Division 03 · Concrete
Concrete estimating that separates every cubic yard from the forms around it
A concrete bid fails when volume is the only number anyone checked. Our estimators break cast-in-place work into footings, grade beams, slabs on grade, walls, columns and elevated decks, then measure formwork contact area, finishing, curing and placement for each. Mix designs are read against ACI 318 and the specification, waste and overpour are applied by element, and the pump, chute or crane decision is priced instead of assumed.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
Concrete, Masonry & Steel
typical overpour allowance we carry on slabs on grade
- ACI 318 mix review
- SFCA formwork takeoff
- Pump vs chute pricing
typical overpour allowance we carry on slabs on grade
24–48 hours
Typical turnaround
03
CSI divisions
XLSX · PDF
You receive
Overview
How concrete work is broken down for a bid
Concrete is priced in layers.
The first is volume: every footing, pier, foundation wall, slab and deck is computed in cubic yards from the structural drawings, with each element kept separate because strength, placement method and waste differ. A 4,000 psi spread footing and a 5,000 psi post-tensioned deck should never sit in the same line.
The second layer is everything that surrounds the concrete: formwork measured in square feet of contact area, shoring for elevated slabs, embeds, sleeves, vapor barrier, joint fillers, curing compound and finishing in square feet by finish class. Rebar is tracked in tons as a separate package so you can price it in house or subcontract it.
The third layer is the field condition. Pump versus chute, crane and bucket on tight sites, cold-weather blankets and heated enclosures, winter admixtures, night pours and testing all move the number. We price those conditions from the schedule and site plan, not from a flat percentage.
Concrete scopes we measure and price
Each element is measured on its own line with the mix, forming method and placement method attached.
Footings and grade beamsCY
Continuous and spread footings, pile caps and grade beams by strength class
Slabs on gradeCY / SF
Thickness, vapor barrier, base stone, thickened edges and control joints
Foundation and retaining wallsCY / LF
Height, thickness, pilasters, keyways and waterstop at construction joints
Columns and piersCY / EA
Round and rectangular columns with tie spacing and cover per drawings
Elevated slabs and decksCY / SF
Metal deck composite, one-way, two-way and post-tensioned slabs
Formwork contact areaSFCA
Wall, column, edge and soffit forms with reuse factors and stripping
Shoring and reshoringSF / EA
Shore towers, beams and reshores for elevated pours across floors
Embeds, anchor bolts and sleevesEA
Plates, weld studs, anchor rods, dowels and blockouts
Finishing and curingSF
Broom, trowel, burnish and exposed finishes, plus curing compound or blankets
Placement and pumpingCY / HRS
Concrete pump, boom, chute or crane and bucket, with minimum load fees
Cold-weather and hot-weather workLS / SF
Blankets, heaters, accelerators, retarders and ice or chilled water
Testing and labor hoursEA / HRS
Cylinders, slump, slab flatness and crew hours by placement and finish
Estimate types
What type of concrete estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
| Estimate type | Accuracy | Turnaround | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Hard-bid concrete estimate Volumes, forms, finishing, placement and labor by element and floor from a full structural set, with rebar tonnage carried as a separate package. | ±4–6% | 48 hours | Competitive concrete subcontract bids |
Foundation-only package Footings, piers, grade beams, foundation walls and slab on grade priced as a stand-alone scope for early site and structure releases. | ±5% | 24 hours | Fast-track foundation packages |
Cubic yard and SFCA takeoff Measured volumes and formwork area with waste and reuse factors shown, for shops that price labor and material themselves. | Quantities only | 24 hours | Concrete contractors with in-house rates |
Conceptual structure budget Cost per square foot of floor area and cubic yards per floor from schematic framing, used to test structural systems before drawings mature. | ±12% | 24–48 hours | Design-build and early budgeting |
Value-engineering comparison Side-by-side pricing of alternate slab thickness, mix strength or forming systems so the team sees real savings before a design change. | ±6% | 48 hours | Cost reduction exercises |
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
Step 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
Step 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
Step 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
Step 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.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
- 01
Volumes broken out by element and strength class, so a 5,000 psi deck is never averaged into 3,000 psi footings.
- 02
Formwork measured as contact area with reuse factors, not guessed as a percentage of concrete cost.
- 03
Pump, chute, conveyor and crane-and-bucket, placement priced against the actual site access and pour sequence.
- 04
Cold-weather protection, accelerators and heated enclosures carried when the schedule runs through winter.
- 05
Rebar tonnage delivered as a separate package, so you can sub it out or price it with your own supplier.
- 06
Slab finishing priced by finish class and flatness tolerance, including exposed and polished floors.
- 07
Waste, overpour and subgrade tolerance applied, by element rather than a blanket five percent.
- 08
Reshoring and stripping sequences reflected, in the labor hours for multi-story elevated structures.
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.
Clients
Who relies on our estimates
From single-trade subs to national developers, every client gets the same measured-twice standard.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“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
“Squares, underlayment, flashing lengths, fastener counts, even the ridge vent. The waste factors were right for the roof pitch. Bid-ready out of the box.”
Greg Lindqvist
Estimator, Summit Roofing Co. · Kansas City, MO
“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
FAQ
Concrete Estimating FAQs
How much waste do you add to a concrete takeoff?
It depends on the element. Slabs on grade usually carry two to four percent for subgrade variation and overpour, formed walls and columns carry less, and footings poured against earth carry more. We show the percentage on each line so you can adjust it to your crew and soil conditions.
Is formwork priced separately from the concrete?
Yes. Formwork is measured as square feet of contact area for every wall, column, edge and soffit face, then priced with a reuse factor, stripping labor and any shoring. Keeping it separate lets you evaluate forming systems and reuse without disturbing the cubic yard count.
Do you include rebar in the concrete estimate?
Rebar is quantified in tons and delivered as its own package, because most contractors either subcontract reinforcing or buy fabricated steel directly. We can carry it into the concrete total or leave it out, whichever matches your bid form.
Can you price pump versus chute placement?
Yes. We review site access, pour size, pour height and sequence, then price a pump with boom or line, a chute from the truck, or crane and bucket. Minimum load fees, standby time and short-load charges are included so the placement cost reflects real deliveries.
How do you handle cold-weather concrete?
When the schedule puts pours between roughly November and March, we add heated enclosures, insulating blankets, hot water or accelerators, and extended curing per ACI 306 guidance. These appear as their own lines so they can be removed if the schedule moves into warmer months.
What turnaround should we expect for a concrete estimate?
Foundation packages and small commercial buildings usually return within 24 to 48 hours. Multi-story structures with post-tensioned decks take longer because of the volume of sections and details, and we confirm the delivery date before the takeoff begins.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Ready for a concrete estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.