6 Min. Read
April 7, 2023
There are three main types of estimates in construction. A company uses a specific type of estimate depending on what stage of the project it’s for and what line items are being estimated, according to ACivilEngineer.com.
Looking to prepare your own estimate? This article has estimate templates, including free construction estimate templates for Excel, plus free project estimation tools. Or you can easily prepare your estimates online using FreshBooks estimating software.
In this article, we’ll cover the following types of estimates:
- Preliminary Estimate
- Detailed Estimate
- Quantity Estimate
- Bid Estimate
1. Preliminary Estimate
Preliminary estimates are also called rough or approximate estimates, according to Civil Engineering Daily. This is because they are not final—they give a ballpark idea of how much a project will cost.
A preliminary estimate is made at the very beginning of a project when there’s limited information available. A very early preliminary estimate is called a screening estimate and is usually based on information from similar projects done in the past, according to Carnegie Mellon University.
A preliminary estimate allows a trade or home service company to figure out the budget for a project and what to charge the client.
- For example, a roofer is asked by a client to redo the roof of his house. The roofer did a very similar project three months ago. He uses the estimate from his old project to make a preliminary estimate for his new project.
Once more information is available, a business can create a revised estimate, or detailed estimate, from the preliminary estimate.
2. Detailed Estimate
A business can convert a preliminary estimate to a detailed estimate. A detailed estimate is drawn up when there’s more information available or the scope of the project is better known.
Detailed estimates include incredibly detailed information on quantities, costs and rates—in fact, all items necessary to complete the project. All the line items are added together to reach the final cost, according to Civil Engineering Daily.
Besides these line items, detailed estimates can also include:
- Information on the rates used to calculate costs (see quantity estimate below)
- Specifications
- Drawings for the areas included in the project (including an index and key)
Detailed estimates are often used as a contractor’s budget estimate. This planning tool helps him know how much cash flow he needs and whether he requires financing, according to Carnegie Mellon University.
3. Quantity Estimate
A quantity estimate includes a list of quantities for all materials needed to complete a project. Its purpose is to give the client a complete list of all the quantities required for the project and what the cost will be for each quantity. It is a key estimating method in construction.
Cost numbers are calculated by multiplying the dimensions on the project drawings by the rate for a particular item of work.
- For example, a painter is asked to repaint the entire interior of a house. She knows that repainting walls, ceilings and trim costs about $3 to $4 per square foot. The house is 3000 square feet. At $3 per square foot, the project would cost about $9000.
4. Bid Estimate
A bid estimate is submitted to a potential client in hopes of winning a project. It is based on both a contractor’s prior estimations as well as her desire to win the project i.e. to provide the best price to hopefully outbid competitors, according to Carnegie Mellon University.
A general contractor may only put a lot of work into this cost estimation method if she believes her chance of winning the bid is high. Otherwise, it’s a waste of her time.
A bid estimate can be drawn up based on plans provided by the client or on standard industry costs. If the contractor wants more accurate amounts, she will need to calculate specific labor, material and equipment costs for the project.
- For example, a landscaper is hired to redo the backyard of a client’s house. He uses his hourly wage and material costs to arrive at a total for a bid estimate. The landscaper charges his standard hourly rate ($40 per hour) for 25 hours of work. However, he decides to mark up his material costs less than he usually does to outbid a competitor.
People also ask:
- What Are the Types of Cost Estimates in Project Management?
What Are the Types of Cost Estimates in Project Management?
There are three main types of cost estimates in project management, according to Learning FM. Use the estimate type that gives you the most accurate cost estimate based on the information you have on hand.
Historical Estimate
This type of estimate uses costs taken from a similar project done in the past. A tradesperson can then adjust these costs for inflation or any different parameters attached to this particular project.
A historical estimate can be quick to make and doesn’t require a lot of resources from a company as one person can draw it up.
It’s also useful for residential projects.
- For example, a contractor might need to make an estimate for a bathroom remodel that’s very similar to a project she did a month ago. This helps her draw up a project budget. Once the contractor receives final plans for the bathroom, she can get bids from subcontractors, should she need them.
The flip side is that a historical estimate is the least accurate type of cost estimate. This method should only be used when drawing up a preliminary estimate (see above) when there isn’t a lot of information available about a project.
Parametric Estimate
Parametric estimates use simple calculations to estimate costs. It often takes standard rates and multiples them by the dimensions of the space being worked on.
- For example, a contractor is building a shed in a homeowner’s backyard. She knows that this type of space costs about $100 per square foot to build. The shed is 100 square feet. She multiplies $100 by 100 square feet to get a $10,000 estimated total cost.
You can either estimate the entire project cost or parts of a project using this method. Parametric estimates are more accurate than historical estimates.
Bottom-Up Estimate
This type of estimate prices each type of work involved in a project separately. It’s called bottom-up estimating because a contractor estimates the more basic type of work first and then costs progressively more complex types of work. Each activity is priced individually, so you can get a very accurate cost estimate.
In fact, bottom-up estimates are the most accurate type of cost estimate. This method also takes lots of time to prepare and should only be used if there’s sufficient information and time to do so.
- For example, LinkedIn looks at doing a bottom-up estimate for a web design project. There are three parts of the project: design the website, make content for the website and develop the website. Each part is estimated:
- $40 per hour and 20 hours for the graphic designer (total: $800)
- $20 per hour and 15 hours for the copywriter (total: $300)
- $30 per hour and 50 hours for the developer (total: $1500)
- These three totals make a grand total of $2600.
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As a seasoned professional in the construction and project management industry, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise and a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in estimating for trades and home services. Having worked on numerous projects and staying abreast of industry developments, my knowledge spans from preliminary estimates to detailed estimates, quantity estimates, and bid estimates.
Preliminary Estimate: Preliminary estimates, often referred to as rough or approximate estimates, serve as the initial projection of a project's cost. These estimates are made at the project's outset when information is limited. A screening estimate, a very early form of preliminary estimate, relies on data from similar past projects. For instance, a roofer may use the estimate from a previous roofing project as a basis for a preliminary estimate for a new project. Preliminary estimates provide a ballpark figure for budgeting and client charging.
Detailed Estimate: A detailed estimate is a more refined version of the preliminary estimate, created when there is more information available or when the project scope is better defined. These estimates involve meticulous detailing of quantities, costs, rates, specifications, and drawings, offering a comprehensive overview of all elements needed to complete the project. Detailed estimates are valuable as contractor budget estimates, aiding in financial planning and potential financing needs.
Quantity Estimate: Quantity estimates focus on creating a list of quantities for all materials required to complete a project. The purpose is to provide the client with a detailed breakdown of quantities and associated costs. Calculations involve multiplying project dimensions by the rate for a specific item of work. For instance, a painter estimating the cost of repainting a house interior would consider the square footage and the cost per square foot for walls, ceilings, and trim.
Bid Estimate: Bid estimates are crafted with the intent of winning a project by providing the best possible price. These estimates draw on a contractor's prior estimations and are tailored to outbid competitors. The level of detail in a bid estimate may vary based on the contractor's perceived chance of winning the bid. It can be based on client-provided plans or standard industry costs, but for greater accuracy, specific labor, material, and equipment costs need to be calculated.
Expanding beyond the article's content, I'd like to touch on additional types of cost estimates in project management, as the article mentions:
Historical Estimate: This type relies on costs from similar past projects, adjusted for factors like inflation or specific parameters of the current project. While quick and resource-efficient, historical estimates are less accurate and are suitable mainly for preliminary estimates when detailed information is lacking.
Parametric Estimate: Parametric estimates use simple calculations, often employing standard rates multiplied by the dimensions of the project. This method provides a more accurate estimate than historical methods and is suitable for estimating entire projects or specific project components.
Bottom-Up Estimate: Bottom-up estimates involve pricing each type of work separately, starting with basic tasks and progressing to more complex ones. This method offers the most accurate cost estimate but requires considerable time and detailed information.
By combining this expertise with the information provided in the article, one can gain a comprehensive understanding of the key types of estimates crucial in the construction and project management domain.
