EVERY SCOPE.
EVERY DETAIL.
ESTIMATED RIGHT.
We provide professional quantity takeoffs and full estimates for every discipline in excavation and site work — earthwork, grading, underground utilities, paving, demolition, and more. Serving contractors across 21 states with 48-hour turnaround.
Professional Excavation Estimating
For Every Project Type
Excavation Estimation provides professional quantity takeoffs and full bid estimates for excavation contractors, site work contractors, and civil contractors across the United States. Whether you're bidding a small commercial grading job or a large-scale public infrastructure project, our team of experienced estimators delivers accurate, detailed, and submission-ready estimates — in 48 hours or less.
Our scope of work covers every discipline you need — from initial earthwork cut and fill calculations to final paving quantities, underground utility installation, erosion controls, and everything in between. We don't outsource, we don't guess, and we don't use generic templates. Every estimate is built from your plans.
Earthwork &
Cut/Fill Takeoffs
Earthwork estimating is the most technically demanding part of any site work bid — and the area where most contractors lose money. Miscalculating cut and fill volumes, shrink and swell factors, or import/export quantities can turn a profitable job into a disaster before the first machine breaks ground.
Our earthwork estimators specialize exclusively in this discipline. We calculate cut and fill volumes from grading plans using proven methods, apply region-specific shrink and swell factors for the soil conditions on your project, and produce a complete mass haul analysis showing net import or export requirements.
Every earthwork takeoff includes a full plan markup showing exactly where each volume was measured, so you can review our work and submit your bid with complete confidence. We serve earthwork contractors across all 21 states we operate in, including Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and more.
- ✦ Cut volume calculations by zone
- ✦ Fill volume calculations by zone
- ✦ Shrink & swell factor adjustments
- ✦ Net import / export quantities
- ✦ Stripping & topsoil stockpile volumes
- ✦ Subgrade preparation areas
- ✦ Rock excavation allowances
- ✦ Dewatering scope identification
- ✦ Proof rolling areas
- ✦ Plan markup with measurement callouts
- ✦ Excel deliverable, organized by zone
Site Grading
Quantity Takeoffs
Site grading work encompasses everything from rough grading after mass excavation to fine grading for paving and building pads. Getting the quantities right across multiple surface types — parking lots, building pads, detention basins, swales, and landscaped areas — requires careful plan reading and experience with how grading specifications vary by project type and jurisdiction.
Our estimators measure fine grading areas by surface type, calculate aggregate base and subbase quantities for each section, and identify areas requiring specialized treatment like lime stabilization, geotextile fabric, or imported select fill. We flag inconsistencies between grading plans and specifications before your bid is submitted.
Whether you're bidding a commercial development, a subdivision, or a public works project, our site grading takeoffs give you the quantity foundation you need to build a competitive and accurate bid. We have extensive experience estimating site grading across projects in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and across all 21 states we serve.
- ✦ Fine grading areas by surface type
- ✦ Building pad preparation areas
- ✦ Aggregate base & subbase quantities
- ✦ Geotextile fabric quantities
- ✦ Lime or cement stabilization areas
- ✦ Detention basin & swale grading
- ✦ Clearing & grubbing acreage
- ✦ Topsoil finish grading areas
- ✦ Slope treatment areas
- ✦ Plan markup & Excel deliverable
Underground Utility
Takeoffs & Estimates
Underground utility work is one of the highest-risk scopes in site construction — miscounting pipe sizes, missing structures, or misjudging trench depth can blow your margin before the first joint is made. Our utility estimators measure every foot of pipe, every structure, and every special item from your utility plans with precision.
We estimate storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water main, and private utility systems — breaking down pipe by size, material, and depth class, counting all manholes, inlets, cleanouts, and valves, and calculating trench excavation, bedding, and backfill quantities for each utility line. We also flag conflicts between utility systems and surface improvements that could affect your bid or your schedule.
Our underground utility estimating experience spans public infrastructure, commercial development, and private utility projects. We are experienced in municipal bid formats and understand the unique requirements of public works utility contracts across all 21 states we serve.
- ✦ Storm sewer pipe by size & material
- ✦ Sanitary sewer pipe & appurtenances
- ✦ Water main by diameter & material
- ✦ Manholes, inlets, cleanouts & valves
- ✦ Fire hydrants & service connections
- ✦ Trench excavation by depth class
- ✦ Bedding & select backfill material
- ✦ Pipe embedment & encasement
- ✦ Utility conflict identification
- ✦ Plan markup & Excel deliverable
Paving & Concrete
Flatwork Takeoffs
Paving and concrete flatwork quantities are often underestimated or poorly organized in bid packages — leading to costly change orders or missed items during construction. Our estimators break paving down by lift, mix type, and section, ensuring every ton of asphalt and every square yard of concrete is accounted for before your number goes in.
We measure asphalt paving by lift thickness and mix designation, calculate curb and gutter by type and linear foot, and quantify all concrete flatwork including sidewalks, parking areas, driveways, and ADA-compliant ramps. We also identify striping, signage, and pavement marking quantities that are frequently missed in preliminary estimates.
Accurate paving quantities help you bid competitively on commercial site development, subdivision infrastructure, roadway improvements, and parking facilities. Our team has extensive experience with both private and public paving bid requirements across all the states we serve.
- ✦ Asphalt paving by lift & mix type
- ✦ Concrete pavement areas
- ✦ Curb & gutter by type & linear foot
- ✦ Sidewalk & shared-use path areas
- ✦ ADA ramps & detectable warning surfaces
- ✦ Parking lot islands & medians
- ✦ Pavement striping & marking
- ✦ Signage & wheel stops
- ✦ Aggregate base under paving
- ✦ Plan markup & Excel deliverable
Demolition &
Site Clearing Takeoffs
Demolition and site clearing scope is frequently underpriced because it's difficult to quantify from plan sheets alone — especially on redevelopment projects where existing conditions are complex. Our estimators are trained to read demolition plans, existing condition surveys, and environmental reports to produce realistic scope quantities that reflect what's actually in the ground.
We quantify building demolition, pavement removal, structure removal, and underground abandonment by item type, providing a clear and defensible breakdown that you can use to price your own work and coordinate subcontractors. We flag items that commonly create change orders — asbestos abatement requirements, unknown utilities, and below-grade foundations — so you can address them in your bid rather than absorbing them in the field.
From selective interior demolition to full site clearing and grubbing, our team has the experience to turn demolition drawings into accurate, priceable quantities on projects of any scale.
- ✦ Building demolition by structure
- ✦ Concrete & asphalt pavement removal
- ✦ Curb, gutter & sidewalk removal
- ✦ Underground structure abandonment
- ✦ Utility capping & removal
- ✦ Tree & stump removal by size
- ✦ Clearing & grubbing acreage
- ✦ Debris hauling & disposal volumes
- ✦ Selective demolition items
- ✦ Plan markup & Excel deliverable
Erosion & Sediment
Control Takeoffs
Erosion and sediment control is one of the most consistently underestimated scopes in excavation bidding. Contractors often skip a full takeoff on SWPPP items, assuming they're minor — until they're installing hundreds of feet of silt fence and dozens of inlet protections they never priced. We make sure that doesn't happen to you.
Our estimators read the full SWPPP and erosion control plan, measuring every linear foot of silt fence, sediment barrier, and construction entrance, counting every inlet protection device, and calculating seeding and mulching areas for temporary and permanent stabilization. We also identify maintenance and removal quantities that must be included in the bid but are often forgotten until final inspection.
With environmental regulations tightening across the states we serve, a complete and accurate erosion control estimate isn't just good practice — it's essential protection for your project's NPDES permit compliance and your relationship with the owner.
- ✦ Silt fence by linear foot
- ✦ Sediment barriers & berms
- ✦ Inlet protection by device type
- ✦ Construction entrance quantities
- ✦ Temporary seeding & mulching areas
- ✦ Permanent seeding & sod areas
- ✦ Erosion control blanket areas
- ✦ Rock check dams & outlet protection
- ✦ Removal & disposal quantities
- ✦ Plan markup & Excel deliverable
Mass Haul &
Earthwork Optimization
Mass haul analysis is where earthwork estimating becomes a competitive strategy, not just a quantity exercise. Understanding how to move material efficiently across a site — minimizing haul distances, reducing import and export quantities, and staging the work for optimal equipment productivity — can mean the difference between winning a bid and walking away from a profitable project.
Our mass haul analysis produces a complete earthwork distribution plan showing where material moves from cut zones to fill zones, the average haul distance for each movement, and the net import or export balance at each stage of the project. We use this analysis to help you understand the true cost of earthwork movement before you commit to a price.
For large-scale grading projects, highway and road construction, and industrial site development, a rigorous mass haul analysis is the most valuable tool in your estimating arsenal. Our team has performed mass haul analysis on projects ranging from small commercial pads to major earthmoving operations across the 21 states we serve.
- ✦ Cut zone identification & volumes
- ✦ Fill zone identification & volumes
- ✦ Material distribution diagram
- ✦ Average haul distance per movement
- ✦ Net import / export balance by phase
- ✦ Shrink & swell factor application
- ✦ Borrow source identification
- ✦ Waste area quantities
- ✦ 3D earthwork model
- ✦ Earthwork volume report
Retaining Wall &
Slope Protection Takeoffs
Retaining walls and slope protection structures are critical elements of many grading and site work projects — and estimating them incorrectly creates some of the most expensive overruns in the industry. Wall heights, batter angles, tieback systems, and drainage requirements all affect quantities significantly and must be measured precisely from structural and grading drawings.
Our estimators quantify segmental retaining walls, cast-in-place concrete walls, sheet pile systems, and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls by face area and linear foot, calculating excavation, backfill, drainage aggregate, and geogrid quantities for each wall type. We also quantify riprap, gabion baskets, erosion control blankets, and other slope protection systems that commonly accompany retaining structures.
Whether you're bidding a small landscape wall or a major structural earth retention system, our retaining wall takeoffs give you accurate quantities for every component — from footing excavation to cap installation — so your bid reflects the true scope of the work.
- ✦ Wall face area by type & height
- ✦ Segmental block quantities
- ✦ Cast-in-place concrete volumes
- ✦ MSE wall geogrid quantities
- ✦ Sheet pile linear footage
- ✦ Wall drainage aggregate & pipe
- ✦ Footing excavation & backfill
- ✦ Riprap & slope protection areas
- ✦ Gabion basket quantities
- ✦ Plan markup & Excel deliverable
READY TO BID
YOUR NEXT JOB?
Send us your plans and we'll have a complete, verified takeoff or full estimate back to you within 48 hours. No commitment, no contracts.
Request an Estimate →No commitment required. We'll reach out within 2 business hours.