Electrical Estimating Services for Owners and Construction Managers

Accurate electrical estimating is one of the most critical — and most misunderstood — parts of a construction project. For owners and construction managers, electrical scope often represents a significant portion of project cost, yet early decisions are made when drawings are incomplete and assumptions are unavoidable.

At iBidElectric, our electrical estimating services are built to give owners and construction managers clarity, credibility, and confidence at every stage of design — from early concept through construction documents — using the same professional-grade tools relied on by thousands of electrical contractors across the industry.

Built on Industry-Standard Estimating Technology

iBidElectric performs electrical estimates using Accubid by Trimble, one of the most widely used and trusted electrical estimating platforms in the construction industry.

Accubid is the estimating software of choice for thousands of electrical contractors because it combines:

  • Detailed labor units

  • Assemblies built around real installation methods

  • Real-time material pricing

  • Proven productivity data

By using Accubid, iBidElectric ensures that our estimates are not theoretical or academic. They are grounded in how electrical work is actually installed in the field, using the same methodology contractors use to price work competitively and realistically.

Trimble, a global leader in construction technology, has built Accubid to reflect real-world conditions — which is exactly what owners and construction managers need when evaluating budgets and bids.

Why Owners and Construction Managers Value This Approach

Many early-stage electrical estimates rely on square-foot allowances or historical averages. While those methods can provide rough guidance, they often fail to explain why costs are what they are — or where risk lives.

By using contractor-grade estimating software, iBidElectric provides:

  • Transparent quantity-based estimates

  • Clear labor and material breakdowns

  • Defensible numbers that withstand scrutiny

  • Pricing that reflects current market conditions

For owners, this means budgets that can be trusted.
For construction managers, it means numbers that can be confidently presented, discussed, and defended.

Electrical Estimating Across All Stages of Design

Electrical costs evolve as design progresses. iBidElectric supports owners and construction managers through every phase of design, tailoring the level of detail to match the information available.

Conceptual & Feasibility Estimates

At the earliest stage, decisions are strategic. Owners are asking whether a project is viable and construction managers are helping shape budgets before drawings exist.

iBidElectric develops conceptual electrical estimates that:

  • Establish realistic order-of-magnitude costs

  • Identify major electrical cost drivers early

  • Highlight scope elements likely to impact budget later

  • Support feasibility studies and capital planning

These estimates help teams avoid committing to unrealistic numbers that become difficult to correct downstream.

Schematic Design Estimates

As layouts, systems, and basic strategies emerge, electrical scope begins to take shape. At this stage, assumptions still exist — but they can be clearly identified and managed.

iBidElectric provides schematic design estimates that:

  • Translate early design intent into quantified scope

  • Refine budgets based on system selection

  • Identify gaps between expectations and reality

  • Provide clarity for owner decision-making

This phase is where many projects either gain cost discipline — or begin drifting.

Design Development Estimates

Design development is where accuracy matters most. Electrical systems are defined, coordination intensifies, and budgets must begin to align with funding expectations.

Our DD estimates:

  • Quantify systems using Accubid assemblies

  • Reflect constructability and phasing impacts

  • Identify coordination risks that drive cost

  • Support value discussions before documents are finalized

This is often the last opportunity to influence cost meaningfully without disruption.

Construction Document (CD) Estimates

At the construction document stage, owners and construction managers need electrical estimates that mirror bid pricing as closely as possible.

iBidElectric’s CD-level estimates:

  • Use detailed takeoffs and assemblies

  • Reflect real labor productivity and installation methods

  • Incorporate current material pricing

  • Provide a benchmark for bid comparison

These estimates are frequently used to validate contractor bids, support negotiations, and identify scope gaps before construction begins.

Experience That Spans Project Size and Complexity

iBidElectric’s estimating experience ranges from small, fast-moving projects to some of the most complex facilities in the country.

Our portfolio includes:

  • Retail renovations and tenant improvements

  • Office and commercial fit-outs

  • Healthcare and education facilities

  • Infrastructure and public-sector projects

  • Large-scale sports and entertainment venues

This breadth matters. The estimating approach that works for a retail renovation is very different from the one required for a major stadium or infrastructure project.

From Retail Renovations to Major Stadiums

At one end of the spectrum, iBidElectric supports small retail renovations, where speed, phasing, and operational continuity are critical. These projects require practical estimating that accounts for limited access, night work, and tight schedules.

At the other end are landmark projects like Huntington Bank Field, the new football stadium planned for the Cleveland Browns and scheduled for completion in 2029. Stadium projects involve:

  • Complex power distribution

  • Redundant systems and emergency power

  • Broadcast and technology infrastructure

  • Life-safety and code-intensive systems

  • Large-scale coordination across trades

Experience at this level reinforces disciplined estimating practices that scale down just as effectively to smaller projects.

Why Electrical Estimating Matters More Than Ever

Electrical systems continue to grow in complexity. Energy requirements, technology integration, resiliency, and sustainability expectations are all increasing.

For owners and construction managers, this means:

  • Electrical scope carries more risk

  • Early decisions have larger consequences

  • Cost clarity is essential, not optional

Using professional-grade estimating tools and experienced electrical specialists helps teams manage that complexity with confidence.

How iBidElectric Supports Owners and Construction Managers

iBidElectric is independent. We do not install electrical work, bid projects, or sell equipment. Our role is to provide objective, defensible electrical estimates that support informed decision-making.

Owners use our estimates to:

  • Establish and protect budgets

  • Evaluate feasibility and funding

  • Validate contractor pricing

Construction managers use our estimates to:

  • Strengthen preconstruction efforts

  • Support design-build pursuits

  • Reduce risk in early pricing

  • Improve owner confidence

Final Notes

Accurate electrical estimating is not about guesswork or averages. It’s about understanding scope, quantifying systems, and applying real-world installation knowledge using proven tools.

By leveraging Accubid by Trimble, real-time pricing, and decades of electrical estimating experience — from small renovations to major facilities like the new Huntington Bank Field — iBidElectric delivers electrical estimates owners and construction managers can trust.

If your project requires electrical cost clarity at any stage of design, iBidElectric provides the estimating expertise to support better decisions and stronger outcomes.