and lot lines for commissioning.
Bidmere measures the plan set and prices it at your rates, from $195. Your team signs and submits the bid. See estimating software vs service.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PV modules, 450 W class | 556 | EA | Per array layout, sheet PV-101 |
| Ballasted racking bays | 278 | EA | Two modules per bay assumed |
| Ballast blocks | 1,112 | EA | Per racking vendor table on PV-501 |
| String inverters | 4 | EA | Per single-line, PV-601 |
| Rapid shutdown devices | 278 | EA | One per two modules |
| DC home run wire, 10 AWG | 6,400 | LF | Routing assumed, see open question 2 |
| EMT conduit, 1 in. | 820 | LF | Rooftop runs to inverter wall |
| AC wire, 4/0 | 360 | LF | Inverters to switchboard |
Fictional example: commercial rooftop PV array, about 250 kW DC. Not a customer project or pricing recommendation.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Will I lose control of my number?
No. Quantities are priced with your rates. You set markup and the final bid price.
Do you design or size the system?
No. We price the design shown on your engineered plan set. Design stays with your engineer.
Can you use our labor units?
Yes. Send your units per module, per foot of conduit or per pile and we apply them.
Who is responsible for the final bid?
Your company. Your team reviews, signs and submits. Bidmere never signs or submits a bid.
Solar takeoff and estimate pricing
Solar takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade solar 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 solar every week? Use a monthly estimating plan
If solar bids land on your desk every week, a monthly plan works like an outsourced estimating department. 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 plan uses your rates and templates and runs on your bid calendar.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does solar estimating cost?
Single-trade solar estimates are from $195, and takeoff-only work is from $149. Large ground-mount or multi-scope packages get a fixed quote to scope. You get the price within 2 business hours after a free plan review, and you pay only after you accept it.
How fast is a solar takeoff?
Single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from an accepted quote and complete documents. Large utility-scale plan sets get a delivery date in the fixed quote. Tell us your bid date when you request a quote, and we confirm the date before you accept.
What do I need to send for a solar bid?
At minimum, the array layout and the single-line diagram. A full estimate also needs the string map, racking and attachment details, conduit routing, site plan and equipment specs. Add the scope split from the EPC or GC and your labor units and material pricing.
Are you a solar estimator for homeowners?
No. Bidmere does not size systems, model energy production or quote homeowners. We prepare installation estimates for solar contractors and EPC subcontractors from engineered drawings. Homeowners should ask a licensed local installer for a quote. If you are an installer pricing a homeowner job from a plan set, we can measure and price that installation scope.
Who sets the prices in the estimate?
You do. We price quantities with your labor units or rates and your material and equipment pricing. If modules or inverters are owner-furnished, we price installation only and say so. You set markup and the final bid price. If a rate is missing, we list that line as open rather than guessing.
Do you estimate ground-mount and tracker projects?
Yes, from engineered drawings. We count piles, tables or trackers, modules and equipment, and measure DC and AC runs, trench and grounding. Geotechnical conditions and pile refusal are listed as assumptions, since we do not visit sites. Your team can replace those assumptions with site data before bid day.
How are plan revisions handled?
Send each revised set as it is issued. We update quantities for the changed sheets and note what moved, such as a module count or string change. The accepted quote explains how revisions are priced, so you know the cost first.
Is our project information confidential?
Yes. The first inquiry form takes text only, so do not paste private pricing into it. After we confirm the work, we arrange secure document sharing. Your plan sets and pricing are used only for your estimate and are not shared.
Is solar proposal software enough for a commercial solar bid?
Usually not. Solar proposal software such as Aurora Solar or OpenSolar is built to design a system and sell it to the customer. A commercial or EPC bid needs a measured takeoff of wire, conduit, racking, trenching and equipment from the engineered plan set. Bidmere does that takeoff and prices it at your rates. Your team builds the proposal and submits the bid.
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.