The core work
- Find jobs to bid and decide which ones are worth the time.
- Read the drawings, the spec and the addenda.
- Do the takeoff.
- Send questions to the GC or the design team.
- Get quotes from suppliers and lower-tier subs.
- Price material, labor and equipment.
- Add overhead and profit with the owner or the chief estimator.
- Write the proposal and send it on time.
What happens after the bid
The work does not stop on bid day. The estimator answers the GC's scope questions. When the company wins, the estimator hands the job to the project manager. A good handoff includes the takeoff, the quotes, the exclusions and the open questions. The estimator may also price change orders during the job.
At a subcontractor and at a GC
A sub's estimator goes deep on one trade. That person knows the products, the labor and the spec section in detail. In a small company the estimator may also be the owner, the salesperson and the project manager.
A GC's estimator goes wide. That person prices the work the GC does with its own crews. The rest of the time goes to collecting and leveling sub bids for each trade.
Skills that matter
- Reading drawings and specifications.
- Knowing how the work is built in the field.
- Careful arithmetic and a habit of checking.
- Clear writing, for questions and scope letters.
- Judgment about risk.
- Staying calm against a deadline.
How estimators are measured
Winning bids is only half of the score. The other half is whether the jobs finish near the estimate. An estimator who wins every bid is likely too low. Compare the estimate to the final job cost on each finished job. That feedback is how an estimator gets better.
Bidding and estimating · Updated 11 Nov 2026