Division 06 · Architectural Woodwork
Millwork estimates that separate the cabinet box from the shop drawing hours behind it
Millwork pricing swings on grade, species and finish far more than on lineal footage. A premium-grade quartered white oak reception desk and a standard-grade laminate base cabinet can share a line on the plans and differ by a factor of five. We read the architectural woodwork specification, quantify casework, trim, doors and stair parts, and price each by AWI grade, material and finish system.
3AWI quality grades priced separately: economy, custom and premium
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
Overview
Where millwork cost really comes from
Millwork is priced in layers. The first is geometry: base cabinets, wall cabinets and tall units taken off in linear feet from interior elevations, plus countertops in square feet, trim in linear feet by profile and doors in each. The second is the specification, which sets the AWI grade, face veneer, edge treatment, hardware class and construction method, such as frameless European-style or face-frame with inset doors.
The third layer is what drawings never show: shop drawing production and submittal revisions, field measurement of existing walls, finish sampling, crating and protection, and installation sequencing around drywall, flooring and paint. On custom projects those hours can exceed material cost on a feature wall.
We carry all three layers in the estimate, so a contractor bidding architectural woodwork sees cost per linear foot by casework type, plus separate lines for engineering, finishing and install. That is how a millwork shop protects margin when elevations change after award.
Scope of takeoff
Millwork items we quantify
Quantities come from interior elevations, casework schedules and finish legends, then are tied to the AWI grade called out in Section 06 40 00.
- 01Base cabinetsFrameless and face-frame boxes with drawers, doors, adjustable shelves and toe kicksFrameless and face-frame boxes with drawers, doors, adjustable shelves and toe kicksLFInterior elevations and casework schedule
- 02Wall cabinetsStandard and tall wall units, glass-door cabinets and crown or light railStandard and tall wall units, glass-door cabinets and crown or light railLFInterior elevations by room
- 03Tall and pantry unitsFull-height storage, appliance garages and oven towersFull-height storage, appliance garages and oven towersEAElevations and appliance schedule
- 04Countertops and surfacesHigh-pressure laminate, solid surface, quartz and butcher block with backsplashes and cutoutsHigh-pressure laminate, solid surface, quartz and butcher block with backsplashes and cutoutsSFPlan dimensions plus overhang and edge profile
- 05Trim, base and casingBaseboard, door and window casing, chair rail, crown and picture molding by profileBaseboard, door and window casing, chair rail, crown and picture molding by profileLFRoom finish schedule and elevations
- 06Wood doors and framesStile-and-rail, flush veneer and fire-rated doors with jambs and thresholdsStile-and-rail, flush veneer and fire-rated doors with jambs and thresholdsEADoor schedule and hardware sets
- 07Paneling and wall claddingVeneer panels, slatted acoustic wood walls and wainscot with reveal detailsVeneer panels, slatted acoustic wood walls and wainscot with reveal detailsSFInterior elevations and sections
- 08Stair parts and railingsTreads, risers, newels, balusters, handrails and volutesTreads, risers, newels, balusters, handrails and volutesEA / LFStair sections and details
- 09Built-ins and reception desksCustom feature units, shelving walls, lockers and fixtures with integrated hardwareCustom feature units, shelving walls, lockers and fixtures with integrated hardwareEA / LSDetail drawings and design intent sketches
- 10Hardware and accessoriesHinges, drawer slides, pulls, grommets, shelf pins and cabinet locksHinges, drawer slides, pulls, grommets, shelf pins and cabinet locksEADerived from cabinet counts and hardware schedule
- 11FinishingStain, catalyzed lacquer, conversion varnish and paint-grade prep by exposed SFStain, catalyzed lacquer, conversion varnish and paint-grade prep by exposed SFSFFinish legend and exposed surface area
- 12Shop drawings and installationEngineering, field measure, delivery, installation and punch-list laborEngineering, field measure, delivery, installation and punch-list laborHRSHours by unit type and complexity
Estimate types
What type of millwork estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Architectural woodwork bid
Complete Section 06 40 00 pricing with casework, trim, panels and doors grouped by room, finish system and AWI grade, ready for a bid form or alternates.
Accuracy
±6%
Turnaround
48 hours
Best for
Millwork shops and woodwork subcontractors
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.
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.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Estimators who read Section 06 40 00 and, know how premium versus custom grade changes joinery, matching and tolerance.
Casework priced by type, not as a blanket price per foot, so tall units, sink bases and drawer stacks carry their real cost.
Shop drawing, submittal and field measurement, hours separated from fabrication, so redesigns have a visible price.
Veneer, species and grain matching called, out as selection decisions, with cost deltas for each choice.
Countertop fabrication and cutouts, edges, backsplashes and sink or cooktop reinforcement captured per piece.
Finishing priced by exposed SF and system, since catalyzed varnish costs more than a clear lacquer.
Delivery, protection and installation sequencing, carried as separate lines for multi-floor projects.
Quantities and unit costs organized by room, so a tenant or owner can approve or delete areas independently.
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.
Project types
Project types we estimate
The same measured-twice standard applies whether the scope is a tenant improvement or a ground-up campus.
FAQ
Millwork Estimating FAQs
How do AWI grades change the price?
Economy, custom and premium grades set tolerances for joinery, veneer matching, edge treatment and finish quality. Premium work can cost 40 to 80 percent more than custom for the same layout because of material selection and shop time. We price the grade written in the specification and can show alternates.
Do you include shop drawings in the millwork estimate?
Yes. Shop drawing production, submittal revision cycles and field measurement are carried as their own hours line, separate from fabrication. That makes it easy to see what a design change after award will cost your shop.
Can you price millwork from design intent drawings?
We can. For early documents we build a unit-cost model using linear feet of casework by type, a grade assumption and a finish allowance, and document every assumption so it can be tightened when elevations and the casework schedule are complete.
Are countertops and hardware included?
Countertops are measured in square feet with edge profile, cutouts and backsplash. Hinges, slides, pulls and accessories are counted from cabinet quantities and the hardware schedule, so they appear as units and not as a lump percentage.
Do you price prefinished or site-finished trim?
Either. We compare prefinished stock against site-applied paint or stain, including the extra labor of caulking, sanding and multiple coats on site. Many builders find that prefinished runs more in material but saves enough field time to break even.
How long does a millwork estimate take?
Residential trim and kitchen packages are often delivered in 24 hours. Commercial architectural woodwork with many elevations and custom pieces typically takes 48 hours, and we confirm the date once we have reviewed the specification.
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 millwork estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.