Construction estimate template
A construction estimate should include a quantity takeoff for each trade, unit prices, general conditions, overhead and profit, bid alternates, clear exclusions, the schedule, and how many days the bid price stays valid.
What goes into a construction estimate
Construction estimates live or die on the takeoff. Count concrete in cubic yards, roofing in squares and siding in square feet, then price each quantity. A bid built from real quantities can be defended line by line when an owner asks how you got the number.
The example below prices a 24 by 24 foot detached garage with a slab, wood framing, roofing and an insulated overhead door. General conditions and overhead and profit sit on their own lines, so the owner sees the cost of running the job, not just the cost of materials.
Not included in this estimate
- Soil testing, engineering and survey work
- Rock removal or poor soil found during excavation
- Driveway, gutters and landscaping
- Utility company connection fees
Ironwood Builders Inc
bids.ironwood@example.com · (555) 010-4418
Estimate
EST-1024
Prepared for
Marcus Delaney
Valid until
November 4, 2026
Estimate total
$49,349.00
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Site prep, layout and excavation | 1 | $3,200.00 |
| 4 inch slab with thickened footings, per sq ft | 576 | $5,472.00 |
| Wall and roof framing, labor and lumber | 1 | $14,800.00 |
| Architectural shingle roofing, per square | 7 | $3,640.00 |
| Vinyl siding, soffit and trim | 1 | $6,900.00 |
| 16 by 7 ft insulated overhead door, installed | 1 | $2,650.00 |
| Electrical: 4 circuits, lighting and outlets | 1 | $3,400.00 |
| General conditions: dumpster, portable toilet, supervision | 1 | $2,900.00 |
| Permits and inspections | 1 | $1,100.00 |
| Overhead and profit, 12% | 1 | $5,287.00 |
- Total
- $49,349.00
- Deposit to start
- $4,900.00
Bid valid for 15 days because supplier pricing changes often. Deposit due on signed acceptance. Draws at slab, dry-in and final inspection.
Fill in this construction estimate online
The lines are already in. Change them to your own job, then download a free PDF. Nothing you type leaves this browser.
Your business
Estimate
EST-0001
Prepared for
Client name
Valid until
November 20, 2026
Estimate total
$49,349.00
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Site prep, layout and excavation | 1 | $3,200.00 |
| 4 inch slab with thickened footings, per sq ft | 576 | $5,472.00 |
| Wall and roof framing, labor and lumber | 1 | $14,800.00 |
| Architectural shingle roofing, per square | 7 | $3,640.00 |
| Vinyl siding, soffit and trim | 1 | $6,900.00 |
| 16 by 7 ft insulated overhead door, installed | 1 | $2,650.00 |
| Electrical: 4 circuits, lighting and outlets | 1 | $3,400.00 |
| General conditions: dumpster, portable toilet, supervision | 1 | $2,900.00 |
| Permits and inspections | 1 | $1,100.00 |
| Overhead and profit, 12% | 1 | $5,287.00 |
- Total
- $49,349.00
- Deposit to start
- $4,900.00
Bid valid for 15 days because supplier pricing changes often. Deposit due on signed acceptance. Draws at slab, dry-in and final inspection.
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How to fill in a construction estimate template
- 1
Open the template
Fill in the construction estimate template on this page, or download it for Word or PDF.
- 2
Add your business and client
Enter your business name, contact details and logo, then the client's name and address.
- 3
Set the number and how long it's valid
Give the estimate a number and the date the price is good until, often 15 days.
- 4
List the work
Add each line with quantity and rate, such as site prep, layout and excavation and 4 inch slab with thickened footings, per sq ft. Add tax, a discount or a deposit if needed.
- 5
Send it for approval
Download the PDF, or send it from Invoicefy so the client can accept it online and you can turn it into an invoice.
How to price a job as a construction contractor
Build the price from a takeoff
Measure from the plans and list quantities in the units suppliers sell. Price concrete by the yard or square foot, roofing by the square and siding by the square foot. When a quantity changes, you can reprice one line instead of guessing at a new total.
Show general conditions on their own line
Dumpsters, temporary power, portable toilets, permits and supervision are real costs that owners forget. Listing them separately keeps them from looking like padding hidden inside other lines, and it makes bid comparisons fairer.
Offer alternates instead of cutting scope
If the owner may balk at the price, add alternates such as 'Add: second overhead door' or 'Deduct: vinyl instead of fiber cement siding.' Owners choose what fits the budget, and your base bid stays intact.
Keep the bid window short when materials swing
Supplier quotes for lumber, steel and concrete can change month to month. A 15 to 30 day validity period protects your margin. After it expires, reprice from current supplier quotes before you resend the bid.
Get acceptance on record
Invoicefy lets you send the estimate as a proposal the owner accepts online, which gives you a dated acceptance. One click turns it into an invoice, and from there you bill the deposit, each draw and any approved change orders.
Questions people ask
People use the words loosely. An estimate is often a budget number early in a project, while a bid is a firm price based on plans and a takeoff, offered for a set period. Whatever you call it, say whether the price is firm or approximate.
It depends on your costs and your market, so there is no single right number. Work out your yearly overhead, spread it across the jobs you expect to win, and add the profit you need. Show it as a line or build it into unit prices, but be consistent.
Yes, at least a start window and a duration, such as six to eight weeks after the permit is issued. Owners plan financing and move-ins around it, and a written schedule makes weather or permit delays easier to explain.
Yes, most builders ask for a deposit on acceptance to cover early material orders. Some states limit how much a contractor can collect before work starts, especially on residential jobs, so check your state's rules first.
Keep going
Get the contractor paperwork kit
Estimate, invoice, deposit invoice, change order and final notice templates in one download, sent to your inbox.
Send the proposal, then bill it in one click.
Your client accepts the proposal online and you turn it into an invoice without retyping a thing. Free to start.