Free General Contractor Estimate Generator
Build detailed general contractor estimates with line items for project management, subcontractor coordination, materials, and markups. Download a professional PDF instantly.
- 21 pre-built general contractor line items
- Professional PDF in under 5 minutes
- 100% free — no signup required
Your Company Name
123 Main St
General Contractor Line Items
+ 17 more items →
Everything You Need to Estimate General Contractor Jobs
Built for contractors who want professional estimates without the learning curve
Multi-Trade Line Items
Pre-built items for every major trade — framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall, paint — organized in a single estimate.
GC Markup Tracking
Show subcontractor costs with your management markup so the overhead and profit fee is transparent to the owner.
Contingency Line
Built-in contingency field (5-15%) for unforeseen conditions that protects your margin without surprising the client.
Phase Breakdown
Organize costs by project phase — demo, foundation, framing, mechanical, finish — so progress is trackable.
Permit & Insurance
Dedicated fields for permits, inspections, and insurance costs that GCs are responsible for pulling.
Milestone Payments
Tie the payment schedule to project milestones so draws are justified and cash flow stays healthy.
How to Create Your General Contractor Estimate
Three steps. Under five minutes. No account needed.
Step 1:
Select general contractor to load pre-built line items
Step 2:
Add quantities, prices, and company details
Step 3:
Professional estimate ready to send
What's Included: General Contractor Line Items
Pre-loaded line items so you don't start from scratch. Customize everything in the generator.
Materials
- General materials allowance
- Lumber / framing
- Fasteners & hardware
- Concrete / foundation
+ 6 more
Labor
- Project management
- Site supervision
- Subcontractor coordination
- Punch list / final walkthrough
+ 2 more
Other
- Permits
- General liability insurance
- Dumpster / disposal
- Equipment rental
+ 1 more
Create your general contractor estimate now
All 21 line items pre-loaded. Fill in your prices, download as PDF.
Open General Contractor GeneratorFree — no signup required
Who Uses This
Built for general contractor contractors and businesses of every size
Home Renovations
Build comprehensive estimates for whole-house remodels with every trade itemized under one roof.
New Construction
Create ground-up construction estimates with phase breakdowns from foundation to final walkthrough.
Commercial Tenant Buildouts
Generate professional estimates for office, retail, or restaurant buildouts with clear scope and timeline.
Insurance Restoration
Produce itemized estimates that adjusters can match against their scope of loss for fire, water, or storm damage.
Multi-Unit Developments
Price out multi-family or townhome projects with per-unit breakdowns and shared-cost allocations.
Design-Build Projects
Combine design fees and construction costs in a single estimate for clients who want one point of contact.
Common Questions
How do I estimate general contractor costs?+
Start by getting quotes from each subcontractor (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc.), then add your direct costs for materials, labor, permits, and equipment. Apply your overhead and profit markup (typically 15-25%) to the total. Include a contingency of 5-15% depending on project complexity and how well-defined the scope is.
What markup should a general contractor charge?+
Most general contractors charge 15-25% markup on total project costs to cover overhead (office, insurance, vehicle, admin) and profit. On larger commercial projects, markups may be lower (10-15%) because volume compensates. Never set markup below what it actually costs you to run your business — know your overhead rate.
What should a general contractor estimate include?+
A professional GC estimate should include itemized subcontractor costs, materials, permits, insurance, project management time, a contingency line, payment schedule tied to milestones, a project timeline, warranty terms, and your contractor license and insurance info. The more transparent, the more likely you win the job.
How do I write a professional general contractor estimate?+
Organize the estimate by trade or phase, not as one big lump sum. Show subcontractor costs, your markup, and direct costs separately. Include a clear scope of work, exclusions, project timeline, and payment terms. Use DocJoist to generate a clean PDF with all of this structured automatically.
Stop guessing. Start estimating.
Professional general contractor estimates in under 5 minutes. Free, no signup required.
Create Free General Contractor Estimate