Division 27 communications
Telecom estimates that count every drop, strand and rack unit
Cabling bids are won and lost on a few details: how many drops per outlet, how far the longest run is, whether the backbone is single-mode or multimode, and how much cable tray the electrician is assuming. LEEDS quantifies structured cabling, fiber, pathways and telecom rooms from the technology drawings, then prices labor by task and certification testing by link, so your number reflects the building as drawn rather than an average cost per square foot.
Per droppricing with average and longest run lengths documented
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
pricing with average and longest run lengths documented
24–48 hours
Typical turnaround
27 · 26 · 28
CSI divisions
XLSX · PDF
You receive
Telecom scope we quantify
Outlets, strands and rooms are counted from technology plans and riser diagrams.
Horizontal copper dropsEA / LF
Cat6 and Cat6A cabling from outlets and access points to patch panels, including faceplates and jacks
Wireless access point cablingEA
Ceiling drops with slack coils, mounts and pull boxes
Backbone fiberSTRANDS / LF
Single-mode and multimode strands between MDF and IDFs with connectors or splices
Backbone copper and tie cablesPAIRS / LF
Multipair voice cable, protectors and 110-block terminations
Racks, cabinets and enclosuresEA
Two-post and four-post racks, wall-mount cabinets, vertical and horizontal managers
Patch panels and terminationsEA / PORTS
Copper and fiber panels, cassettes, patch cords and labeling
Cable tray and pathwaysLF
Ladder tray, wire basket, conduit sleeves and J-hook supports
MDF and IDF build-outEA / LS
Backboards, grounding busbar, UPS, room power circuits and ceilings
Distributed antenna systemsEA / SF
Head-end, remote units, coax or fiber distribution and antennas for coverage
Audio visual and pagingEA
Display backing, cable pathways, conference room cabling and speakers
Firestopping and core drillingEA
Rated penetration seals and slab or wall core drills
Testing, labeling and documentationLINKS / HRS
Copper and fiber certification, OTDR traces, labeling and as-built drawings
Overview
Where telecom pricing comes from
Division 27 describes the communications backbone of a building: horizontal cabling to every workstation and wireless access point, backbone copper and fiber between telecom rooms, the main and intermediate distribution frames that terminate them, and the pathways that carry it all. The estimate begins with a count of outlets and faceplates on the technology sheets, multiplied by drops per outlet and averaged run length from the nearest telecom room.
Cable category matters. Cat6 and Cat6A differ in cost per foot, in installation labor because of bundle diameter and bend radius, and in how many cables fit a conduit or J-hook. Fiber is counted by strand and terminated by fusion splice or connector. Racks, cabinets, patch panels, cable management, grounding busbars and uninterruptible power supplies are itemized by room, following TIA-568 and BICSI practice.
Pathways often cost more than the cable. Cable tray, conduit sleeves, firestopped core drills, ceiling J-hooks and underfloor duct are quantified in linear feet, and we flag whether Division 26 or 27 carries them. We then add the commissioning scope: labeling, copper and fiber certification, test reports, as-built drawings and the owner's training or turnover documentation.
Estimate types
What type of telecom estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
- 01
Cost per drop budget
Quick budget using installed cost per drop and per backbone strand, adjusted for ceiling type, run length and room count.
Best for Early design and TI budgeting
Precision±12%Turnaround24 hours - 02
Full structured cabling takeoff
Counts for every drop, strand, rack and pathway from the technology drawings, with labor by task, testing by link and a scope matrix against electrical.
Best for Cabling contractor bids
Precision±5-7%Turnaround48 hours - 03
Telecom room build-out estimate
MDF and IDF construction cost including racks, power, grounding, HVAC coordination and security, shown room by room.
Best for General contractors
Precision±8%Turnaround24-48 hours - 04
Campus and DAS estimate
Outside plant duct bank, manholes, fiber between buildings and in-building cellular coverage priced from the design package.
Best for Universities, hospitals and venues
Precision±10%Turnaround72 hours
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Run lengths are documented as average and longest
so cabling labor reflects the building rather than a flat per-drop price.
Cat6, Cat6A and fiber are priced separately,
With bundle sizes and pathway fill checked against conduit and J-hook assumptions.
We tag whether cable tray
sleeves and core drills belong in Division 26 or Division 27, which prevents duplicate or missing scope.
Telecom room build-outs include grounding
UPS, backboards, cooling coordination and door access, not only racks and patch panels.
Certification testing
OTDR traces, labeling and as-built documentation are carried as line items.
Owner-furnished active equipment such as
Switches and access points is separated from contractor-furnished passive infrastructure.
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.
- 01
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.
- 02
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.
- 03
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.
- 04
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.
Free quote
Get a fixed quote for this scope
Upload drawings or a plan link and tell us the bid date. A senior estimator confirms scope, price and delivery before any work starts.
- Scope confirmation and a fixed price within two business hours
- Most estimates delivered in 24–48 hours
- Unlimited revisions until bid day
- Plans stay confidential and are deleted on request
Prefer to talk? Call +1 (800) 555-0199 or email info@leedsestimating.com.
Deliverables
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
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Project types
Project types we estimate
The same measured-twice standard applies whether the scope is a tenant improvement or a ground-up campus.
01Office tenant improvements
02Hospitals and medical campuses
03K-12 schools and universities
04Data centers and server rooms
05Hotels and resorts
06Warehouses with wireless coverage
07Stadiums and entertainment venues
08Multifamily with building-wide fiber
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“Washington energy code and seismic detailing were reflected in the pricing without us having to explain anything. That is rare for an out-of-state estimator.”
Kim Nakamura
Co-founder, Pacific Build Collective · Seattle, WA
“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
“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
FAQ
Telecom Estimating FAQs
How do you count structured cabling drops?
We count outlets and wireless access points on the technology drawings, apply drops per outlet from the legend, then measure average and longest horizontal runs from each telecom room. Labor is priced by cable category, termination, pathway type and ceiling or wall access conditions.
Do you price fiber backbone by the strand?
Yes. We read the riser diagram for strand counts and type, single-mode or multimode, then price cable per foot with connectors or fusion splices, enclosures and OTDR testing. Strand counts per run are shown so the contractor can verify every connection.
Is cable tray in the telecom or electrical estimate?
It depends on the specification. We tag cable tray, conduit and sleeves by the division and trade responsible, and our scope matrix shows where electrical and telecom contractors overlap. If a project is ambiguous, we price it once and flag it for decision.
Can you estimate DAS and AV systems?
We price infrastructure items shown in the documents, including head-end space, antennas, coax or fiber distribution, display backing, conference room cabling and speaker lines. Active equipment is itemized separately so owner or integrator-furnished components can be removed.
What testing is included?
Copper links are certified to the cable category, fiber is tested for loss, and results are delivered as reports. We also include labeling and as-built updates where the specification requires them, following TIA-568 and BICSI conventions noted in the project documents.
Do you handle outside plant between buildings?
Yes. Duct banks, handholes, manholes, direct-buried conduit, and fiber pulls between buildings are quantified from site and utility sheets. Trenching and restoration are priced with sitework unit costs and tagged to the telecom package.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Ready for a telecom estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.