Professional Construction Cost Estimation Services for Contractors Across the USA

American Estimation delivers accurate construction cost estimates for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Our certified estimators cover all 16 CSI MasterFormat divisions using PlanSwift, Bluebeam, RSMeans, and Xactimate. Most estimates delivered in 24-48 hours.

WHAT IS COST ESTIMATION ?

Construction cost estimation is the process of forecasting the total expense of a construction project before work
begins. It accounts for materials, labor, equipment, overhead, and contractor markup – giving owners, developers,
and contractors a financially sound starting point before committing to a project.
Accurate cost estimates serve three critical functions: they help project owners assess feasibility and secure
financing; they help contractors prepare competitive bids; and they help project managers monitor and control
spending throughout the build. Without a reliable estimate, projects risk budget overruns, failed bids, and costly
delays.

WHY IT MATTERS

An inaccurate estimate by even 10% on a $2 million project means $200,000 in unplanned costs. Contractors who
rely on rough mental calculations consistently underbid or overbid – both outcomes cost real money. A
professionally prepared construction cost estimate, backed by RSMeans cost data and CSI division knowledge,
removes that guesswork entirely.

TYPES OF ESTIMATES

1. DESIGN ESTIMATES

based on full specifications and architectural plans Design estimates help project owners and developers evaluate feasibility and secure project financing before construction begins.

2. BID ESTIMATES

3. CONTROL ESTIMATES

OUR SERVICES

American Estimation provides comprehensive construction cost estimating services for all project types and all CSI MasterFormat divisions. Whether you’re a general contractor preparing a bid, a developer evaluating project feasibility,
or a subcontractor quoting selected trades – we have you covered.

Our construction cost estimating services include:

Residential Cost Estimation

New builds, Renovations, Additions

Trade-Specific Estimation

Concrete, MEP, Electrical, Drywall, Roofing, lumber, Masonry, Sitework, Metals, Flooring, Glass, Thermal Protection, Openings and Paint

Commercial Building Cost Estimation

Offices, Retail, Hospitality

Quantity and Material Takeoffs

Bid preparation for GCs and subcontractors

View our trade-specific estimating services:

INDUSTRIES

Our cost estimating services support contractors and owners across all major construction sectors

Submit Your Drawing

When you submit your drawings and specifications, we prepare a quote including invoice, turnaround time, and the delivery date of the estimate.

Get A Quote

After reviewing the plans documents, you will get the quote within few minutes. As it gets accepted, you can pay the invoice ACH and our team will start working on your project.

Receive Estimate

You will receive an estimate that will contain all the material & labor quantities with pricing. We deliver the estimate and takeoff sheet in EXCEL or in our own template or in the client’s template, as per demand.

Tools We Use

WHY CHOOSE US

Why American Estimation — The Numbers Speak

24-48 hrs

Estimates delivered — guaranteed

24-48 hour turnaround

92%

Bid-Win Ratio — based on client data

construction estimating services

±5%

Accuracy on every estimate

accurate construction takeoff

Affordable & Transparent Pricing

Custom quotes per project — no hidden fees, no contracts. Pay per project. See pricing →

Zip-Code Based Pricing

RSMeans & Craftsman data. Locally accurate costs — not national averages.

All 16 CSI MasterFormat Divisions

Concrete, MEP, Electrical, Drywall, Roofing, Masonry — every trade covered.

Certified

Industry-standard compliance. Professional certified estimators on every project.

Experienced Estimators

Specialists per trade. PlanSwift, Bluebeam & RSMeans experts on your project.

24/7 Customer Support

Response within minutes. Dedicated support for every project from quote to delivery.

Ready to Work with Us

Upload Your Plans Today – Get an Accurate Construction Cost Estimate in 24 Hours

Frequently Asked Questions

What is construction cost estimation?

Construction cost estimation is the process of forecasting the total cost to complete a construction project — including materials, labor, equipment, and overhead. Accurate estimates help contractors bid competitively and help project owners manage budgets

What are the different types of construction cost estimates?

There are three main categories: Design Estimates (order of magnitude, preliminary, and definitive), Bid Estimates (submitted for competitive bidding), and Control Estimates (used to monitor costs during construction). Each type serves a different stage of the project lifecycle.

Why do I need a professional construction estimator?

Professional estimators use industry-standard software like PlanSwift and Bluebeam, and pricing databases like RSMeans, to produce estimates accurate to ±5%. DIY estimates often miss 15-30% of actual costs, leading to overruns and lost bids

What does a construction cost estimate include?

A complete construction cost estimate includes material quantities, labor hours, equipment costs, subcontractor pricing, overhead, and profit margins. American Estimation delivers estimates in Excel or your preferred template format.

How long does it take to get a construction cost estimate?

Most estimates are delivered in 24-48 hours after plan submission. Complex projects may take 48-72 hours. Rush delivery is available for urgent bid deadlines — contact us to discuss.

What software do you use for construction cost estimating?

We use PlanSwift and Bluebeam for quantity takeoffs, RSMeans and Craftsmen cost databases for pricing, and Xactimate for insurance-related estimates. We also use Autodesk Revit for BIM-integrated estimating.

Can you estimate for both residential and commercial projects?

Yes. We handle residential, commercial, and industrial projects across all 16 CSI MasterFormat divisions — from single-family homes to large commercial office buildings, hospitals, and industrial warehouses

Do I need complete drawings to get an estimate?

No. We can work with partial or preliminary drawings and flag any missing information in our takeoff notes. For best accuracy, complete architectural and structural drawings are recommended.