An excavation estimate needs scope, estimated cubic yards of cut and fill, equipment by type and hours, haul-off and disposal, utility locates, site access notes, and an unforeseen-conditions clause before it shows a total. The two lines that keep an excavation bid from sinking are the yardage estimate and the rock clause — hit groundwater or ledge without one and the job eats your margin.
Below is a copyable layout, how to price by yardage and machine hours, and the point where a document is no longer the thing holding back the business.
What you're digging, grading, or backfilling, with estimated cubic yards of cut and fill. The number every other line depends on.
Each machine — excavator, dozer, skid steer — with estimated hours and operator time, plus mobilization to haul it in.
Trucking spoil off site and dump or tipping fees. Easy to underprice, and a real cost on any sizable dig.
Utility locate handling and a clause that rock, water, or buried debris is a change order at a stated rate.
A solid template is enough while:
The template stops being the bottleneck when bids pile up faster than you can follow, or you want builders and homeowners searching "excavation contractor" to actually find you.
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Scope, cubic yards of cut and fill, equipment and hours, haul-off and disposal, utility locates, access notes, an unforeseen-conditions clause, the total, and terms.
By cubic yards moved plus equipment and operator hours, then haul-off, disposal, and mobilization. Estimating yardage protects you when a dig is bigger than it looks.
Yes. Rock, water, and buried debris can multiply costs. A clause billing them as a change order at a stated rate protects your margin.
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