Is this a real construction cost estimate?

Yes — it is a complete worked estimate generated by Construction Tools from a typical USA project brief, with a quantity and unit cost on every priced line. Numbers are indicative, referenced from real, live projects; verify against current market rates before tender.

What sections does a cost estimate include?

This sample covers 17 sections — 31 00 00 - Earthwork, 03 00 00 - Concrete, 04 00 00 - Masonry, 09 00 00 - Finishes, 22 00 00 - Plumbing, 26 00 00 - Electrical, 21 00 00 - Fire Suppression, 02 00 00 - Existing Conditions, 06 00 00 - Wood, Plastics, and Composites, 07 00 00 - Thermal and Moisture Protection, 08 00 00 - Openings, 10 00 00 - Specialties, 11 00 00 - Equipment, 12 00 00 - Furnishings, 23 00 00 - Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), 32 00 00 - Exterior Improvements, 33 00 00 - Utilities — across 62 line items. Your own project's sections will vary with scope and site conditions.

Can I make my own cost estimate like this?

Yes. Open the Cost Estimator, describe your project in plain English, and get your own complete, costed estimate in about a minute — the first 25 lines priced free.

How accurate are the cost estimate numbers?

Rates are indicative, referenced from real, live projects. Use them for early-stage budgeting and feasibility, and verify against current market rates before tender.

Sample construction cost estimate — USA

A complete, sectioned and costed Cost Estimate — every quantity, rate and amount, with a grand total. This is exactly what Construction Tools produces from a plain-English brief. Rates referenced from real, live projects.

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Sample Cost Estimate — G+1 · 3,000 sq ft · residential project Rates from reference rates from real, live projects · 62 lines · 17 sections

What this sample assumes (your own brief drives your numbers)

1500 sqft per floor × 2 floors = 3000 sqft total built-up area
Concrete foundation assumed as poured concrete strip/spread footings with slab-on-grade
Standard finishes assumed: drywall interior walls, painted, carpet/vinyl flooring in living areas, ceramic tile in wet a
Basic electrical assumed: 200A service panel, standard outlets/switches per code, LED lighting fixtures
Basic plumbing assumed: 2.5 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, standard fixtures, copper/PEX piping
Roof assumed as asphalt shingle on wood truss system
Exterior cladding assumed as vinyl or fiber-cement siding
Standard insulation per current IRC energy code requirements
Forced-air HVAC system with central AC included as standard
No garage, basement, or deck unless specified
Single-family detached home on a flat site with no unusual soil conditions
Permits and utility connections included but no site development or landscaping

31 00 00 - Earthwork $10,220.00

31 00 00 - Earthwork line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Fine grading and compaction for building pad and site — per Square Foot 31.02	SF	3,500	2.92	10,220.00

03 00 00 - Concrete $40,270.00

03 00 00 - Concrete line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Cast-in-place concrete for strip footings, 3000 psi, including formwork and reinforcement — per Cubic Yard 3.01	CY	45	304.00	13,680.00
Cast-in-place concrete for foundation walls, 3000 psi, including formwork and rebar — per Cubic Yard 3.02	CY	55	304.00	16,720.00
Cast-in-place concrete slab-on-grade, 4 inch thick, with welded wire mesh reinforcement — per Square Foot 3.03	SF	1,500	4.43	6,645.00
Vapor barrier under slab, 10 mil polyethylene, lapped and sealed — per Square Foot 3.04	SF	1,500	2.15	3,225.00

04 00 00 - Masonry $8,748.00

04 00 00 - Masonry line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Concrete masonry unit (CMU) foundation piers, 8x8x16 inch, fully grouted — per Each 4.01	EA	12	729.00	8,748.00

09 00 00 - Finishes $85,844.00

09 00 00 - Finishes line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Gypsum board wall and ceiling finish, 1/2 inch, taped, sanded, and ready for paint — per Square Foot 9.01	SF	9,000	3.34	30,060.00
Interior painting, two coats low-VOC latex, all walls and ceilings — per Square Foot 9.02	SF	9,000	1.19	10,710.00
Ceramic tile flooring to bathrooms, 12x24 inch, thinset and grout — per Square Foot 9.03	SF	240	17.85	4,284.00
Luxury vinyl plank flooring to living, dining, kitchen, and bedrooms — per Square Foot 9.04	SF	2,100	10.90	22,890.00
Ceramic tile wall finish to bathrooms, 8x24 inch, full height wet walls — per Square Foot 9.05	SF	320	11.50	3,680.00
Solid wood baseboard, 4 inch, primed and painted — per Linear Foot 9.06	LF	600	23.70	14,220.00

22 00 00 - Plumbing $33,828.30

22 00 00 - Plumbing line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Domestic water piping, PEX, insulated, with all fittings and supports — per Linear Foot 22.01	LF	700	5.23	3,661.00
Sanitary waste and vent piping, PVC, with all fittings and supports — per Linear Foot 22.02	LF	600	31.49	18,894.00
Plumbing fixtures, water closets, floor-mounted, dual flush, vitreous china — per Each 22.03	EA	4	619.00	2,476.00
Lavatories, undermount, vitreous china, with single lever faucet — per Each 22.04	EA	4	535.00	2,140.00
Showers, prefabricated fiberglass base and walls, with mixing valve and head — per Each 22.05	EA	2	1,254.00	2,508.00
Bathtubs, acrylic, 60 inch, with mixing valve and spout — per Each 22.06	EA	2	1,345.00	2,690.00
Kitchen sinks, double bowl, stainless steel, with single lever faucet — per Each 22.07	EA	1	729.50	729.50
Electric water heater, 50 gallon, Energy Star rated — per Each 22.09	EA	1	729.80	729.80

26 00 00 - Electrical $2,044,434.10

26 00 00 - Electrical line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Main electrical service panel, 200 amp, NEMA 1, surface mounted, with breakers — per Each 26.01	EA	1	1,310.00	1,310.00
Copper wiring, THHN, in EMT conduit, complete with boxes and supports — per Linear Foot 26.02	LF	3,500	582.50	2,038,750.00
Duplex receptacles, tamper resistant, with cover plates — per Each 26.03	EA	60	25.47	1,528.20
Light switches, single pole, with cover plates — per Each 26.04	EA	30	15.25	457.50
LED ceiling light fixtures, flush mount, Energy Star rated — per Each 26.05	EA	28	85.30	2,388.40
Exterior wall-mounted LED light fixtures, weatherproof — per Each 26.06	EA	6		—
Grounding and bonding system, complete, including rods and connections — per Lump Sum 26.07	LS	1		—

21 00 00 - Fire Suppression $0.00

21 00 00 - Fire Suppression line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Wet pipe sprinkler system, CPVC piping, concealed heads, complete with valves and alarm — per Square Foot 21.01	SF	3,000		—
Fire department connection, wall-mounted, with signage and check valve — per Each 21.02	EA	1		—

02 00 00 - Existing Conditions $0.00

02 00 00 - Existing Conditions line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Excavation for foundations, footings, and utility trenches to required depth — per Cubic Yard 2.02	CY	180		—
Backfilling and compaction with approved material around foundations — per Cubic Yard 2.03	CY	120		—

06 00 00 - Wood, Plastics, and Composites $0.00

06 00 00 - Wood, Plastics, and Composites line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Amount
Pressure-treated sill plates, anchored to concrete, 2x6 inch — per Linear Foot 6.01	LF	320	—
Wood stud exterior walls, 2x6 inch at 16 inch o.c., including top and bottom plates — per Square Foot 6.02	SF	3,200	—
Wood stud interior partitions, 2x4 inch at 16 inch o.c., including plates — per Square Foot 6.03	SF	2,500	—
Engineered wood floor joists, 11-7/8 inch, including hangers and bridging — per Square Foot 6.04	SF	1,500	—
Engineered wood roof trusses, including bracing and blocking — per Square Foot 6.05	SF	1,700	—
Subfloor sheathing, 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood, glued and nailed — per Square Foot 6.06	SF	3,000	—
Roof sheathing, 5/8 inch exterior grade plywood, nailed — per Square Foot 6.07	SF	1,700	—

07 00 00 - Thermal and Moisture Protection $0.00

07 00 00 - Thermal and Moisture Protection line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Amount
Self-adhered bituminous waterproofing membrane to balcony and terrace surfaces — per Square Foot 7.01	SF	200	—
Asphalt shingle roofing, 30-year architectural, with underlayment and accessories — per Square Foot 7.02	SF	1,700	—
Continuous ridge and soffit vent system for attic ventilation — per Linear Foot 7.03	LF	120	—
Spray foam insulation to exterior walls, R-21, closed cell — per Square Foot 7.04	SF	3,200	—
Blown-in cellulose insulation to attic, R-38 — per Square Foot 7.05	SF	1,700	—

08 00 00 - Openings $0.00

08 00 00 - Openings line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Amount
Vinyl double-glazed windows, low-E, complete with screens and hardware — per Square Foot 8.01	SF	320	—
Insulated fiberglass entry doors, 3'-0" x 6'-8", with frames and hardware — per Each 8.02	EA	2	—
Hollow core interior doors, 2'-8" x 6'-8", with frames and hardware — per Each 8.03	EA	18	—

10 00 00 - Specialties $0.00

10 00 00 - Specialties line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Prefabricated closet shelving and rods to all bedrooms — per Linear Foot 10.01	LF	120		—

11 00 00 - Equipment $0.00

11 00 00 - Equipment line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Passenger elevator, 2-stop, 1000 lb capacity, machine room-less, complete installation — per Each 11.01	EA	1		—
Service lift for goods, 2-stop, 1000 lb capacity, complete installation — per Each 11.02	EA	1		—

12 00 00 - Furnishings $0.00

12 00 00 - Furnishings line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Amount
Kitchen cabinetry, factory-finished plywood boxes with laminate fronts, complete with hardware — per Linear Foot 12.01	LF	40	—
Solid surface kitchen countertops, 3/4 inch, including cutouts and backsplashes — per Linear Foot 12.02	LF	40	—
Bathroom vanities, factory-finished, with solid surface top and undermount sink — per Each 12.03	EA	4	—

23 00 00 - Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) $0.00

23 00 00 - Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Amount
Split system heat pump, 3 ton, 16 SEER, with programmable thermostat — per Each 23.01	EA	1	—
Sheet metal ductwork, insulated, supply and return, with registers and grilles — per Square Foot 23.02	SF	3,000	—
Bathroom exhaust fans, Energy Star rated, ducted to exterior — per Each 23.03	EA	3	—

32 00 00 - Exterior Improvements $0.00

32 00 00 - Exterior Improvements line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Amount
Concrete driveway, 4 inch thick, broom finish, with control joints — per Square Foot 32.01	SF	600	—
Concrete walkway, 4 inch thick, broom finish, with control joints — per Square Foot 32.02	SF	300	—
Sod lawn, including soil preparation and fertilizer — per Square Foot 32.03	SF	1,200	—
Shrub and tree planting, including mulch rings and staking — per Each 32.04	EA	12	—
PVC landscape edging, 4 inch, installed — per Linear Foot 32.05	LF	180	—

33 00 00 - Utilities $0.00

33 00 00 - Utilities line items
Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount
Domestic water service connection to municipal main, including meter box — per Linear Foot 33.02	LF	60		—
Stormwater drainage piping, HDPE, 6 inch, with catch basins — per Linear Foot 33.03	LF	80		—

Locked rows show what a full cost estimate contains — the first 25 of 62 lines are priced in this preview. Generate your own cost estimate to price every line. Rates are indicative, referenced from real, live projects; verify against current market rates before tender.

About this sample cost estimate

Is this a real construction cost estimate?: Yes — it is a complete worked estimate generated by Construction Tools from a typical USA project brief, with a quantity and unit cost on every priced line. Numbers are indicative, referenced from real, live projects; verify against current market rates before tender.
What sections does a cost estimate include?: This sample covers 17 sections — 31 00 00 - Earthwork, 03 00 00 - Concrete, 04 00 00 - Masonry, 09 00 00 - Finishes, 22 00 00 - Plumbing, 26 00 00 - Electrical, 21 00 00 - Fire Suppression, 02 00 00 - Existing Conditions, 06 00 00 - Wood, Plastics, and Composites, 07 00 00 - Thermal and Moisture Protection, 08 00 00 - Openings, 10 00 00 - Specialties, 11 00 00 - Equipment, 12 00 00 - Furnishings, 23 00 00 - Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), 32 00 00 - Exterior Improvements, 33 00 00 - Utilities — across 62 line items. Your own project's sections will vary with scope and site conditions.
Can I make my own cost estimate like this?: Yes. Open the Cost Estimator, describe your project in plain English, and get your own complete, costed estimate in about a minute — the first 25 lines priced free.
How accurate are the cost estimate numbers?: Rates are indicative, referenced from real, live projects. Use them for early-stage budgeting and feasibility, and verify against current market rates before tender.