Resources
Construction estimating and bidding resources
Bidmere resources are reference guides for commercial contractors: how takeoffs and estimates work, estimating software versus outsourced services, construction bid sites, cost per square foot data, RFP responses, compliance matrices and government contracting basics.
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Estimating and bidding guides
Shorter articles on bid day, bonds, pricing and proposals are on the Bidmere blog.
- AI construction proposal writing: uses and a review checklistAI construction proposal writing for contractors: what to automate, what to verify, a review checklist.
- Capability statement template for construction contractorsFree capability statement template for contractors: blocks, company data and tailoring by agency.
- Commercial construction cost per square foot by city (2026)Construction cost per square foot for offices, warehouses, retail, multifamily, hotels and hospitals by US city (RLB Q3 2026), plus a…
- Construction bid checklist: from invitation to bid dayA construction bid checklist from invitation to bid day, with a free CSV template and final 24-hour list.
- Construction bid sites: where to find projects to bidConstruction bid sites compared: SAM.gov, public portals, Dodge, The Blue Book, BuildingConnected, PlanHub, ConstructConnect.
- Construction bid/no-bid checklist: gates, fit and a decision recordA construction bid/no-bid checklist: pass/fail gates, fit scores and a decision record your team can use.
- Construction estimating cost in 2026: outsourced vs in-houseOutsourced estimating fees by scope and pricing model, in-house estimator pay from BLS data, and where they cross over.
- Construction estimating software vs an estimating serviceConstruction estimating software or an estimating service?
- Construction proposal compliance matrix: build one that worksBuild a construction proposal compliance matrix: one requirement per row, owners, status and an addenda log.
- Construction proposal writing services compared: types and costConstruction proposal writing services compared by type, scope and cost drivers, with a quote checklist.
- Construction statement of qualifications: a checklistA construction statement of qualifications checklist: sections, projects, team and supporting documents.
- How to bid a construction project, step by stepHow to bid a construction project: find work, estimate costs, level sub quotes, fill the bid form and submit.
- How to bid on government contracts: a construction contractor guideHow to bid on government contracts as a construction contractor: SAM, NAICS, finding bids, sealed bids vs proposals.
- Outsource construction proposal writing or hire in-house?Should you outsource construction proposal writing or hire?
- Outsourced estimating services compared (2026): prices, turnaround and deliverablesSeven outsourced estimating services compared on published price, turnaround, trades and deliverables.
- PlanSwift alternatives in 2026: prices, platforms and licensingPlanSwift alternatives compared for contractors: current PlanSwift pricing and licensing, Mac options, cloud takeoff tools, or outsourced takeoff…
- Types of construction bids: methods, pricing and what to prepareTypes of construction bids explained: open, selective and negotiated methods; lump sum, unit price, cost plus and GMP.
- Bid tabulation: what it is and how contractors use public bid tabsWhat is on a bid tab, where to find public bid tabs from TxDOT, Caltrans, FDOT and NYSDOT, and how to use them to price.
- Types of construction estimates: from conceptual to bidTypes of construction estimates from conceptual to bid, with AACE classes, methods and when to use each.
- What is a takeoff in construction? Material and quantity takeoffsWhat a takeoff in construction is: material vs quantity takeoff, units, steps, and how it differs from an estimate and a bid.
- How to bid a painting job, step by stepHow to bid a painting job: measure paintable area, gallons from spread rate, labor from your production rate, then overhead and profit.
- Bid vs proposal vs estimate vs quote: the differences in constructionBid vs proposal vs estimate vs quote: what each one is, who asks for it, whether it binds you, and which one a sealed bid, an RFP or a negotiated job needs.
- What is a bid package in construction, and what goes in one?What a bid package is: the owner’s bid documents and the contractor’s submission, with a checklist of what goes in each and a sample to compare against.
- How much does a construction takeoff cost?How much a construction takeoff costs: Bidmere takeoffs from $149 by job size, published prices from other firms with dates, what changes the price and turnaround.
- Basis of estimate: what it is, an example and a free templateWhat a basis of estimate (BOE) is, the sections it needs, a filled construction example and a free Word template, with AACE’s definition and federal notes.
- How to bid electrical jobs, step by stepHow to bid electrical jobs: count devices and fixtures, measure conduit and wire, price labor from your own rates, then overhead and profit.
- How to bid a drywall job, step by stepHow to bid a drywall job: board area by wall type, sheets with waste, mud, tape and screws at USG rates, hang and finish labor at your rates, then markup.
- How to bid a concrete job, step by stepHow to bid a concrete job: cubic yards by element, forms by contact area, rebar by weight, finish and placing labor at your rates, then overhead and profit.
- How to bid a roofing job, step by stepHow to bid a roofing job: roof area by pitch, squares of 100 SF, underlayment, flashing, edge and tear-off, priced at your rates, then overhead and profit.
- How to bid plumbing jobs, step by stepHow to bid plumbing jobs: count fixtures and equipment, measure piping by system and size, price labor from your own units, then overhead and profit.
Free templates
Estimate, bid and takeoff templates
- Free bid sheet template: bid proposal sheet and bid tabFree bid sheet template in Excel and Word: bid items, extensions, alternates, addenda and a bid tab for five bidders.
- Free construction bid proposal template (Word)Free construction bid proposal template in Word: documents priced, scope, inclusions, exclusions, price table, terms and acceptance.
- Free construction estimate template (Excel and Word)Free construction estimate template with formulas: labor, material, equipment, subs, overhead, profit and tax.
- Free contractor quote template (Word and Excel)Free contractor quote template in Word and Excel: scope, line items, tax, total, terms and acceptance.
- Free material takeoff template (Excel)Free material takeoff template for Excel and Google Sheets: SF, LF, EA and CY from dimensions, waste and order quantities.
- Schedule of values in construction: free Excel template and exampleFree schedule of values template in Excel that checks your lines against the contract sum, with a filled example.
- Free construction pay application template (G702/G703 style)Free pay application template in Excel: summary, continuation sheet, retainage, stored materials and change orders.
- Free roofing estimate template (Excel)Free roofing estimate template in Excel: squares from plan area and pitch, tear-off, underlayment, flashings, edge and disposal, with live totals.
- Free landscaping estimate template (Excel)Free landscaping estimate template in Excel: sod, seed, mulch, topsoil, plants, hardscape and irrigation by quantity, with cubic yards and live totals.
- Free painting estimate template (Excel)Free painting estimate template in Excel: surfaces by area and coats, gallons from your spread rate, labor hours from your production rate, live totals.
Free tools
Contractor calculators
- Concrete cost per square foot and cubic yard calculatorFree concrete estimator: cubic yards for slabs, footings and piers, and concrete cost per square foot at your prices.
- Drywall cost per square foot and sheet calculatorFree drywall estimator: board area, sheets by size and layer, and drywall cost per square foot at your rates.
- Insulation estimator: bags, boards, foam and cost per SFFree insulation estimator: bags, boards or foam sets from your product’s coverage, and insulation cost per square foot at your rates.
- Painting cost per square foot calculatorFree painting estimator for contractors: gallons, labor hours and painting cost per square foot at your rates.
- Roofing estimator: squares, materials and your roofing estimateFree roofing estimator for contractors: squares by pitch, bundles or rolls, and roofing cost per square foot at your rates.
- Contractor markup calculator: markup vs margin, overhead and profitFree contractor markup calculator: overhead and profit, markup vs margin both ways, and your own overhead rate.
- Demolition cost calculator: debris tons, loads and cost per square footFree demolition cost estimator: debris tons from EPA rates, haul loads, and demolition cost per square foot at your labor, disposal and hauling rates.
- Rebar calculator for slabs, footings and walls, with a weight chartFree rebar calculator: bars, laps, linear feet, pounds and tons for slabs, footings and walls, with a rebar weight chart by bar size.
- CMU block calculator: blocks, mortar and grout fillFree CMU block calculator: blocks per wall, mortar bags and grout fill by cell spacing from CMHA TEK 04-02A, with openings deducted.
- Stud and wall framing calculator for wood and metal studsFree stud and wall framing calculator: studs by spacing, extra studs at openings and corners, plates or metal track, with costs at your own prices.
- Asphalt calculator: tonnage, cost and sealcoatFree asphalt tonnage calculator: tons from area, thickness and mix weight, sealcoat gallons from coverage, and paving cost at your price per ton.
Services
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