How carpentry differs from a lumber list
Our lumber and framing pages quantify structural members and framing packages. Carpentry estimating is broader and more labor-driven. It is the combined cost of the work a carpentry subcontractor or self-performing GC actually does: rough carpentry such as blocking, backing, sleepers, nailers, furring and temporary protection, and finish carpentry such as trim, doors, hardware, casework installation, stairs, rails and exterior trim.
Rough carpentry quantities are small but numerous.
Blocking in walls for grab bars, TVs, cabinets and handrails is counted in linear feet from details and elevations, with 2x and 3x lumber, plywood backing and fire-retardant treatment where required. Finish carpentry is measured in linear feet of base, casing, crown and chair rail, in each door opening, and in treads, risers and balusters for stairs. Waste factors vary by profile and species.
Then labor takes over. A trim carpenter installs a different linear footage per day in a painted MDF job than in stain-grade hardwood, and casework installs depend on scribe conditions and wall plumb. We build hours by task, apply productivity adjustments for height, access, fastening and punch-list rework, and add tools, consumables, travel, crew supervision and equipment to reach a real selling price.
Carpentry scope we quantify
Measured quantities are paired with labor hours and material lists for each task.
Blocking and backingLF / EA
Wood and plywood blocking for fixtures, cabinets, rails, TVs and heavy accessories
Nailers, sleepers and furringLF / SF
Roof nailers, floor sleepers, wall furring and rain screen strapping
Light framing laborLF / HRS
Partitions, soffits, bulkheads, curbs and small structural repairs
Base, casing and crown trimLF
Wood, MDF and PVC profiles by species, run length, miters and returns
Interior doors and hardwareEA
Pre-hung and slab doors, hinges, locksets, closers and stops installed
Casework and countertop installationLF / EA
Cabinets, vanities, shelving and tops set, leveled, scribed and fastened
Stairs, rails and balustersEA / LF
Treads, risers, stringers, newels, guardrails and handrails with code-required heights
Exterior trim and fasciaLF
Soffits, fascia, corner boards, window trim and wood or PVC siding accents
Window and exterior door installationEA
Setting, shimming, flashing support, trim and hardware for openings
Wood paneling and specialty carpentrySF / LF
Wainscot, ceiling beams, feature walls and built-in seating
Fasteners, adhesives and consumablesLS / %
Nails, screws, construction adhesive, caulk and wood fillers by task
Tools, supervision and punch-listHRS / %
Equipment, travel, foreman time, protection and final adjustments
What type of carpentry estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Labor-and-material bid estimate
±5-7%48 hours
Complete carpentry price from plans: quantities, material lists, labor hours by task, equipment, overhead and profit built to your rates.
Best for: Carpentry subcontractors
Labor-only installation estimate
±8%24-48 hours
Crew-hour pricing for installation of owner or contractor-furnished trim, doors, hardware and casework, with unit rates per door, per LF and per cabinet.
Best for: Install crews and GCs
Per-opening finish package
±6%48 hours
Door, frame, casing, hardware and base priced per room or per unit for repetitive projects such as apartments and hotels.
Best for: Multifamily and hospitality
Change-order carpentry pricing
±8%12-24 hours
Quick quantity and hour adjustments for added blocking, revised trim or field modifications, documented for owner approval.
Best for: Project managers
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.
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbook
Marked-up plans
Material procurement list
Labor hours by task
Estimate workbook XLSX
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans PDF
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list XLSX
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task XLSX
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log PDF
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet PDF
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Labor hours are built by task and adjusted for height
access and finish grade, rather than applied as a flat percentage of material.
Rough carpentry that spans trades
like blocking for grab bars and cabinets, is quantified so no one assumes the framer or drywaller carried it.
Trim is priced by profile
species and run length with waste and miter allowances, instead of a blended per-foot number.
Door and casework installation is separated from the cost of supply
which shows exactly what an install-only crew should charge.
Stair and rail estimates reflect code-required heights
baluster spacing and the field fitting that stair work demands.
Estimates can be delivered in your unit rates
with your burden, overhead and profit applied.
CSI MasterFormat divisions we cover
Estimates are organized by division so they drop straight into your cost codes and schedule of values.
Project types we estimate
The same measured-twice standard applies whether the scope is a tenant improvement or a ground-up campus.
Estimating software and cost data we work in
Deliverables fit the tools your team already uses.
Bluebeam Revu
Calibrated PDF markup and measurement
PlanSwift
Digital takeoff and assemblies
STACK
Cloud takeoff and estimating
On-Screen Takeoff
Quantity takeoff from plans
Microsoft Excel
Deliverables formatted to your template
Carpentry Estimating FAQs
How is carpentry estimating different from framing or millwork?
Framing estimates cover structural lumber and wall, floor and roof packages. Millwork covers shop-fabricated architectural woodwork. Carpentry estimating is the combined labor and material scope a carpentry contractor performs in the field: blocking, trim, doors, hardware, casework installation, stairs and small framing tasks.
Do you provide labor hours or only prices?
Both. Each task shows quantity, productivity assumption, crew hours and cost. You can see how many hours go into base trim, door hanging or cabinet setting, then adjust them to your crew's real production before submitting the price.
Can you price installation of owner-furnished items?
Yes. We carry receiving, handling, layout, setting, fastening, adjusting and punch-list time without material cost. The estimate lists what the owner must deliver and when, so the schedule and responsibility for damage or shortages are clear.
How do you handle waste and miters on trim?
Waste factors vary by material and profile. Painted MDF or finger-jointed stock is lower than stain-grade hardwood, and crown or complex profiles take more. We add allowances for miters, returns and scribe cuts, and note the assumptions in the estimate.
Is blocking included with the framing estimate?
Not always. Blocking for grab bars, cabinets, TVs, rails and equipment is often left between trades. We quantify it from details and elevations and identify whether it belongs to the carpenter or framer, so it gets installed before drywall closes the wall.
Can you estimate repetitive unit work?
Yes. For apartments, hotels and tract homes we price a typical unit in detail, then apply learning curve and travel adjustments across the repeat count. A per-unit and per-opening schedule is delivered alongside the project total.
