Contractor Estimate Calculator: Stop Guessing, Start Pricing with Confidence
Contractor Estimate Calculator: Stop Guessing, Start Pricing with Confidence
Most contractors price jobs in one of two ways:
- Gut feel (fast but inconsistent)
- Spreadsheet math (accurate but slow)
A contractor estimate calculator gives you both: speed + accuracy.
What an estimate calculator should do
1) Auto-calculate from measurements
Input:
- Square footage
- Linear footage
- Counts (units, loads, hours)
Output:
- Line item totals
- Grand total
No manual math. No mistakes.
2) Use your saved rates
You shouldn't re-enter your pricing every time.
Store:
- Sealer rate per sq ft
- Crack fill rate per linear ft
- Hourly labor rate
- Material costs
The calculator uses these to generate totals.
3) Add upsells and adders
Common upsells:
- Striping
- Primer
- Extra coat
- Expedited schedule
The calculator should let you toggle these on/off and update the total instantly.
4) Include prep and fees
Margin lives in the line items customers don't expect:
- Prep fee (blow off, masking, access)
- Mobilization fee (travel, setup)
- Disposal fee (haul-away, dump costs)
Good calculators let you add these as flat fees or percentages.
BidBlitz's built-in estimate calculator
When you create a bid in BidBlitz:
- Enter sq ft and linear ft
- The calculator uses your saved rates to auto-fill totals
- Add upsells with one click
- Include prep fees and notes
- Grand total updates in real-time
No spreadsheet. No separate calculator. It's all in the bid form.
Example calculation
Job: Driveway sealcoating
Inputs:
- 2,500 sq ft @ $0.15/sq ft = $375
- 120 linear ft crack repair @ $2.50/ft = $300
- Prep fee: $100 (flat)
- Optional striping: $75
Total: $775 (or $850 with striping)
The calculator does this math instantly as you type.
FAQ
Can I adjust rates per job?
Yes — BidBlitz uses your default rates but lets you override them for specific bids.
What if I price by the hour instead of sq ft?
You can create custom line items with hourly rates.
Can I save the estimate as a template?
Yes — if you do similar jobs often, you can save the structure as a template.
The bottom line
Estimate calculators eliminate pricing mistakes and speed up quoting.
BidBlitz includes one built-in (no extra tool needed).
Start here: /pricing