(650) 332-8623The 7 Best Residential Construction Estimating Software Solutions for 2026
Looking for the best residential construction estimating software? We’ve reviewed 7 of the best apps on the market to help you choose!
Quick Answer:
The best residential construction estimating software I’ve reviewed is Sage Estimating for database-driven and highly detailed bids; Houzz Pro (from $249/month + $60/user/month for additional seats) for client-friendly estimates, proposals, and change orders; and QuickBooks ($38–$275/month) for estimates that roll straight into accounting. Pricing ranges from about $38/month to custom enterprise pricing. Choose based on whether you need (1) cost databases + takeoff depth, (2) client approvals + project-facing docs, or (3) tight accounting and basic job costing.
Residential construction estimating software helps builders and remodelers turn labor, material, and subcontractor scope into bids they can defend and update fast when clients change their minds. It also lays the groundwork for construction expense management, because the same cost codes, line items, and allowances you estimate upfront are what you’ll track against once the job is underway.
In this guide, I break down 7 options and call out what each one is actually good at: deep takeoff and assemblies, homeowner proposals and approvals, or estimates that roll cleanly into accounting. I compared estimating speed, template depth, change order handling, integrations, and published pricing.
Top Residential Construction Estimating Software at a Glance
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|---|---|---|---|
Our score |
8.5 |
7.7 |
7.6 |
Best for |
Database-driven cost estimates |
Estimates, project management, and client communications |
Estimating, accounting, and job costing in one system |
Pricing |
Contact sales for pricing |
Contact sales for pricing |
Starts at $2,210/year |
What is residential construction estimating software?
Residential construction estimating software is a tool that helps home builders, remodelers, and specialty trades create accurate project estimates by turning scope, quantities, labor, and material costs into a structured bid.
It replaces manual spreadsheets and guesswork with line-item templates, cost codes, and takeoff-driven quantities, so you can price jobs consistently and update numbers fast when plans or selections change.
How residential construction estimating software works
Residential construction estimating software starts by having you set up a cost structure. This includes cost codes, assemblies, and a catalog of common line items for labor, materials, and subcontractors. You import plans or enter measurements, then the system creates quantities and applies unit costs, markups, and taxes to build a line-item estimate.
From there, you generate a proposal for the homeowner, send it for approval and signatures, and convert the accepted estimate into a budget or job cost breakdown. As the project changes, you update the scope and push change orders without rebuilding everything.
Many tools also sync with accounting (like QuickBooks) and job costing, so estimates flow into billing and cost tracking.
Benefits of residential construction estimating software
- Save time building estimates: Templates and assemblies reduce repetitive line-item entry for common residential scopes.
- Improve bid accuracy: Takeoff-driven quantities and standardized pricing cut down on missed materials and underbidding.
- Reduce change order chaos: You can update scope, pricing, and client documents without rebuilding the estimate from scratch.
- Keep profit margins visible: Built-in markup and margin controls help you price consistently across jobs and crews.
- Win more work with cleaner proposals: Professional formats, photos, and allowances make estimates easier for homeowners to approve.
- Connect estimates to real job costs: Integrations with accounting and job costing help you compare estimated vs. actual spend—especially when labor hours are captured accurately with tools like Workyard’s GPS-verified time tracking.
How much does residential construction estimating software cost?
Most residential construction estimating software runs anywhere from about $15–$250+ per month for small teams, depending on whether you’re buying a simple estimating app or a full estimating + takeoff + project management system. Some tools charge per user, while others bundle unlimited users and price by feature tier.
Expect higher costs when you add digital takeoffs, cost databases, change order tools, and accounting integrations. Many platforms offer a free trial or demo, so I recommend testing your estimating workflow (templates, revisions, and approvals) before committing.
What to look for in residential construction estimating software
When I compare residential construction estimating software, I start with the essentials that make estimates accurate and easy to update when scope changes.
Core Features (must-haves)
- Templates and assemblies: Reuse common residential scopes (kitchens, bathrooms, framing packages) without rebuilding line items.
- Flexible line items + markups: Control margin, tax, overhead, and allowances at the item or section level.
- Client-ready proposals: Send clear estimates with photos, terms, and e-signatures to speed approvals.
- Change orders and version history: Track revisions so you know what changed and why.
Nice-to-Have Features (differentiators)
- Digital takeoff tools: Measure plans and auto-fill quantities to reduce missed materials.
- Cost codes + job costing export: Convert accepted estimates into budgets that map to accounting.
- Integrations: Sync with tools like QuickBooks, plus time tracking (e.g., Workyard) to validate labor costs.
- RFQs and bid leveling: Compare subcontractor bids without juggling spreadsheets.
How to choose the best residential construction estimating software
- Start with your “estimate type.” If you mostly price remodels and small jobs, a mobile-first estimator may be enough. If you bid ground-up homes, look for assemblies, cost codes, and takeoff support so you can price by phase and trade.
- Test your real templates. During a trial or demo, rebuild one of your common estimates (kitchen remodel, addition, or new build) and check how fast you can clone it, adjust allowances, and revise for client selections.
- Pressure-test change orders. The best tool isn’t the one that builds the first estimate fastest—it’s the one that handles revisions cleanly when scope changes mid-project.
- Confirm the “handoff” to job costing. Make sure accepted estimates can convert into budgets and export to accounting (like QuickBooks) with cost codes intact. If labor accuracy matters, pair it with GPS-verified time tracking like Workyard so estimated vs. actual labor is meaningful.
- Match pricing to how you actually work. If you have subs, PMs, and office staff touching the same job, unlimited-user plans can be cheaper than per-seat pricing—even if the monthly sticker price looks higher.
Final Thoughts
If you want deep, database-driven estimates, I’d start with Sage Estimating. For client-friendly proposals, approvals, and payments, Houzz Pro is hard to beat. And if your priority is tying estimates to accounting and job costing, QuickBooks Enterprise is the most complete backbone.
Shortlist 2–3 tools, run a real estimate through each, then choose the one that fits your workflow. You can pair it with a time tracking app to keep actual labor costs GPS-verified and bid-ready.
If you need GPS-verified labor hours by job and cost code, you can try Workyard’s 14-day free trial.
Our Scoring System Explained
Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.
We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:
The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.
How We Score Software
All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.
In general, the 0-10 range translates as:
- 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
- 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
- 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
- 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
- 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
- 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.
How We Calculate Overall Scores
The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:
- Ease of Use: 20%
- Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
- Scheduling Features: 15%
- Job Tracking: 15%
- Integrations: 10%
- Customer Support: 15%
- Company: 5%
Methodology for Each Factor
Ease of Use
We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:
- How easy is it to set up this app?
- How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
- How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?
These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.
Time Tracking Accuracy
Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…
- How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
- How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
- How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
- Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
- Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
- Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
- How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?
Scheduling Features
Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.
When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:
- Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
- Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
- Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
- Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
- Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.
Job Tracking
This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.
We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:
- Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
- Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
- Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
- Any built-in job costing views.
- Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)
Integrations
No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.
To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:
- How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
- How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
- Does it have robust data import and export features?
Customer Support
Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.
Customer support scores are calculated based on:
- Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
- Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
- The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
- What other users say about support in online reviews.
Company
A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.
When assessing this score, we’ll examine:
- Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
- Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
- Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
- Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
- Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
- Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).
Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
Yes, there are several good free residential construction estimating software options available:
- Autodesk Construction Cloud – Offers free estimating tools and integrates with their design software to streamline the design-to-estimate process.
- Houzz Pro – Provides free estimating features tailored for residential projects like kitchens and bathrooms. Includes pre-built templates.
- PandaDoc – Allows creating free estimates and proposals. Has a user-friendly interface and collaboration tools.
- Buildertrend – Offers free estimating tools as part of their construction management platform. Integrates with accounting software.
- ConstructionOnline – Provides free estimating features and integrates with their project management suite. Includes materials cost databases.
The key benefits of these free residential construction estimating software solutions include:
- Time savings by automating the estimation process
- Improved accuracy using pre-built templates and cost databases
- Enhanced collaboration through online sharing and approvals
- Detailed cost breakdowns for better cost control
- Integrations with other construction management tools
While the free versions may have some limitations, they provide a great starting point for small residential contractors looking to streamline their estimating process without incurring additional software costs. The integrations with design, project management and accounting tools make these free solutions attractive.
The most important features are anything that keeps your quantities consistent, your pricing defensible, and your revisions fast. In practice, that means templates/assemblies, takeoffs, clear line-item detail, and clean change orders.
Look for reusable estimate templates (so you’re not rebuilding scopes), easy unit pricing, and the ability to break costs into phases or trades. If you’re sending estimates to homeowners, client-friendly proposals with e-signature and allowance tracking matter just as much as “raw estimating power.”
Finally, make sure estimates can export into budgets/job costing so you can compare estimated vs. actual later.
Residential estimating is usually more change-driven and homeowner-facing, while commercial estimating is often bid-package heavy and spec-driven. Residential tools tend to prioritize templates, allowances, client approvals, and fast revisions.
In residential work, selections (tile, fixtures, cabinets) can swing costs midstream, so change order workflows and clear documentation are crucial.
Commercial estimating often leans harder on formal bid leveling, subcontractor scopes, and compliance-heavy documentation. You can use “commercial” tools in residential, but they often feel too complex if you mainly do remodels or custom homes.
Yes. Many residential construction estimating platforms support digital takeoffs for smaller builds, additions, and full custom homes. The key is whether takeoff is included in your plan or sold as an add-on.
For example, some tools bundle takeoff into higher tiers, while others rely on integrated takeoff partners. If you do frequent plan-based work, test the takeoff workflow during the trial: importing plans, measuring, creating quantities, and pushing those quantities into line items. If takeoff feels bolted-on, you’ll lose time every time you revise plans.
Most good residential estimating tools support templates, and many also support assemblies (bundled “mini-systems” like a vanity install or a framing package). Assemblies matter when you want consistent pricing across jobs without missing components.
In the real world, assemblies help you avoid underbidding by forgetting small but expensive pieces—fasteners, disposal, underlayment, trim, and labor steps. Templates help you standardize your estimate structure by phase (demo, rough, finish) or by trade (carpentry, electrical, plumbing). If you build or remodel repeatedly, assemblies and templates are usually the biggest time-saver.
Material calculations can be very accurate when they’re tied to takeoff quantities and updated unit costs. Labor accuracy is trickier because it depends on whether your labor assumptions match real crew productivity and job conditions.
The best tools let you control unit pricing, waste factors, markups, and labor rates by role or region. But the real improvement comes when you compare estimated hours to actual hours after the job.
Pairing your estimating tool with GPS-verified time tracking like Workyard makes that feedback loop more reliable, because you’re not tuning future bids based on “rounded” or incomplete timesheets.
Yes. Most residential estimating software lets you structure estimates by phase (rough-in, finish), trade (plumbing, electrical), or cost code. This is essential if you want your estimate to turn into a construction budget without reformatting everything later.
Cost-code structure also helps you track profitability by category, not just at the job level. When you push an accepted estimate into job costing or accounting, phase/trade/cost code detail makes it much easier to see where you’re actually making (or losing) money—like framing labor versus finish carpentry or tile materials versus labor.
Yes. Good tools make it easy to clone an estimate, swap assemblies, and revise allowances without rebuilding the entire bid. That’s especially important for custom homes where the base plan stays similar, but finishes and upgrades change constantly.
During a trial, test how quickly you can do three common revisions: upgrade a finished package, add a scope change (like a structural beam), and update pricing across multiple line items. The difference between a “good” and “great” estimator is often how fast it handles revisions while keeping a clean audit trail you can explain to the homeowner.
Some platforms include bid requests (RFQs) and bid leveling tools, while others rely on you to compare subcontractor bids manually. If you regularly shop for subs, bid comparison can save hours and reduce scope gaps.
The best bid tools let you send RFQs, track responses, compare bids side by side, and flag outliers, so you’re not choosing a low number that’s missing key scope. More advanced systems can handle multiple bid packages and alternates. If your work is sub-heavy (roofing, HVAC, electrical), this feature often pays for itself quickly.
Conversion is easy when the estimate is already organized by cost code and the software supports a clean export or integration into job costing/accounting. When it’s not, you end up rebuilding the budget in a second system.
Before you commit, check whether “accepted estimates” can become a budget with the same structure (phases/trades/cost codes) and whether change orders update the budget automatically.
If labor is a major cost driver, make sure your time tracking can feed job costs accurately. Workyard, for example, helps by capturing GPS-verified hours by job and cost code so your budget vs. actual reports aren’t built on shaky inputs.
Sometimes, yes, especially for takeoffs, advanced reporting, additional users, or accounting integrations. Even when the base plan looks affordable, the “estimating you actually need” can sit in a higher tier or require add-ons.
Common hidden costs include takeoff modules, premium template libraries, extra seats, payment processing fees, and one-time onboarding/training packages. My rule: ask for a full quote that includes the exact features you plan to use (takeoff, change orders, QuickBooks sync, etc.). Then compare the all-in cost against the time saved per estimate and the margin protected on each job.