How to write a demolition estimate
A good demolition estimate protects your margin and wins the job. Here's how to scope it, what to price, and a line-by-line example you can adapt for your next bid.
1. Scope the job on site
Never bid demolition off a phone call. Walk the site and note the things that move the price: structure size and materials, access for equipment, what's getting demolished vs. preserved, utilities to disconnect, and hazards like asbestos or lead that require abatement. Take photos of everything — they protect you in disputes and jog your memory when you price it later.
2. Price the five cost buckets
Almost every demolition estimate breaks into the same five buckets. Price each, then add overhead and profit.
- Labor — crew hours × loaded labor rate. Be honest about how long teardown, sorting, and cleanup actually take.
- Equipment — excavator/skid-steer rental or run cost, plus fuel and transport to and from the site.
- Disposal — dumpsters and tipping fees, priced by tonnage or by haul. This is where bids go wrong; weigh it carefully for concrete and heavy debris.
- Permits & abatement — demolition permits, utility disconnects, and any hazardous-material handling.
- Overhead & profit — your fixed costs and margin, usually a percentage on top of the above.
3. Add a contingency
Demolition reveals surprises — buried slabs, extra debris, structures that fight back. A 10–15% contingency on uncertain jobs keeps a surprise from eating your profit. State it plainly or build it into your rates; just don't bid so tight that one bad day sinks the job.
4. Example: garage demolition estimate
Here's a simplified residential garage teardown with haul-off. Adapt the line items and numbers to your market.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labor — 2 crew × 1.5 days | $1,800.00 |
| Skid-steer rental + fuel + transport | $520.00 |
| Disposal — 2 dumpsters + tipping fees | $900.00 |
| Demolition permit + utility disconnect | $180.00 |
| Site cleanup & grading | $300.00 |
5. Present it so it wins
The bid that wins isn't always the cheapest — it's the clearest. Itemize the work so the customer sees what they're paying for, attach site photos, and include your deposit terms and a way to accept the estimate online. A professional, easy-to-say-yes-to estimate beats a number scribbled on the back of a card.
Build estimates that turn into paid jobs
DemoCommand lets you build line-item estimates, send them for online acceptance, collect the deposit, and turn the won bid into an invoice — free to start, no monthly fee.
Start free — no credit cardRelated: Free contractor invoice template · How to get paid faster as a contractor