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

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
• Base preparation: excavation depth, compacted gravel, and spoil removal, each priced separately
• Whether a compaction test is included, and who pays if the subgrade fails it
• The access assumption, since a pump truck or wheelbarrow placement is a different job at the same square footage
• A plain note that concrete cracks, and where your control joints will be

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.

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 estimate when I do not know what the subgrade is doing?

Name it as a finding rather than pricing it blind. 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. List each with a unit rate so encountering one is a priced change rather than a renegotiation.