5 Best Remodeling Estimating Software

Calculate the cost of a home remodeling project in no time with our favorite remodeling estimating software!

Remodeling a house is no easy feat. You have the design to consider, materials and labor costs to budget for, and so much more to think about. Maybe you even have deadlines to stick to.

One thing that can definitely slow you down is doing the remodeling estimates yourself. Professional estimators working for home builders and specialty contractors will often make use of construction remodeling estimating software rather than spending time working it out manually. 

Using estimating software is a great way to provide a more accurate estimate of material and labor costs and overall job costs for your client. A clear, accurate breakdown is essential for securing new business and growing your company through referrals in the construction industry. In short, you don’t have to create estimates alone with a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, or worse, a pen and pencil.

To create accurate estimates, here are some of our favorite remodeling estimating tools and remodeling estimating software on the market and the reasons why we love this construction project management software.

Table of Contents

• FreshBooks – Best Value Construction Software for Contractors
• Estimator 360 – Best for Residential Construction Professionals
• Clear Estimates – Best for Construction Cost Database for Small Businesses
• EasyEst – Best for Remodel Estimator for Beginners
• Home Renovation Cost Estimator by Kukun Home Intelligence – Best Free Option
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

FreshBooks – Best Value Construction Software for Contractors

Price: Included in all of our plans, starting at $6 per month

We’re very proud of our remodeling estimating software as a flexible, cloud-based solution for clear estimates and accurate bids. While it’s not construction-specific, our estimating software is perfect for calculating labor costs, material costs, and all other aspects of a remodeling project.

Our professional proposals are extremely customizable, allowing you to easily itemize the entire construction process when quoting on remodeling jobs. All expenses can be easily categorized and totaled, making life easier for you and your clients at the same time.

Best of all, you can send your finalized cost estimate directly to your client for approval in one click, making project management a much simpler task for all involved. You can then transform the estimate into an invoice instantly, and send it to your client upon completion within the FreshBooks app. Get paid sooner with our payment processing and take advantage of our collaboration tools!

Click here to learn more about our estimating software.

Estimator 360 – Best for Residential Construction Professionals

Price: $269 per month

Estimator 360 is a great construction estimating software for residential contractors. The intuitive platform is easy to navigate and features extensive automation to make creating estimates for construction projects much simpler to generate and send.

The digital takeoff tool is also a great, web-based tool for doing those pesky construction takeoff project estimates at the beginning of a new job.

Estimator 360 also includes some light project management tools, timesheets, and accounting features. Proposal building is an especially simple process in this platform. Estimator 360 even tackles some customer relationship management, making this an all-in-one solution for many businesses.

In short, this is a comprehensive solution for the residential remodeler, and even offers other features that might make your project management process even simpler.

Clear Estimates – Best for Construction Cost Database for Small Businesses

Price: from $59 per month

Clear Estimates is a cloud-based construction estimating software that you can access from anywhere. As it is a web-based estimating tool, it’s a very flexible option.

To make things easier for professional remodelers, Clear Estimates holds a lot of average labor and material cost information, all from the RemodelMax database. This helps construction companies make more accurate bids by taking the guesswork out of estimates.

The program is quite cost-effective. Therefore, Clear Estimates is a fantastic option for a small construction company or freelancer.

EasyEst – Best for Remodel Estimator for Beginners

Price: $389 one-time purchase

EasyEst markets itself as the easiest (get it?) construction estimating software on the market. And we would have to agree! With a one-time purchase plan, you can use this program to its full capabilities for as long as you want without any additional payments.

You can get started with the sample databases on labor costs and material costs, all of which are very beginner-friendly. Some key features include the ability to adjust costs and percentages quickly and efficiently, create accurate bids, and generate powerful, user-friendly reports.

This software is an all-in-one solution for small to medium-sized construction companies and is one of our top choices for not only remodeling estimating, but project management in general.

Home Renovation Cost Estimator by Kukun Home Intelligence – Best Free Option

Price: Free

For a reliable, free remodeling cost estimator, we like the Kukun Home Intelligence option.

It’s not a full program but is more like a remodeling cost calculator. This online tool draws on current labor rates and material costs using the nearest supplier to your zip code. This cost database is so powerful, that it also shows you your estimated ROI (return on investment) on remodeling projects, fantastic for creating clear estimates for your clients. 

To get started with the estimating process, all you need to do is select the room you are renovating. You can customize the materials and finishes you want to use. Then, the clever software will generate an accurate estimate that you can adjust according to your project’s specific needs.

For a free calculator, this is a pretty robust and useful solution for construction companies and freelancers.

Conclusion

If you’re tired of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (and all the work that comes with them), then one of these options will help home builders like you immensely. Calculate your projects with intuitive, automated, remodeling estimating software. Access a reliable bank of average labor and materials costs to make your project estimates as clear and detailed as possible. 

Looking for a faster, simpler, more efficient option? You can use a cloud-based estimate software like the one offered by FreshBooks—something that is completely flexible and allows you to input your own values, along with easy integration with other accounting solutions. Click here to start your free trial of the FreshBooks estimating software.

For more remodeling and construction business guides, head to our resource hub.

FAQs About Construction Estimating Software

More questions about creating accurate remodeling estimates using web-based tools? Here’s everything you need to know about construction estimating software.

What is the most reliable form of estimating material and labor costs?

In terms of accuracy, the most reliable type of estimate is known as bottom-up estimating. In this process, project management will price each type of work separately, beginning with the most basic tasks and working up to more complex ones. These can be time-consuming, but worth it for the right project.

What to look for in remodeling estimating software?

Although everyone’s specific needs from remodeling estimating software will be different, there are a few things that almost always come in handy. These include a database of average labor costs and material costs and the ability to quickly generate accurate remodeling estimates without a lot of manual data entry. It’s also a good idea to look for a cloud-based program, and bonus points if you can find one that offers a free trial.

What should a contractor’s estimating process include?

If you’re a contractor making a bid on a project, it’s vital to include all necessary information and to ensure the job costing estimate is clear and accurate. Make sure to include detailed labor pricing, material costs, and any other charges you’ll need to make to complete the job.

Did you find this article helpful? If so, you might be interested in our guide on How to Estimate a Remodeling Project, where we have explained a step-by-step process in detail.

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