The 10 Best Construction Estimating Software

Estimating building costs is a crucial phase in every construction project. General contractors or builders must generate thorough cost estimates, timelines, and construction plans in order to correctly estimate the cost of a building project. Fortunately, there are several amazing software solutions created specifically for these reasons. 

This tutorial will go through the software tools that contractors may use to create accurate and timely cost estimates for their construction projects. It begins with an examination of the construction estimating and bidding process before delving into the technology available to construction professionals to enhance it. If you already know everything there is to know about construction estimating and just want to look at the best products, here is a list of our top suggested estimating software:

Understanding Construction Estimating

Construction estimating is a component of the building bidding process, which involves contractors and builders submitting proposals, or bids, to project owners, proposing to deliver services or supplies for a construction project. 

These bids detail the expenses that the contractor intends to pay for the construction or infrastructure’s development. Typically, for significant construction projects, firms and governments get bids from a variety of contractors before deciding which contractor would complete the work.

The owner, or project sponsor, initiates the process by preparing bid documents, which are referred to together as a bid package.

This bid packet contains critical project parameters in order to provide contractors with all of the information they need to establish accurate estimates and create a project timeline and budget. Project plans, location / time limits, insurance needs, and other information are often included in the papers.

For privately held projects, this bid package may be shared with as few or as many contractors as the owner desires, based on past connections with contractors / builders. The construction bidding process includes unique criteria for public projects supported by local or federal government bodies. Public projects must be publicised publicly ahead of time, and bid documentation must be made available so that any qualified contractor can submit a bid before the bid deadline.

Introduction to Construction Estimating Services

Construction estimating services include the process of determining the approximate, yet detailed, expenses connected with a construction project. It is also known as construction cost estimate or just estimating. 

An experienced contractor can quickly estimate a little project in his or her head. To obtain an accurate cost estimate for huge projects that require thorough bids, the process necessitates substantially more due diligence.

To generate these estimates, contractors and subcontractors must calculate the quantities and costs of all supplies, equipment, and labour for their job, which often begins with producing a takeoff list using information from the bid package. The quantity and amount of labour necessary to finish a building project are referred to as takeoff.

Estimators utilise project designs to establish the quantity and kinds of each material, as well as the labour required for each area of the project for which they are responsible. (Amounts of each material are “taken off” the plans.) After that, the takeoff list is utilised to generate the cost estimate and project bid.

Understanding Construction Estimating Software

Contractors, builders, and anybody who routinely estimates project costs or bids on construction contracts may utilise technology to manage the estimating and bidding process to save time and money. This section of the book will offer an overview of this programme and how it may be utilised in the bidding, estimating, and takeoff processes in construction.

What does Construction Estimating Software do?

Construction estimating software is cloud or desktop technology that is aimed to simplify and enhance the process of estimating cost, materials, and labour for construction projects. Construction estimating software comes in a variety of flavours, ranging from simple spreadsheet templates to online collaboration software with a plethora of capabilities that optimise far more than just the estimate process. Contractors should also keep in mind that certain software is created with specific subcontractor trades in mind, such as features for electricians or HVAC contractors. Other goods may be created for general contractors or without regard for a specific trade.

Online vs. Desktop Estimating Software

Estimating software firms can provide consumers with access to their technology in one of two ways: (1) by installing the programme on the buyer’s PCs or servers, or (2) by giving access to the tool online, using web browsers and mobile devices. On-premise refers to items that have been installed.

There are several advantages to using online estimating software, particularly in terms of accessibility. Online software may be accessible from any device that has an internet connection. Some sophisticated systems will even provide offline access through local programmes that sync data when an internet connection is available.

Construction Estimating vs. Takeoff vs. Bidding Software

As previously stated, the bidding, estimating, and takeoff procedures are all inextricably linked. Remember that contractors and subcontractors execute takeoff on project drawings and bid papers and then utilise that information to develop construction cost estimates. These estimations are then used to generate project bids, also known as work proposals.

Many solutions labelled “Estimating Software” focus just on estimating, but it’s also usual for software programmes to include takeoff, estimating, bidding, or any combination of the three, all inside the same platform. However, most of the time, these goods are independent tools sold by various firms. Buyers may be perplexed because some businesses market “Estimating Software” and others “Construction Bidding Software” — with product descriptions that purport to answer the same needs when they do not.

To clarify what software developers normally mean when they use these terms, we’ll outline the most prevalent phrases used by estimating software suppliers to brand themselves, as well as the set of features these terms often entail. Typically, software vendors will trademark themselves as follows:

Construction bidding software primarily focuses on project bids/proposals, subcontractor and project scheduling, client management, and bid analysis/reporting.

Takeoff software: This programme specialises in extracting information from digital designs and spec sheets and then using that knowledge to produce cost estimates.

Estimating tools: assist estimators in developing cost and quantity estimates for materials and supplies on a line-by-line basis. 

Cost summary templates, preconfigured formulas and calculations, and regional part / material cost databases are common examples of these tools.