Free General Contractor Estimate Template
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
- Fill-in estimate form with instant PDF download
- 100% free — no signup required
Your Company Name
123 Main St
General Contractor Line Items
+ 17 more items →
Sample General Contractor Estimate
A filled-in general contractor estimate example showing how to itemize materials, labor, and fees. Use it as a starting point, then swap in your own quantities and prices.
Covered back porch addition, 12 x 16 ft
Example| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete footings | 6 | each | $225.00 | $1,350.00 |
| Framing lumber & hardware | 1 | lot | $3,200.00 | $3,200.00 |
| Composite decking | 192 | sq ft | $9.00 | $1,728.00 |
| Framing labor | 1 | each | $4,200.00 | $4,200.00 |
| Roofing subcontractor | 3 | square | $350.00 | $1,050.00 |
| Electrical subcontractor | 1 | each | $1,400.00 | $1,400.00 |
| Permit & plan review | 1 | each | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Project management & supervision | 1 | each | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Dumpster | 1 | each | $475.00 | $475.00 |
| Estimate total | $15,853.00 | |||
Example pricing for illustration only. Material and labor costs vary by region, supplier, and job conditions.
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
What to Include in a General Contractor Estimate
A GC estimate is the master document that ties every trade into one clear proposal. Owners compare these side by side — detail and transparency win the job.
- Break the project into phases or CSI divisions (demo, foundation, framing, mechanical, finish) so the owner can see exactly where the money goes.
- Show subcontractor costs as separate line items with your GC markup. Transparency builds trust — hiding markup in inflated line items does not.
- Include a contingency line (typically 10-15% for remodels, 5-10% for new construction) and explain that it covers unforeseen conditions, not scope changes.
- List all permits and inspections required. As the GC, you're responsible for pulling them — make sure the cost is in the estimate, not absorbed into your margin.
- Add a project timeline with key milestones. Owners want to know when as much as how much.
- Include your license number, insurance certificate reference, and warranty terms in the notes. This is what separates a professional GC from a handyman with a truck.
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.
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Professional general contractor estimates in under 5 minutes. Free, no signup required.
Create Free General Contractor Estimate