Division 05: Metals
Structural steel estimating services and misc metals takeoffs
Bidmere’s structural steel estimating services list every member by size, length and weight, then add connections, deck, joists and misc metals. Pricing uses your shop, erection 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
Quick answer
Structural steel estimating services from Bidmere give fabricators, erectors and general contractors member-by-member steel takeoffs and priced estimates. We list beams, columns and braces by size, length and weight, add your connection allowance, and take off deck, joists, studs and misc metals. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and ready in 48 hours.
What do structural steel estimating services cover?
A steel estimate covers the structural frame and the metal items around it in Division 05. Bidmere organizes the takeoff by CSI section so it maps to your bid.
- 05 12 00 Structural Steel Framing: beams, girders, columns, braces, plates and connections
- 05 21 00 Steel Joist Framing: open-web joists and joist girders, by designation
- 05 31 00 Steel Decking: roof and composite floor deck, by profile and gauge
- 05 50 00 Metal Fabrications: misc metals such as lintels, embeds, ladders and bollards
- 05 51 00 Metal Stairs and 05 52 00 Metal Railings
Order a steel takeoff only, or a full estimate with fabrication, erection and material costs at your rates.
Does Bidmere provide steel detailing services?
No. Bidmere does not produce shop drawings, erection drawings, CNC files or connection designs. That work is steel detailing, done by a detailer working from approved design drawings after award.
What Bidmere does is estimate the steel before award: a takeoff by member, weight and connection, priced at your rates. If you searched for steel detailing services because you need a bid number, an estimate is what you want. If you need shop drawings for fabrication, you need a detailer.
What does a steel takeoff measure, and in which units?
For a quick check before a full estimate, try the free rebar calculator.
| Scope | Unit |
|---|---|
| Wide-flange beams, columns and braces | EA, LF and LB by size |
| HSS, angles, channels and plate | LF or SF, converted to LB |
| Connection material | LB, as your allowance or by count |
| Base plates, cap plates and anchor rods | EA |
| Shear studs | EA |
| Open-web joists and joist girders | EA by designation |
| Floor and roof deck | SF by profile and gauge |
| Misc metals: lintels, embeds, ladders, bollards | EA, LF or LB |
| Stairs and railings | EA by flight, LF of rail |
Weight comes from the member size. A W16x31 weighs 31 lb per foot, so length times 31 gives its weight. Totals roll up to tons for pricing.
How does a steel estimator build the number?
A steel estimator works from the structural drawings, member by member.
- List every member by mark, size and length from framing plans, elevations and schedules.
- Convert length to weight using the member’s weight per foot.
- Add connection material as an allowance you set, or by counting typical connections.
- Count base plates, anchor rods, studs and embeds.
- Take off joists, deck and misc metals from the plans and details.
- Price fabrication by your shop rates per ton or per piece, plus erection, coatings and freight.
Your team reviews the numbers, sets markup and submits the steel bid.
Which structural plan conflicts change a steel estimate?
Steel drawings at bid stage often leave connection and coating details open. These conflicts move tonnage and labor:
- Connections are noted as “by fabricator” with no design loads given.
- Member sizes on the framing plan differ from the beam schedule.
- Column lengths or splice locations are unclear on the elevations.
- Galvanizing or shop primer requirements differ between notes and specification.
- Moment connections are tagged on plan but not detailed.
- Lintels and shelf angles appear on architectural sections but not structural plans.
- Deck gauge or profile differs between the deck schedule and general notes.
Each conflict is logged with the sheet and the members it affects.
Which steel and misc metals scope gaps lose bids?
Steel scope borders concrete, masonry, framing and roofing. We flag the splits your team needs to assign:
- Anchor rods and embeds: supplied by steel, set by concrete.
- Loose lintels: steel package or masonry package.
- Cold-formed framing: usually the drywall and framing contractor, not structural steel.
- Roof openings and frames: steel, roofing or mechanical.
- Fireproofing: a separate trade, but it affects coating requirements.
- Touch-up painting: after erection, by steel or the painter.
- Connection design: the delegated design engineer’s fee, if required.
For masonry lintels, see masonry estimating. For fireproofing, see insulation and fireproofing estimating.
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 drives structural steel cost per ton?
Tonnage sets the scale, but these drivers often decide the bid:
- Piece count: many light members cost more per ton than fewer heavy ones.
- Connection type: moment and field-welded connections take more labor than bolted shear connections.
- Coatings: galvanizing, primer or high-performance paint.
- Erection access: crane size, site constraints and working heights.
- Misc metals content: stairs and railings are labor-heavy for their weight.
- Mill and freight timing: material price at the time you buy.
Searchers asking about steel building cost per square foot often mean pre-engineered metal buildings, which price differently. We price structural steel from measured members.
What should you send for a steel estimate?
- Structural framing plans, elevations, sections and general notes
- Beam, column, joist and deck schedules
- Connection details or design criteria
- Architectural sections for lintels, shelf angles, stairs and railings
- Division 05 specification sections
- Addenda, your bid form and your shop, erection and material 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: members by mark, size, length and weight, misc metals by item, a cost summary at your rates, and the open questions behind the number.
Structural steel estimating software and when to use an outside steel estimator
Structural steel estimating software helps a fabricator price faster, but a structural steel estimator still lists the members. Fabrication suites such as Tekla PowerFab and STRUMIS include estimating linked to the shop. Neither listed prices on the pages we checked in November 2026. Both point you to sales or a demo. General PDF tools serve as structural steel takeoff software for measuring lengths and counts.
What software does not do:
- Read the general notes for connection design, coatings and camber.
- Catch members on sections and details that are missing from the framing plans.
- Sort out where steel stops and misc metals, joists and deck begin.
- Write the question log, assumptions and exclusions.
Steel cost per square foot. Bidmere does not publish a figure. A per-square-foot number is framing weight per square foot of floor times your cost per ton. Span, floor loads, lateral system and connection type change the weight. Your shop rates, coatings and erection change the cost per ton. For whole-building budgets, see construction cost per square foot.
Estimate template. If you price in a spreadsheet, the free construction estimate template works for steel. Enter members in TON or LB, and plates, anchors and embeds in EA.
When to use an outside steel estimator. Bidmere fits when bid volume swings or your estimator also runs the shop. We measure from your drawings and price at your rates. We do not produce shop drawings. See estimating software vs service.
Sample takeoff
What a takeoff looks like
| Item | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| W16x31 floor beams, 48 EA at 28 ft | 41,664 | LB | 1,344 LF, sheet S-201 |
| W24x55 girders, 12 EA at 30 ft | 19,800 | LB | 360 LF |
| W10x49 columns, 16 EA at 26 ft | 20,384 | LB | 416 LF, one splice level |
| HSS6x6x3/8 braces, 8 EA at 20 ft | 4,397 | LB | 160 LF at 27.48 lb/ft |
| Connection allowance, 7% | 6,037 | LB | Customer-set factor |
| Total structural steel | 46.1 | TON | 92,282 LB |
| Composite floor deck, 2 in., 20 ga | 18,400 | SF | Per deck schedule |
| Shear studs, 3/4 in. | 1,680 | EA | Per beam schedule |
| Anchor rods | 64 | EA | 4 per column |
| Pipe railing, 1.5 in. | 180 | LF | Stair and mezzanine |
Fictional example: steel takeoff for a two-story office frame. The 7% connection allowance is an assumed customer input. Not a customer project or pricing recommendation.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Do you do shop drawings?
No. Bidmere estimates steel. Shop drawings and detailing come from a detailer after award.
Will you use my shop rates?
Yes. Fabrication and erection are priced at your per-ton or per-piece rates.
Will I lose control of my number?
No. You approve the rates, set markup and decide the final bid.
Who submits the steel bid?
Your company. Your team reviews, signs and submits. Bidmere never signs or submits.
Structural steel takeoff and estimate pricing
Structural steel takeoffs from Bidmere start at $149, and single-trade structural steel 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 steel every week? Put estimating on a monthly plan
A monthly plan suits contractors who price steel 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 structural steel estimating services cost?
Single-trade steel estimates are from $195, with 25% off your first estimate. Large frames, heavy misc metals packages and combined steel and concrete 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.
Do you provide steel detailing or shop drawings?
No. Bidmere does not produce shop drawings, erection drawings, CNC files or connection designs. We prepare steel takeoffs and estimates by member, weight and connection, before award. If you need fabrication drawings after award, hire a steel detailer. If you need a bid number, an estimate from the design drawings is the right service.
Do you offer misc metals takeoff services?
Yes. Misc metals are taken off by item: lintels, embeds, bollards, ladders, stairs and railings, in each, linear feet or pounds. They can be ordered with the structural frame or on their own. Items shown only on architectural sheets are matched against the structural set so nothing is counted twice.
How are connections handled in a steel takeoff?
Connections are carried as a weight allowance you set, or counted by type when the documents show typical details. The allowance is a separate line, so main member tonnage stays visible. Moment and special connections that are not detailed go on the open questions list.
Can I get a steel takeoff without pricing?
Yes. A takeoff-only order lists members by mark, size, length and weight, plus deck, joists, studs and misc metals. Your team applies its own shop and erection rates. See quantity takeoff services for how takeoff-only orders work across trades.
Is steel estimating software a better choice than a service?
Steel estimating software helps a fabricator with an in-house estimator who bids every week. It still needs someone to list members and read the notes. A service fits when bid volume swings or your estimator also manages the shop. Many fabricators use both.
How fast can I get a structural steel estimate?
Qualifying single-trade estimates are ready in 48 hours from your accepted quote and complete documents. Larger frames 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 is structural steel cost per square foot worked out?
It is framing weight per square foot of floor area times your installed cost per ton. Spans, floor loads, the lateral system and connection type change the weight. Shop rates, coatings, freight and erection change the cost per ton. Bidmere does not publish a market figure. Send the structural drawings and we measure the tonnage and price it 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.