Measure the scope
Record cut and fill quantities, trench length and depth, access, soil, utilities, restoration, haul distance, and disposal responsibility.
Contractor Field Tool
Excavation Estimate & Quote Calculator for Customer Jobs
Turn production hours and real job costs into a defensible quote. The calculator separates break-even cost from profit margin so transport, downtime, disposal, and overhead do not quietly disappear.
01 / Production
Build the job cost
Machine & labor
Job-specific costs
Tax
Business protection
Your company details
Your business information appears as the contractor on the customer quote.
Customer quote details
These details appear only on the customer PDF.
Pricing Method
How to estimate an excavation job
Estimate production
Choose the machine and estimate productive hours. Add loading, setup, grade checks, handwork, weather, and realistic non-production time.
Load every direct cost
Include operator and crew burden, fuel and wear in the machine rate, mobilization, trucking, material, disposal, rentals, permits, and subcontractors.
Protect the business
Apply overhead, add contingency for defined uncertainty, then divide break-even cost by one minus the target margin. A 20% margin is not the same as a 20% markup.
Recommended quote(Direct cost + overhead + contingency) ÷ (1 − target margin)
Before You Send It
Convert the estimate into a controlled scope
Assumptions
State soil conditions, utility-marking status, access width, working hours, quantities, and who supplies water, power, materials, and traffic control.
Exclusions
Exclude concealed rock, contaminated soil, unmarked utilities, dewatering, unsuitable material, and restoration unless they are included and priced.
Change orders
Set hourly equipment and labor rates for extra work, require written approval, and document quantity changes before continuing.
Planning tool only. Local tax, licensing, insurance, safety, prevailing-wage, permit, and contract requirements vary. Validate rates against your actual books and local market.