42 estimating services
Every estimate type your next bid needs
From a feasibility budget on a napkin sketch to a hard-bid estimate across every CSI division, pick the service that matches where your project is today.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
All services
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“We were turning down bids because our two in-house estimators were buried. LEEDS gave us division-by-division numbers in 48 hours that leveled cleanly against our sub quotes. We bid 40% more work last quarter and our hit rate went up, not down.”
Marcus Whitfield
Chief Estimator, Whitfield Commercial Builders · Charlotte, NC
“The conduit and wire takeoff matched what my foreman pulled from the drawings almost to the foot. Labor hours were realistic for our crews. It is the first outsourced estimate I did not have to redo.”
Dana Okafor
Owner, Okafor Electric · Houston, TX
“Lumber lists, finish schedules and allowances in a format our clients actually understand. The assumptions log alone has saved us from two scope disputes.”
Luis Herrera
Project Manager, Sierra Ridge Homes · Phoenix, AZ
“We use LEEDS for independent bid reviews on every multifamily deal. Their preliminary numbers have landed within 6% of final GMP on three projects in a row.”
Priya Raman
Development Manager, Northgate Partners · Denver, CO
“Duct takeoff by gauge and size, equipment schedules, hangers, insulation. They understand sheet metal. Turnaround was 36 hours on a 90,000 square foot clinic.”
Tom Beaulieu
President, Beaulieu Mechanical · Minneapolis, MN
“Having a design-development estimate before we finished CDs let us value-engineer the envelope while it still mattered. Clear, fast, and the estimators speak our language.”
Aisha Bello
Principal, Bello Architecture Studio · Atlanta, GA
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does a construction estimating service actually deliver?
You receive a complete cost estimate built from measured quantities: an Excel workbook organized by CSI division with material, labor and equipment costs, color-coded marked-up plans showing where each quantity came from, a material procurement list, and an assumptions and exclusions log. Everything is formatted so you can drop it straight into your proposal.
How fast will I get my estimate?
Most single-trade takeoffs are delivered within 24 hours and full multi-trade estimates within 48 hours of receiving complete drawings. Large or complex sets are quoted individually, and rush delivery is available.
How much does an estimate cost?
Pricing is a flat fee per project based on size, trade count and drawing completeness, starting at $150 for a single-trade takeoff. You receive a fixed quote before any work begins, and monthly plans are available for contractors who bid every week.
How accurate are your estimates?
Detailed estimates from complete construction documents are typically within ±5% of awarded value; preliminary estimates from schematic drawings carry a ±15–20% band. Every quantity is measured twice and reviewed by a senior estimator before delivery.
What file formats do you deliver?
Excel workbooks for quantities and pricing, PDF for marked-up plans and summaries, and CSV on request for import into your own estimating software. We can also work inside your Excel template.
How do I send large plan sets?
Upload through the website form for files up to the posted limit, or share a Dropbox, Google Drive, Procore or Building Connected link in the message field and we will download them directly.
Not sure which service you need?
Upload the plans and describe the project. We scope it for you and confirm a fixed price within 2 business hours.