Residential
Construction
Cost Estimator
Know what it costs before you build.
Fast, honest construction estimates for anyone — homeowner, DIYer, or seasoned contractor. Built on 38 years of field knowledge so you don't have to be an expert to get real numbers.
Real Numbers.
In Minutes.
You don't need to know what a "take-off" is to use EstimatorX. Enter what you know — square footage, room count, lot size — and the app does the estimating math, the same way a 38-year contractor would.
Enter What You Know
Square footage, number of rooms, lot size — plain inputs anyone can fill in. No construction jargon required. The app knows what to do with the numbers.
Instant Material & Labor Breakdown
Every line item auto-calculates from field-proven formulas and RSMeans national labor rates. You see exactly what materials you need and what labor should cost — no black box totals.
Print, Share & Adjust
Tweak quantities, adjust labor rates to your area, add custom line items, then print a clean report or share a live link with a contractor, lender, or partner.
Built Because
Getting a Real Number
Shouldn't Require a Contractor.
After 38 years running residential projects — from single-lot custom homes to 24-lot subdivisions — I kept running into the same problem on both sides: homeowners who couldn't get a straight number without hiring someone, and contractors who spent hours on estimates that spreadsheets should handle in minutes.
So we built EstimatorX from the ground up using real take-off methodology, real waste factors, and RSMeans data anchored to how work is actually bid and priced. You don't need to understand the formulas — you just enter what you know, and the app calculates the rest the way an experienced estimator would.
Every Trade.
Every Line Item.
From clearing the lot to setting the condenser — EstimatorX covers the full residential build scope with trade-specific inputs and itemized output for each discipline.
Site Work
Clearing, grading, excavation, utilities, driveway
Foundation
Slab, crawl space, full basement — concrete & forming
Walls & Framing
Exterior walls, interior partitions, sheathing, insulation
Floor Systems
Joist sizing, subfloor, beam spans, post count
Roof
Trusses or rafters, decking, underlayment, shingles or metal
Plumbing
Supply & DWV rough-in, fixtures, water heater
Electrical
Service panel, circuits, outlets, lighting, appliances
HVAC
Equipment sizing, ductwork, linesets, thermostats
Itemized Takeoffs
Every material quantity broken out line by line — board feet, cubic yards, linear feet, each count. No black-box totals.
Share with Your Team
Generate a shareable link so your foreman, partner, or client can view the same estimate in real time.
PDF Plan Import
Upload a building plan PDF and let the app extract dimensions automatically — skip manual input on straightforward plans.
Simple Enough
for Anyone.
Accurate Enough for Pros.
Whether you've never swung a hammer or you've built a hundred houses, EstimatorX gives you the same field-grade numbers — fast, itemized, and ready to act on.
Built For
- Homeowners planning an addition, remodel, or new build
- DIYers who want real numbers before starting a project
- First-time builders figuring out what things actually cost
- Real estate investors running feasibility on a flip or rental
- General contractors who need fast, defensible bid numbers
- Developers budgeting subdivision or multi-unit projects
What You Get
- Rough-to-detailed estimates in minutes, not days
- Itemized material lists you can take to a supplier
- Adjustable labor rates for your area and project type
- Clean printable output to share with a contractor or lender
- Multiple saved projects to compare scope or scenarios
- Shareable estimate links — no account needed to view
Simple Pricing
Start free — no credit card, no commitment. Upgrade when you need more.
- All 8 trade estimators
- RSMeans labor rates included
- 1 saved project
- Print for $0.99 per estimate
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited saved projects
- PDF building plan import
- Live shareable estimate links
- No watermarks on print output
- Priority support
Questions or Feedback?
Found something that doesn't match real-world pricing in your area? Want a trade or project type we haven't covered? Have a question before you sign up? We want to hear from you.