How to review a construction estimate

TGE guide · General guidance; confirm your project-specific scope.

Check the basis before the total

Start with the document revision, trades, location and pricing date. A neatly presented total is not enough to show whether the estimate matches your bid requirements.

Trace a sample of quantities

Select items from different areas or trades and compare them with the drawing references. Check units, deductions, allowances and any missing information. Ask questions where the measurement basis is unclear.

Separate quantities from rates

Review supplier quotations, material rates and labor assumptions independently. Confirm whether freight, equipment and other agreed costs appear in the breakdown. A measured quantity can be sound even when a pricing assumption needs updating.

Read exclusions and revisions

• Identify allowances and unresolved selections.
• Keep alternatives separate from the base scope.
• Check whether recent addenda were included.
• Confirm who handles revised drawings and scope changes.

Retain control of the final bid

Your project team should apply its commercial terms and review market inputs before submission. An estimate supports that decision; it does not guarantee a bid outcome. Review deliverable formats and estimating support for contractors.

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