Get Estimate Now

Tell us what you're building.

Share a few details and an ACON engineer replies within one business day — no obligation, no sales runaround.

Construction Estimating Services for Everyone

As an independent construction estimator and professional construction estimating firm, ACON Engineering is committed to delivering the most reliable construction estimation services through our AACE certified construction estimator team for those building and developing across the region.

★★★★★ 4.9 from 312 reviews

● 9,800 plans estimated

● Reply within 4 business hours

● Built for GCs, subs, developers

Trusted by 400 plus contractors and developers across the United States

USAF Logo
Baer's Furniture Logo
Frederick Hotel Logo
Loudon County School Logo
Loudon County School Logo

The Best Partner for Precision and the Best Support for Your Bids

At ACON Engineering, our vision is to be the best choice for accurate construction estimates and the best partner for construction estimating back office support. We are also committed to providing speedy construction estimating services with reliable estimate support every time. ACON Engineering has been dedicated to progress since our humble beginnings as a dedicated construction estimator setup, to today as a leading provider of dedicated estimator services and estimating assistance to general contractors.

Professional construction estimator reviewing blueprints and preparing an accurate cost estimate for a building project.

Our Estimating Services

We offer customized estimating services for each stage of the project with professional estimators who work with the trades and project types they know on a daily basis.

Construction Estimating Services

Detailed estimates are prepared from your drawings, specifications, and project documents by our construction cost estimating services. Where appropriate, our cost estimating company also provides cost per square foot benchmarks alongside detailed quantity takeoffs to help owners, developers, and contractors compare project costs during budgeting.

Cost Estimating Services

Material, labor, and equipment costs are developed into a detailed estimate arranged by CSI division through our construction cost management services. Experienced construction cost consultant and dependable building cost estimator can help contractors and developers to gain clearer view of construction costs with local prices and project specific amounts. This means they can assess budgets before procurement or construction begins.

Bid Management Services

Our construction bid management and preparation services assist bidding by assessing subcontractor quotations, comparing scope coverage with bid takeoffs, and managing bid papers for submission. Professional construction bid estimating and bidding assistance, through careful evaluations, decrease scope gaps, increase pricing uniformity, and help contractors submit complete offers.

Preliminary Estimating Services

Conceptual drawings and schematic designs are enough to produce an early project budget through preliminary estimating services and conceptual construction estimating services. Knowing what goes into a preliminary construction estimate helps owners, developers and contractors assess feasibility, compare design options and make smart financial decisions when a project is in its early development stages.

Blueprint Takeoff Services

Our blueprint takeoff services, plan takeoff services and digital takeoff services evaluate your construction drawings and produce detailed quantity takeoffs from the plans. We measure material trade by trade with our full-service construction takeoff services, quantity takeoff services and material takeoff services that provide accurate construction material takeoff for budgeting, procurement and bid preparation.

MEP Estimating Services

Our MEP estimators provide precise MEP estimating, including quantity takeoffs and pricing for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, piping, insulation, and fire protection systems. Using electrical estimating and outsourcing, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical estimating services, we pair trade expertise with duct takeoffs and piping estimating. Current labor and material pricing, combined with specialized knowledge, produces well-supported estimates for complex building services.

Projects We Estimate

Trades We Cover

Grading, excavation, cut and fill, drainage, utilities, paving, site improvements, and landscape estimating services.

Foundations, slabs, footings, walls, columns, paving, with rebar, formwork, and finishing counted through our concrete estimating services and rebar estimating services.

Brick, block, stone, veneer, and structural walls, with mortar and reinforcement detailed by our masonry estimating services.

Structural steel, joists, decking, stairs, railings, and miscellaneous metals counted by tonnage and connection using specialized steel estimating services.

Wall, floor, and roof framing, sheathing, trusses, blocking, and millwork covered by our carpentry estimating services, framing estimating services.

Roofing, flashing, insulation, waterproofing, siding, and sealants quantified via roofing estimating services, insulation estimating services, and waterproofing estimating services.

Doors, frames, windows, storefronts, glazing, hardware, and specialized conveying estimating services.

Gypsum board, framing, paint, flooring, tile, ceilings, and interior finishes calculated using drywall estimating services, drywall takeoff services, flooring estimating services, and painting estimating services.

HVAC equipment, ductwork, piping, supply and waste lines, fixtures, water heaters, and solar estimating services construction.

Panels, conduit, wiring, feeders, lighting, devices, and low voltage.

Sprinkler systems, standpipes, fire stopping, suppression systems, fire alarms, hydrants, and fireproofing supported by fire suppression estimating services and fireproofing estimating services.

Toilet partitions, signage, lockers, fireproofing, casework, countertops, appliances, building specialties, and comprehensive residential material takeoff services.

Must Have Information for Construction Clients

Find out what is included in a construction estimate. We deliver your estimate in an editable Excel file along with labor, materials, CSI cost breakdowns, and color-coded PDF markups from blueprints. Moreover, learn what is a quantity takeoff in construction and what is the difference between takeoff and estimate with our deliverables.

Want the full PDF in your inbox?

Get 3 redacted full sample sets covering takeoff, estimate, and schedule. No call required.

Our Estimating Process

The process is pretty straightforward. You might ask how do I send plans for a construction estimate? You just need to share your project documents. From there, our estimator using specialized construction estimating outsourcing services takes care of the quantity takeoff, pricing, quality review, and final delivery.

01

Send Your Project Documents

Upload designs, specs and files in pdf, CAD or DWG. Scope review and fixed price quotation prior to work commencement.

02

Approve the Quote

Once the quote is approved, an estimator with years of experience is assigned to your project and begins the quantity takeoff from your drawings and requirements.

03

Estimating & Pricing

We take quantities, classify them by CSI division and price them using current labor and material rates that reflect your local market.

04

Final Review & Delivery

Before delivery, an estimator evaluates the estimate, marked-up drawings and cost information in Excel and PDF.

Software We Use for Construction Estimating

Our estimators use leading platforms. This already answers what software do construction estimators use? We use PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu, On-Screen Takeoff, Xactimate, and RSMeans to prepare quantity takeoffs and cost estimates. Alongside BIM estimating services, 5D BIM estimating services, and specialized Xactimate estimating services, these industry-standard platforms support accurate measurements, consistent pricing, and well-organized deliverables.

Why Partner with ACON Engineering

The quality of an estimate depends on the experience behind it. If you're wondering how to choose a construction estimating company, or looking to hire a construction estimator, here are a few reasons contractors continue to trust ACON Engineering with their estimating work.

15+ Years of Experience

For more than 15 years, our team has served as trusted remote and freelance construction estimators, preparing estimates for residential, commercial, and industrial projects across the United States. This experience helps us identify scope gaps, pricing issues, and drawing inconsistencies before delivery, helping contractors bid more projects with confidence.

AACE Certified Estimators

Our estimating team provides professional freelance construction estimating services that follow AACE and ASPE estimating standards, giving contractors professionally prepared estimates that are organized, consistent, and ready for budgeting, bidding, or client review.

Complete CSI Coverage

We estimate all CSI divisions, including concrete, masonry, structural steel, drywall, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, and sitework. One estimate covers the full project scope, making coordination and bid preparation much easier.

Experienced Estimating Team

Your project is supported by estimators, quantity surveyors, takeoff specialists, and senior reviewers who work together throughout the estimating process. Multiple reviews help improve accuracy before the estimate reaches you.

Free Estimate Revisions

Construction drawings often change before bidding closes. We update your estimate to reflect revised plans or scope changes, helping you keep your pricing aligned with the latest project documents at no additional cost.

Flexible Project Pricing

Order estimates only when you need them with a pay per project construction estimator or opt for a monthly construction estimating service. Our flexible options give contractors access to experienced estimating support without the long-term cost of hiring and maintaining an in-house estimating department.

Calculate Your Project Cost in Seconds

Tell us a few details about your project to estimate the cost of your takeoff, and we'll answer the estimated price for your takeoff. We will also provide answers to common questions like how much does quantity takeoff cost and how fast can I get a construction takeoff for your specific scope. Once we review your drawings and scope, we'll send you a fixed quotation.

Step 1 · Project Type

Select the type of project you are quoting out, residential, commercial, industrial or rehabilitation. This offers us an indication of the quantity of work.

Step 2 · Project Size

Building area (sq. ft.) or projected construction value This will give us an indication of how much estimating we will have to undertake on your project.

Step 3 · Trades Required

Choose the transactions you want to estimate, it could be one division or the whole CSI scope. We will recommend a pricing based on the services you need for your project.

Estimated fee

$1,250

Turnaround · 3 business days

Final fee depends on plan complexity. No charge until you approve.

Construction Estimating Pricing

In order for our team to provide you with the most accurate estimate possible, and answer how much do construction estimating services cost is based on your drawings, project size, and trades involved. We provide a fixed quotation before work begins, with flexible pay per project pricing and no long term contracts or subscription fees.

Single Project

For a contractor who needs one construction estimate for a specific bid.

From $750

Bid partner

For firms bidding several construction projects a month.

$2,495 / mo

Enterprise

For large builders and developers with heavy volume.

Custom

Zero risk start. Not happy with your first deliverable? You pay nothing, full stop.

Honest Words from Real Contractors

Builders, developers, and subs across the United States.

Who We Work With

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

That's not a problem. Send us the drawings or documents you have, including sketches, floor plans, or permit sets. We'll review them, explain what can be estimated, and clearly identify any assumptions used in the estimate.

We do estimates for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional projects such as new construction, renovations, additions and tenant improvements. We deal with all divisions of CSI and a variety of building types throughout the United States.

Our estimates are created by AACE-certified estimators who have more than 15 years of expertise and are evaluated by a senior estimator prior to delivery. Flexible pay per project pricing and free revisions to suit changing project requirements.

Sure. We develop estimates for particular trades such as concrete, drywall, plumbing or electrical as well as entire project estimates encompassing all CSI divisions.

Yeah. We may send you a sample estimate and markup from a similar job with all customer information removed so you can see the structure and level of detail before you get started.

All trades have different scopes and needs and our estimators prepare each trade prior to the estimate being considered as a whole project. This procedure improves collaboration, reduces scope gaps and maintains uniformity across all CSI divisions.

Most estimates are completed within 24 to 48 hours. Larger or more complex projects may require additional time, and we'll confirm the delivery schedule before work begins.

Our estimates are developed from your drawings, specifications and project documents using current labor and material pricing. Each estimate is reviewed by a senior estimator before delivery to help maintain a high level of accuracy.

No. You can order estimates on a pay per project basis with no long-term contract or subscription. Monthly pricing is also available for contractors who require ongoing estimating support.

Your estimate includes an editable Excel takeoff organized by CSI division, colour coded PDF markups, a detailed cost breakdown, and a clear list of inclusions and exclusions.

Send Us Your Project Plans

Have a project ready for pricing? Send us your drawings and project documents, and we'll review the scope, provide a fixed quotation, and confirm the turnaround time.

Insights

Field tested guides for builders who bid.

Long form playbooks our clients use to sharpen pricing, win more jobs, and protect margin.

  • All Posts
  • Blog

Construction Estimating Across the United States

ACON Engineering provides construction estimating services across the United States, supporting contractors, subcontractors, builders, developers, and construction firms nationwide. We proudly serve clients throughout the country, including the following markets:

States: California • Texas • Florida • New York • Pennsylvania • Illinois • Georgia • New Jersey • Arizona • Colorado • Michigan • Tennessee • North Carolina • Virginia • Washington • Massachusetts • Ohio • Minnesota • Louisiana • Missouri • Wisconsin • Nevada • South Carolina • Iowa • New Mexico • Wyoming

Major Cities: New York City, NY • Los Angeles, CA • Chicago, IL • Houston, TX • Dallas, TX • Austin, TX • San Francisco, CA • San Diego, CA • San Antonio, TX • Fort Worth, TX • Miami, FL • Orlando, FL • Atlanta, GA  • Seattle, WA • Boston, MA • Washington, DC • Las Vegas, NV • Phoenix, AZ • Denver, CO  • Raleigh, NC • Nashville, TN • Columbus, OH • Sacramento, CA • Sarasota, FL • Wichita, KS

Scroll to Top