{"id":57085,"date":"2024-03-01T14:41:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T20:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/?p=57085"},"modified":"2026-02-20T18:08:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T00:08:34","slug":"making-a-construction-estimate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/making-a-construction-estimate","title":{"rendered":"Construction Estimating Guide: How to Make a Construction Estimate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Construction projects can be complex. You need money to buy materials, create blueprints, secure permits, rent equipment, pay for your crew and more. All of these things cost money and take time. This is why you need to do thorough construction estimating to make sure you don\u2019t miss anything.<\/p>\n<p>How can you make sure that the money you ask for at the beginning of the project will be enough to see you through the end? It requires a construction estimate to ensure the most accurate findings.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Construction Estimating?<\/h2>\n<p>Construction estimating is the process of assessing all the costs of a construction project during the preconstruction phase. These costs include direct costs, indirect costs, overhead costs and a profit margin for the general contractor. The purpose of construction estimating is to create a construction estimate, a document that general contractors use when <a href=\"\/blog\/construction-bids-mastering-construction-bidding\">bidding<\/a> for construction projects.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/\">ProjectManager<\/a> is construction project management software that can greatly help you with the construction estimating process. You can use its project management tools to visualize your construction project tasks, allocate resources to them and estimate their costs to create a realistic estimate.<\/p>\n<p>You can also create construction schedules, assign work to your team members, track costs with timesheets, monitor your project progress with real-time dashboards and more. Get started with ProjectManager for free today.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_63413\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63413\" style=\"width: 1554px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/freetrial?edition=d\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-63413 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1554\" height=\"831\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpg 1554w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1-600x321.jpg 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1-300x160.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1-768x411.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1-1536x821.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1-450x241.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1554px) 100vw, 1554px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-63413\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">ProjectManager is the perfect software for estimating and planning your construction projects. <strong><a href=\"\/industries\/construction-project-management\">Learn more<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What Is a Construction Estimate?<\/h2>\n<p>A construction estimate forecasts how much it&#8217;ll cost to build the structure in your project plan. Understandably, this is one of the most important steps taken at the early stages of any<a href=\"\/guides\/construction-project-management\"> construction project management process.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A successful construction estimate begins in the bid estimation phase of a project. All construction-related documents, historical data and other known costs are used as a starting point for coming up with an accurate forecast.<\/p>\n<p>The accuracy of the <a href=\"\/templates\/construction-estimate-template\">construction estimate<\/a> impacts the profit margin for the contractor leading the build; therefore, thorough construction estimation is vital to the viability of any construction business. It also makes contractors more competitive when trying to win new business for their organization.<\/p>\n<h2>When to Use a Construction Estimate<\/h2>\n<p>A construction estimate is used throughout the early stages of a project and can be sketched out when the project is just an idea, using the experience of the project manager and their knowledge of the costs associated with similar projects. Then, as the construction planning progresses, there are opportunities to draw more accurate estimates from the data accumulating around resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/make-a-construction-schedule\">scheduling<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n<p>While plans are always going to change to some degree throughout a project, the heavy lifting of your budget is done by the time bids open. You might amend some costs, or find that scheduling or other delays will add to the budget, but the construction estimate process is done once all the documentation for your project is complete and you have a full view of what everything should cost.<\/p>\n<div class=\"template-download-holder\">\n\t<div class=\"template-download-image-holder\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image.png 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-600x338.png 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-300x169.png 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-768x432.png 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-1536x864.png 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-450x253.png 450w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-384x216.png 384w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image-800x451.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\t<\/div><p class=\"intro\">Get your free<\/p>\n<h3>Construction Estimate Template<\/h3>\n<p class=\"subtitle\">\n\tUse this free Construction Estimate Template  for Excel to manage your projects better.<\/p>\n<button data-categoryname=\"In blog post\" class=\"button green template-lightbox-trigger-68155\">Download Excel File<\/button>\n<\/div> \n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Construction Estimating Process: How to Estimate Construction Costs in 5 Steps<\/h2>\n<p>Estimating the costs of a construction project can be easy if you follow the right steps and use the right construction project management tools and techniques. Here are four simple steps you can use to accurately create a construction cost estimate.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Identify Project Tasks With a Work Breakdown Structure<\/h3>\n<p>The very first step in the construction estimating process is to identify every task that needs to be executed to complete your project by breaking down the scope of your project using a work breakdown structure.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Write a Scope of Work<\/h3>\n<p>Once you have a clear understanding of the work that needs to be done, you should create a scope of work, an important construction document that\u2019s used to establish an agreement between property owners, contractors and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/subcontractor-management-in-construction\">subcontractors<\/a> when executing a construction project.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Identify the Project Resource Requirements<\/h3>\n<p>After defining your scope of work you can proceed to estimate the project resources such as labor, materials, equipment and machinery that are needed for each project task.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Make a Material Takeoff &amp; Bill of Quantities<\/h3>\n<p>A <a href=\"\/blog\/material-takeoff-in-construction\">material takeoff<\/a> is a detailed description of all the materials and quantities that are needed to build a construction project based on construction documents, architectural drawings and computer-assisted designs (CAD).<\/p>\n<p>Based on the findings of your material takeoff, you can create a <a href=\"\/blog\/what-is-bill-of-quantities\">bill of quantities<\/a>, a document that itemizes all the materials that are needed for a project as well as the labor required for their installation. This can be used by contractors, subcontractors and site managers as they bid on projects.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/templates\/bill-of-quantities-template\">Bill of Quantities Template<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>5. Estimate Costs &amp; Create a Construction Estimate<\/h3>\n<p>Once you write a scope of work, a material takeoff and a bill of quantities, you should have a clear idea of what labor, materials, equipment and machinery are needed for your construction project, which means you can now clearly estimate their costs and make a construction estimate.<\/p>\n<h2>Construction Estimate Template<\/h2>\n<p>When making a construction estimate, it\u2019s good to have a construction estimate template, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/templates\/construction-estimate-template\">ProjectManager\u2019s free construction estimate template<\/a> seen below. The use of a template streamlines your construction estimating process, saves you time and gets you down right away to the more important work at hand.<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/templates\/construction-estimate-template\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"331\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-61421\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Construction-Estimate-Template-600x331.jpg\" alt=\"construction estimate template\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Construction-Estimate-Template-600x331.jpg 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Construction-Estimate-Template-300x166.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Construction-Estimate-Template-768x424.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Construction-Estimate-Template-450x248.jpg 450w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Construction-Estimate-Template.jpg 1147w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n<h2>Key Components of a Construction Estimate<\/h2>\n<p>Most construction estimates are done by the project estimator, but they can also be created by the project manager, another manager or someone else on the project. It all depends on the size of the project and the makeup of the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Whoever works on the construction estimate will look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/construction-plan\">construction plan<\/a> and many other construction documents to determine what the overall cost of the build will be. Each person and organization might have a different method for making this forecast, but most will include these key components:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Direct Costs:<\/strong> This is money spent on construction activities, such as materials, labor and equipment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indirect Costs:<\/strong> These are costs not directly allocated for construction activities, such as <a href=\"\/blog\/construction-quality-control\">quality control<\/a>, security, utilities, admin, legal fees, permits, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Labor Hours:<\/strong> The rate you pay your team, which includes a basic wage and an estimate for the cost of each task. Include taxes and potential overtime.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Subcontractor Costs:<\/strong> Estimate the cost of work that will be contracted out to subcontractors, including labor, materials and equipment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Construction Estimating Levels<\/h2>\n<p>The American Society of Professional Estimators has identified a five-tier system that is used for classifying construction estimates. The levels become more detailed as you move through them, which makes the estimation more reliable.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Level 1 &#8211; Order of Magnitude:<\/strong> This is the rough estimation formed at the very beginning of the project and is based on experience and historical data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Level 2 &#8211; Intermediate or Schematic:<\/strong> The estimate takes into consideration the schematic design once it has been created.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Level 3 &#8211; Preliminary or Design Development:<\/strong> Estimates are further refined during the project&#8217;s design phase and the accuracy is good enough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/construction-budget-quick-guide\">for the basis of a budget.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Level 4 &#8211; Substantive or Construction Document:<\/strong> Once the construction drawings and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/types-of-construction-specifications\">specifications<\/a> have been done, the estimate can be used to hone its findings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Level 5 &#8211; Definitive or Bid:<\/strong> Now, with all costs known, this is your most accurate and reliable figure and can be used to create bids and cost baselines.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>We&#8217;ve defined what a construction estimate is, what it should include and some basic steps for making one, but we haven\u2019t explained who&#8217;s involved in the process of estimating <a href=\"\/guides\/construction-project-management\">construction projects<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While there might be several people involved, the construction estimator is the person who specializes in construction cost estimating. Here\u2019s what a construction estimator does.<\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"trapdoor\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.projectmanager.com\/construction-management-ebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-79091 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad.jpg\" alt=\"2026 construction eBook ad\" width=\"2021\" height=\"521\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad.jpg 2021w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad-600x155.jpg 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad-1600x412.jpg 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad-300x77.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad-768x198.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad-1536x396.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad-450x116.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2021px) 100vw, 2021px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2>What Does a Construction Estimator Do?<\/h2>\n<p>Construction estimators work closely with architects, engineers and project managers to identify all the tasks that make up a construction project as well as the exact quantities of raw materials, labor, equipment and machinery that will be needed to execute them.<\/p>\n<p>To make a construction cost estimate, construction estimators review <a href=\"\/blog\/construction-documents\">construction documentation<\/a>, architectural drawings and computer-aided designs (CAD), and use specialized software that can help them define the scope of the project and make a construction estimate.<\/p>\n<p>Some common responsibilities of a construction estimator include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reviewing the scope of work of a project to make sure no activities are missing and it accurately describes all the steps of the construction execution phase<\/li>\n<li>Visiting the construction site to determine whether there\u2019s any need for any additional equipment due to the unique weather conditions or other factors<\/li>\n<li>Using software to make a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/material-takeoff-in-construction\">material takeoff (MTO)<\/a>, a document that lists all the materials and the quantity that will be needed to execute a construction project<\/li>\n<li>Reviewing construction documentation such as the scope of work, construction plan and construction schedule to make a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/quantity-takeoff-construction\">quantity takeoff<\/a> (QTO), a document that\u2019s similar to a material takeoff but also describes the labor, equipment and machinery required for a construction project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/industries\/construction-project-management\">construction project management software<\/a> can streamline the process of estimating and managing your project. Some tools let you estimate and track costs as you execute your project.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Construction Estimating Software?<\/h2>\n<p>Construction estimating software has multiple tools and features to help you identify project tasks, allocate resources, estimate costs and track construction budgets like ProjectManager.<\/p>\n<p>ProjectManager is online construction project management software equipped with <a href=\"\/guides\/gantt-chart\">Gantt charts<\/a>, real-time dashboards, timesheets, workload management charts and other tools that aren&#8217;t only ideal for construction estimating but managing all the areas of a construction project. We\u2019ll explore ProjectManager\u2019s construction estimating features in more detail later in this guide.<\/p>\n<p>There are many construction estimating software alternatives available on the market, which makes it challenging to choose the best for your team and clients. For that reason, we\u2019ve reviewed the key features, pros, cons and pricing of the <a href=\"\/blog\/best-construction-estimating-software\">best construction estimating software<\/a>. We hope it helps you better understand what to look for. Or, if you&#8217;re not ready to use construction estimating yet, you can start with a construction estimate template.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_63501\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63501\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"\/software\/dashboard\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-63501 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg\" alt=\"Track costs with ProjectManager's dashboard\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1371\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg 2560w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-600x321.jpg 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-1600x857.jpg 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-300x161.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-768x411.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-1536x823.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-2048x1097.jpg 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-450x241.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-63501\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Track costs and stick to your estimates with ProjectManager.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>More Free Construction Project Management Templates<\/h2>\n<p>ProjectManager offers free <a href=\"\/blog\/8-free-excel-construction-templates\">construction project management templates<\/a> to help you plan, schedule and track with ease. Download our free templates below to speed up your construction estimating process. Our templates can be easily imported, exported and shared with your team in real-time.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/templates\/work-breakdown-structure-template\">WBS Template<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>A work breakdown structure (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/guides\/work-breakdown-structure\">WBS<\/a>) is an essential construction project management tool because it allows you to identify and prioritize every task in your construction plan by breaking down the construction project timeline into manageable pieces of work. Once you know every activity that needs to be performed, you can assign them to team members and estimate the construction costs associated with each.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/templates\/project-budget-template\">Project Budget Template<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019re done with construction estimating, you can create a project budget. A project budget is critical for the success of any construction project, as it defines the financial resources that will be available during the execution. As a construction project manager, you must monitor all your construction costs to make sure you\u2019re not overspending and our free project budget template is the perfect tool for that.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/templates\/construction-schedule-template\">Construction Schedule Template<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Construction scheduling goes hand-in-hand with construction estimating. The construction industry is labor-intensive, which means there are a lot of costs associated with your construction crew. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to create a realistic <a href=\"\/blog\/make-a-construction-schedule\">construction schedule<\/a> that allocates the right amount of time to each construction activity so that you don\u2019t underestimate labor costs.<\/p>\n<h2>Best Practices for Construction Estimating<\/h2>\n<p>Getting an accurate construction estimate goes a long way to drive success in your construction. While it\u2019s impossible to always be right on the penny, there are things you can do to make your financial forecast more on target.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Know Your Customer\u2019s Expectations<\/h3>\n<p>The first thing in construction estimating is to make sure you\u2019re on the same page as the customer. That means getting their approval of the construction plan, but also ensuring they&#8217;re fully aware of what those plans are and how the <a href=\"\/blog\/construction-phases\">construction phase<\/a> will be when finished. You don\u2019t want any unrealistic expectations or misunderstandings that lead to added expenses at the end of your project.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Use the Unit Cost Method<\/h3>\n<p>There are many ways to conduct your construction estimate. Stick estimates list every part of the job, including materials, labor and permits. It\u2019s time-consuming. However other construction estimating techniques don\u2019t take as much time and are just as accurate, such as the unit cost method. That lists everything you need for the job, with a unit price for each and adds those figures.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Get Expert Advice<\/h3>\n<p>Another thing to do is seek out those who understand aspects of the construction better than you do. There are probably aspects of the build that you\u2019re an expert on and can very accurately estimate costs for, but other parts of the construction <a href=\"\/training\/write-scope-work\">scope of work<\/a> might be beyond your knowledge. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Don\u2019t Underestimate Labor Costs<\/h3>\n<p>Labor costs are where estimates can be run off track. There\u2019s more to labor costs than hourly rates. Think of your crew as more than just numbers and statistics. While the cost per hour might be set, how much work an experienced team member can do compared to someone new to the job needs to be factored in as well. Before estimating labor costs, you should use a <a href=\"\/guides\/work-breakdown-structure\">work breakdown structure<\/a> to identify the work activities that make up your construction project for more accurate construction estimating.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Consult With Suppliers<\/h3>\n<p>Relationships count, too. You want to have good communication between yourself and your suppliers, as they are vital for construction estimating. As you\u2019re starting to figure out your budget, getting in touch with your suppliers can provide you with some valuable intel, such as if prices on materials will likely rise. Think of your suppliers like the experts on the construction site\u2014only suppliers can assist in reigning in your resource costs.<\/p>\n<h2>How ProjectManager Helps With Construction Estimating<\/h2>\n<p>Use ProjectManager&#8217;s Gantt charts, task lists and calendars to help you organize data to create your construction estimates. Then, once you have an accurate estimate and your budget is set, you need to plan, schedule, monitor and track your performance to make sure you keep to that budget. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\">ProjectManager <\/a>is award-winning software that manages your resources and reports on your progress to avoid overspending.<\/p>\n<h3>Robust Gantt Charts for Planning<\/h3>\n<p>Create a schedule on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/software\/gantt-chart\">our online Gantt chart,<\/a> link dependent tasks to avoid bottlenecks, set milestones to capture important dates and then set a baseline. This allows you to compare your planned budget with what you\u2019re spending as you execute the plan. You\u2019ll know if you\u2019re spending too much and can make adjustments before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/software\/gantt-chart\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-63411 size-large\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-1600x858.jpg\" alt=\"Gantt chart with task information panel\" width=\"1600\" height=\"858\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-1600x858.jpg 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-600x322.jpg 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-300x161.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-768x412.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-1536x823.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-2048x1098.jpg 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-450x241.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n<h3>In-Depth Dashboards to Track Progress<\/h3>\n<p>Our tool allows you to track the costs related to your labor and equipment. You can get visibility into how much is being spent with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/software\/dashboard\">a real-time dashboard<\/a> that tracks costs in an easy-to-read chart. The cloud-based software gets real-time data and automatically calculates the costs to keep you from going over budget.<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/software\/dashboard\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-63501 size-large\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-1600x857.jpg\" alt=\"ProjectManager dashboard light mode\" width=\"1600\" height=\"857\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-1600x857.jpg 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-600x321.jpg 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-300x161.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-768x411.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-1536x823.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-2048x1097.jpg 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dashboard-light-mode-450x241.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n<h3>Manage Your Team&#8217;s Resources<\/h3>\n<p>You need to manage resources to ensure everyone is working as productively as possible. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/software\/resource-management\">resource management tools<\/a> let you balance the workload of your crew to make sure that tasks are evenly distributed, which boosts productivity. Easily see their availability, skill sets and cost to make better assignments.<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/software\/resource-management\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-65504 size-large\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-1600x860.png\" alt=\"Workload chart in ProjectManager\" width=\"1600\" height=\"860\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-1600x860.png 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-600x322.png 600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-300x161.png 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-768x413.png 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-1536x825.png 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-2048x1100.png 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Workload-Light-2554x1372-1-450x242.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a>\n<h2>Related Construction Cost Management Content<\/h2>\n<p>Managing costs and resources is an important part of the success of a construction project. For that reason, we&#8217;ve created blogs, templates and guides to help you better understand the construction cost estimating process.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/best-construction-estimating-software\">Best Construction Estimating Software for Construction Projects<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/templates\/construction-estimate-template\">Construction Estimate Template<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/construction-cost-management\">Construction Cost Management: Managing Construction Costs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/construction-budget-quick-guide\">Construction Budget: A Quick Guide (with Examples)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/material-takeoff-in-construction\">Material Takeoff (MTO) in Construction: A Quick How-to Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>ProjectManager is online construction project management software that organizes teams, tasks and projects to help you bring them in on time and within budget. Our multiple project views allow you to work how you want when planning, monitoring or reporting on your project. See how it can manage your budget by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/freetrial?edition=d\">taking this free 30-day trial today.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Construction projects can be complex. You need money to buy materials, create blueprints, secure permits, rent equipment, pay for your&#8230;<br \/><a class=\"excerpt-read-more button blue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/making-a-construction-estimate\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":68989,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[317,320,131],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-construction","category-project-documents","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Construction Estimating Guide: How to Make a Construction Estimate - ProjectManager<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Getting accurate budgets requires a thorough construction estimating process. 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