Commercial Construction Estimating
Multi-trade estimates for office, retail, restaurant, medical, multi-family and institutional projects.
What Commercial Construction Estimating Covers
Commercial projects differ from residential in ways that change the estimate. The specifications carry as much scope as the drawings. Bid forms ask for alternates and unit prices. General conditions run for months and depend on the schedule. Tenant improvement, shell and multi-family work each have their own cost drivers.
A commercial estimate therefore covers every CSI division in the specification book, prices the alternates separately, and builds general conditions from the project duration rather than as a flat percentage.
Who This Is For
- Commercial general contractors: A complete estimate to check against subcontractor coverage, or to bid a project larger than their in-house team can take on.
- Tenant improvement contractors: Fast interior fit-out estimates (framing, drywall, ceilings, finishes, MEP modifications) on short bid windows.
- Developers: A design-development budget for an office, retail or multi-family building before GMP negotiation.
Not quite what you need?
Need to level subcontractor bids on bid day? See construction bid estimating.
Project is a warehouse, plant or heavy industrial facility? See industrial construction estimating.
What You Receive
Division-by-division estimate
All specified divisions, from 01 General Requirements through 33 Utilities, with quantities, unit costs and labor.
General conditions build-up
Supervision, temporary facilities, equipment, cleanup, and bonds and insurance, based on the project duration you provide.
Alternates & unit prices
Each owner-requested alternate priced as an add or deduct, in the order they appear on the bid form.
Scope clarifications
Specification sections reviewed, conflicts between specs and drawings, and items we excluded or allowanced.
See the sample deliverables page for what each file contains.
How It Is Produced
Specification and bid-form review
We read the spec book and bid form first, listing required alternates, unit prices, allowances and any owner-furnished items.
Takeoff by division
Every division in the spec is measured, including the ones that are easy to miss, such as Division 01 requirements, specialties, and signage.
Pricing and general conditions
Unit pricing for the location, with general conditions built from the schedule duration.
Alternates
Each alternate is priced as a separate add or deduct so it never contaminates the base bid.
Deliver
Estimate, alternates schedule and clarifications, ready for your bid-day adjustments.
What to Send Us
- Full construction document set (all disciplines)
- Project manual / specification book
- Bid form with alternates and unit prices
- All addenda
- Anticipated construction duration, for general conditions
Not Included Unless Requested
- Owner-furnished equipment and furniture, unless listed on the bid form
- Hazardous materials abatement, unless a survey is provided
- Building permit and impact fees, unless you provide the amounts
Pricing & Turnaround
Commercial multi-trade estimates typically fall in the $400 – $950 per project range. Large buildings, multiple buildings or heavy specification scope are quoted after plan review.
Every project gets a fixed quote after we see the drawings. Standard delivery is 24 to 48 hours from scope approval; large packages take longer and the date is set in the quote. Full fee tiers are on the pricing page.
Trades Commonly Included
Questions About Commercial Construction Estimating
Do you read the specifications or just the drawings?
Both. On commercial work, the spec book defines products, testing, submittals and Division 01 requirements that the drawings do not show. We list the sections reviewed in the clarifications.
How are general conditions calculated?
From the construction duration you give us: monthly costs for supervision, trailer, temporary utilities, equipment and cleanup, multiplied by the duration. A flat percentage hides too much on long projects.
Can you price alternates?
Yes. Each alternate is priced separately as an add or deduct, in the order the bid form lists them.
Do you estimate tenant improvements?
Yes. Interior fit-outs are commonly priced as framing, drywall, ceilings, doors and hardware, finishes, and MEP modifications to the base building systems.
Prepared by the estimating desk at Construction Estimating Services (F&K Estimations LLC). Last updated September 2026.