Concrete estimate template

Download the Concrete estimate template

The same sample document in two formats. The PDF is what a finished estimate looks like; the spreadsheet has live formulas, so change a quantity or a rate and the totals follow.

No signup, no email, no watermark. Sample figures — edit everything. Opens in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.

See this estimate filled in, in the builder — the same sample, editable.

What a Concrete estimate needs on it

Concrete estimates are decided before the truck arrives. The pour itself is predictable; the excavation, base preparation and forming are where the hours go, and a bid that shows only cubic yards is hiding two-thirds of the job. State the PSI and the finish, price the base and forming as their own lines, and note that cure time is not a delay — it is the schedule.

Estimate where subgrade is unknown or the site has drainage questions. Soft subgrade needing over-excavation, buried debris and a grade that has to be reworked for drainage all change the number once the machine is on site, so list them as findings that get priced when encountered.

• Volume in cubic yards, with the slab thickness it assumes
• Mix design: PSI, fibre or admixtures, and air entrainment in freeze-thaw climates
• Reinforcement — rebar size and spacing, or mesh — since "reinforced" covers both and they differ
• Base preparation: excavation depth, compacted gravel, and spoil removal
• Forming and stripping as separate labor from the pour
• Finish: broom, trowel, exposed aggregate or stamped, and any sealer
• Control joints, their spacing, and a plain note that concrete cracks

And what every estimate needs

Use an estimate when the scope is clear but the final number can still move — concealed damage, a substrate you cannot see until demo, or material prices that change between bid and start date.

• An expiry date, so a months-old number cannot be held against you
• Scope written plainly enough that a homeowner knows what is excluded
• A deposit or payment schedule if you need money before mobilising
• A signature line, so acceptance is recorded rather than remembered

Concrete line items included in this template

These load into the builder ready to edit. Prices are starting points, not our opinion of what you should charge — set your own and they save to your price book.

Rates are illustrative US figures and vary widely by market. Price your own work.

How concrete contractors price this work

Flatwork prices per square foot at a stated thickness, with the mix bought by the yard. Excavation, base and forming are usually more than half the labor, and access is the biggest single variable — a pour a truck can reach directly and one that needs a pump or wheelbarrows are different jobs at the same square footage. Price the pump, or price the barrows, but do not absorb either.

Questions

What should a concrete estimate say about cracking?

That it will. Concrete cracks; control joints decide where. Put a plain line on the estimate stating that hairline and control-joint cracking is normal and not a defect, alongside your joint spacing. It is the single most useful sentence you can print, because otherwise the first hairline crack becomes a warranty call.

Should excavation be separate from the pour?

Yes. Excavation, base and forming often exceed the cost of the concrete itself, and a bid showing one number per square foot invites comparison against someone who assumed a flat, clear site. Separate lines make your bid legible and make an over-excavation conversation straightforward.

How do I price a pour the truck cannot reach?

As a named line: pump truck, or additional labor for wheelbarrow placement. Access is the largest hidden variable in flatwork pricing. Note the access assumption on the estimate so that discovering a gate too narrow for a chute is a priced change rather than a loss.

Is an estimate legally binding?

Generally not, on its own — an estimate is an offer, and it usually becomes binding only once the customer accepts it and both sides act on it. What actually binds you is the language on the page: how you describe the scope, what you exclude, and whether you state that the price can change. This is general industry practice, not legal advice; if a job is large or unusual, have a lawyer look at your terms.

How long should an estimate stay valid?

Thirty days is the common default and it is short enough to protect you from material price swings. If you are quoting equipment with volatile pricing, shorten it — and say so on the page rather than in conversation.

Should I charge for estimates?

Many trades charge a diagnostic or assessment fee and credit it against the job if the customer proceeds. If you do, put it on the estimate as a line item with the credit spelled out, so it never reads as a surprise.