Free Construction Bid FormWrite the scope, price labor and materials, list what your bid leaves out and set how long the price holds. Print the bid or save it as a PDF. No sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.

How to fill in a construction bid form

1. 1

   Say who is bidding and for what

   Put your business at the top, the name of the owner or general contractor you are bidding to, the job site, and a bid number. Then write the scope of work in plain words.

2. 2

   Price the work

   Add a line for each part of the job. Use hours and a rate for labor. Leave the quantity empty for a lump-sum line such as excavation or a retaining wall. The total is worked out for you.

3. 3

   State what the bid leaves out and how long it holds

   List the exclusions, set the valid-until date and add a deposit or payment terms. Print the bid or save a PDF and send it. The other side signs to accept.

What a construction bid should include

• Your business name and contact details, and who the bid is addressed to
• The job name and the address of the job site
• A scope of work that says what you will do, and refers to any drawings or specifications you priced from
• Prices for each part of the work, so the owner can compare bids line by line
• What is not included: permits, testing, hidden conditions, finishes, or work by other trades
• How long the price holds, and the payment terms
• A line for the owner or contractor to sign and date to accept

Sample lines for a site and concrete bid

The sample bid is for a concrete slab and a block retaining wall. Change the lines to match your own trade. The prices are made up. They are not a price guide, and your numbers should come from your costs, the plans and a look at the site.

• Excavation, grading and base material (lump sum)
• Labor by trade crew, in hours at your rate
• Materials priced as a group, such as concrete and rebar
• A separate line for each large item, such as a wall, a roof or a set of windows
• Equipment rental and haul-off
• An allowance for something the owner has not chosen yet, marked as an allowance

Bid, estimate or quote?

A bid is a price you offer for a defined scope of work, usually to win the job against other bidders. An estimate is your best guess of the cost and can move. This page starts as a firm-price bid, and the same form can be switched to an estimate if you only want to give a rough number.

Because a bid is meant to be compared, the scope and the exclusions matter more than the total. If two bids look far apart, the usual reason is that they priced different work.

Tips for a clear bid

• Bid from the drawings and a site visit, and say so on the bid.
• Write exclusions on the bid itself so the owner sees them before signing.
• Mark any allowances as allowances, so a later change in cost is not a surprise.
• Say that changes to the scope will be priced in writing first. The change order tool can help with that.
• Check your own rules on bid deadlines, bonds, licenses and written contracts. They depend on the job, the owner and where you work.