Division 05 · Metals
Structural and miscellaneous metals estimated in tons, bolts and crane hours
Steel bids swing on weight, connections and the hours a crane sits waiting. Our estimators take off beams, columns, braces, joists and deck from framing plans, convert each shape to tonnage using AISC weights, add connection material and bolts from the details, and price shop fabrication, galvanizing, shipping and erection. Stairs, railings and miscellaneous metals are counted in linear feet and pieces so they never fall between scopes.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
of structural tonnage typically lives in connection material
Projects estimated
Typical turnaround
Trade categories
Takeoff accuracy
Scope of takeoff
Metals scopes we quantify
From primary framing to the railings at the stair landing, each item carries weight, count or length as appropriate.
- 01Wide flange beams and columnsW-shapes by mark, length and weight per foot, including camber and cope allowancesW-shapes by mark, length and weight per foot, including camber and cope allowancesTON / LFFraming plans and column schedules
- 02HSS tubes, pipe and anglesSquare, rectangular and round HSS, plus angles, channels, tees and platesSquare, rectangular and round HSS, plus angles, channels, tees and platesTON / LFElevations, bracing and detail sheets
- 03Connections and gusset platesShear tabs, clip angles, moment plates, stiffeners and base platesShear tabs, clip angles, moment plates, stiffeners and base platesTON / EAConnection schedule and typical details
- 04Bolts, studs and anchor rodsA325 and A490 bolts by diameter, weld studs, and anchor rods with nutsA325 and A490 bolts by diameter, weld studs, and anchor rods with nutsEA / LBSConnection count and embed details
- 05Metal deckComposite and roof deck by gauge and depth, with edge closures and pour stopsComposite and roof deck by gauge and depth, with edge closures and pour stopsSFFraming plan area and deck notes
- 06Steel joists and joist girdersOpen web K-series, LH and DLH joists, bridging and bearing seatsOpen web K-series, LH and DLH joists, bridging and bearing seatsEA / LF / TONJoist schedule and roof framing plan
- 07Miscellaneous metalsLintels, ladders, bollards, embeds, supports and pipe racksLintels, ladders, bollards, embeds, supports and pipe racksEA / LBSArchitectural, structural and MEP details
- 08Stairs, rails and guardsPan stairs, landings, handrails, guardrails and infill panelsPan stairs, landings, handrails, guardrails and infill panelsEA / LFStair sections and railing elevations
- 09Galvanizing and shop finishHot-dip galvanizing, zinc-rich primer, intumescent coatings and touch-upHot-dip galvanizing, zinc-rich primer, intumescent coatings and touch-upTON / SFSpecification section 05 05 13
- 10Shop drawings and fabricationDetailing, cutting, coping, welding and QA hours by shape and complexityDetailing, cutting, coping, welding and QA hours by shape and complexityHRS / TONPiece count and detail density
- 11Erection, bolting and weldingIronworker crews, field welding, plumbing the frame and punch listIronworker crews, field welding, plumbing the frame and punch listHRS / TONPiece count and sequence
- 12Crane and rigging timeMobile crane or tower crane rental, mobilization, operators and riggingMobile crane or tower crane rental, mobilization, operators and riggingDAYS / HRSPick plan, heaviest lift and schedule
Overview
Steel is bought by weight and built by the connection
Structural steel starts with the framing plans. Each W-shape, HSS tube, angle, channel and plate is listed by mark, length and weight per foot, then totaled by shape into tons. A W16x40 beam at 30 feet is 1,200 pounds before any connection material, so the takeoff separates members from the plates, clips, stiffeners and base plates that complete them.
Connections and details add weight and cost that framing plans do not show. Shear tabs, moment connections, bolt counts by diameter and grade, welded studs, embeds and anchor rods are derived from typical details and the connection schedule. Deck, joists and girders are counted in square feet and lineal feet, with edge angles, closure strips and shear studs added from the framing notes.
Fabrication and erection finish the price. We include shop drawings, cutting, coping and welding hours, primer or galvanizing, shipping loads, mobile or tower crane time, bolting-up and field welding crews, and the miscellaneous metals such as stairs, ladders, bollards and handrails that fall in Division 05 but rarely have a clear drawing sheet.
What type of metals & steel estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Structural steel bid
±4–6%48–72 hours
Tonnage by shape, connections, bolts, deck and joists, with fabrication, finish, shipping and erection broken out for a complete steel package.
Best for: Steel fabricators and erectors
Miscellaneous metals package
±6%24–48 hours
Stairs, railings, lintels, embeds, bollards and supports counted piece by piece from architectural and structural sheets.
Best for: Miscellaneous metals fabricators
Steel tonnage takeoff
24 hours
Shapes and weights by member, without pricing, ready for mill, service center and fabricator quotes.
Best for: Material buyers and detailers
Preliminary steel budget
±10–12%24 hours
Pounds per square foot of floor area and connection percentages applied to schematic framing, for early cost planning.
Best for: Design-build and conceptual estimates
Deck and joist package
±5%24–48 hours
Metal deck, joists, girders and accessories with erection and shear stud costs for roof and floor systems.
Best for: Roof and floor system contractors
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.
Then step 2
- 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.
Then step 3
- 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.
Then step 4
- 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.
Bid-ready
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 workbookXLSX
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plansPDF
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement listXLSX
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by taskXLSX
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions logPDF
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheetPDF
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Shapes totaled by member mark and weight per foot, so your mill order can be placed from the takeoff.
Connection material estimated from the connection schedule, not tossed in as a flat ten percent.
Bolt counts by diameter and grade, with slip-critical and snug-tight connections separated.
Metal deck priced by gauge and depth, including edge angles, closures and shear stud counts.
Stairs, ladders, rails and bollards taken, off from architectural sheets that structural sets omit.
Galvanizing, primer and intumescent coating, weights and surface areas separated from raw steel.
Crane type, lift weights and set-up days, priced from the erection sequence instead of a lump sum.
Estimators who read AISC specifications and, detail connections the way fabricators do.
CSI divisions
CSI MasterFormat divisions we cover
Estimates are organized by division so they drop straight into your cost codes and schedule of values.
Highlighted divisions are the primary scope on this page.
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
“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
“Cubic yards, rebar tonnage, formwork contact area and block counts by size. Exactly how I think about a job. We have won four of the last five bids they priced.”
Jamal Reed
Owner, Reed Concrete & Masonry · Birmingham, AL
FAQ
Metals & Steel Estimating FAQs
How do you calculate structural steel tonnage?
We list each member by mark and length from the framing plans, multiply by the AISC weight per foot for that shape, and total by shape type. Pounds are divided by 2,000 for tons. Connection plates, bolts and details are added separately, since they often make up ten to fifteen percent of total weight.
Do you price galvanizing and shop primer?
Yes. Hot-dip galvanizing is quoted per ton or per piece, with kettle size and shipping to the galvanizer reflected in the price, and primer or intumescent coating is priced per square foot of steel surface. If the specification calls for field touch-up, we add it as its own line.
Can you estimate erection and crane time?
We build erection from piece counts, heaviest lifts and sequence, then select mobile or tower crane capacity and rental duration. Mobilization, rigging, operator hours and set-up for each pick area are included, along with bolting-up and welding crews and any special lifting plans.
Is metal deck included with structural steel?
It can be. Deck is measured in square feet by gauge and depth from the framing plans, with edge angles, pour stops and shear studs added. Many bids keep it as its own package, so we deliver deck and joists separately when your bid form or subcontract requires it.
What counts as miscellaneous metals?
Items such as stairs, ladders, handrails, guardrails, bollards, loose lintels, embeds, support angles and pipe supports fall under miscellaneous metals. They appear on architectural and structural sheets, and we search the full drawing set for them so they are not forgotten between the steel and trade packages.
How long does a steel estimate take?
A small to medium commercial frame usually takes 48 to 72 hours, and miscellaneous metals packages 24 to 48. Large industrial and multi-story buildings need more time because of connection detail review, and we confirm the delivery date before work starts.
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 metals & steel estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.