How to bid electrical jobs: the steps
- Read the drawings, the specification sections and the bid instructions for your scope.
- Count devices, fixtures and equipment by type from the plans, panel schedules and fixture schedule.
- Measure conduit and cable by size and type along each run, including the vertical drops.
- Count wire by size as conductors times run length, plus terminations.
- Price material from current supplier quotes and labor from your own production rates and wages.
- Add equipment, overhead and profit, then write inclusions, exclusions and open questions.
- Fill in the bid form or proposal and acknowledge every addendum.
What to measure for a electrical bid
| Item | Unit |
|---|---|
| Devices, fixtures, panels, disconnects | EA by type |
| Conduit by size and type | LF |
| Wire and cable by size | LF |
| Fittings, boxes and supports | EA |
| Feeders and service | LF by size, EA for gear |
Short on time? Send the plans and specs and we do this for you. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteLabor: units times your hours per unit
Electrical labor is usually priced as installed units times labor hours per unit, from your own past jobs or the labor units you use. Multiply each line by your hours per unit, total the hours, and multiply by your loaded wage. We do not print labor units: they depend on the method, the building and your crew.
Commercial and public electrical bids
- Specification sections in Division 26 name the materials, methods and testing.
- Fire alarm, low voltage and controls are often separate scopes; confirm who carries them.
- On federally funded or assisted construction contracts over $2,000, the US Department of Labor says the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits; many states have their own prevailing wage laws for public work. Check the bid documents before you price labor.
Where electrical bids go wrong
- Vertical runs and drops left out of conduit footage
- Temporary power and lighting not priced
- Utility company fees and service work assumed by others
- Equipment furnished by others but set and wired by you
- Addenda that change the fixture schedule
Tools and templates for the bid
Use the construction estimate template, the bid sheet template to lay out the numbers, and the contractor markup calculator for overhead and profit. For a measured takeoff from your plans, see electrical estimating.
Frequently asked questions
How do electricians estimate jobs?
They count devices and fixtures, measure conduit and wire, apply their own labor hours per unit and wage, price material from quotes, then add overhead and profit.
How do I bid commercial electrical work?
Price strictly from the drawings and Division 26 specs, use the owner’s bid form, check prevailing wage requirements and write out exclusions.
Can Bidmere do my electrical takeoff?
Yes. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and takeoff-only work from $149, ready in 48 hours after you accept a fixed quote, which you get within 2 business hours.