Accurate, detailed commercial construction cost estimates and material takeoffs for GCs, developers, architects, and project owners — delivered across all 50 states in 24 to 48 hours.
DFE’s certified commercial estimating team has over 12 years of experience pricing commercial construction projects of every type and scale, from small retail fit-outs to multi-million-dollar mixed-use developments. Commercial construction costs in the United States range from $150 to $500 per square foot for standard commercial builds, rising to $400 to $1,200 per square foot for high-specification office, healthcare, or hospitality projects. DFE prices every commercial estimate using RSMeans zip-code databases and applies current local labor rates by trade. Every estimate is reviewed by a senior project manager before delivery, covers all CSI divisions, meets AACE standards, and is delivered in Excel format within 24 to 48 hours.
Commercial contractors and developers come to DFE when these costly problems are cutting into their margins.Contractors come to DFE when they’re tired of these recurring problems.
Commercial estimates that are even 5% off can cost you a multi-million dollar contract.
A single missed trade on a commercial project can trigger change orders worth hundreds of thousands.
Commercial GCs need to bid volume. One in-house estimator can only handle so many projects.
Developers need lender-ready cost reports before financing is approved - rough estimates won't do.
DFE Estimating solves all four – every commercial estimate is complete, reviewed by a senior PM, priced to current market rates, and delivered before your deadline.
A rigorous four-step process built for the complexity and pace of commercial construction.
Submit Your Project Upload your bid set, construction documents, or design development drawings via our secure portal. PDF, CAD, and Revit accepted.
A senior project manager reviews your scope, confirms trade coverage and phasing, and responds with a flat-fee quote within 2 hours.
We digitally measure every quantity across all CSI trades and apply RSMeans zip-code pricing for accurate local material and labor costs.
Receive a complete, line-item Excel estimate, organised by CSI division, reviewed by a senior PM, and ready for your bid package in 24 to 48 hours.
Nine reasons commercial GCs, subcontractors, and developers trust DFE with their most important bids.
Specialist commercial estimating across every building type, project phase, and delivery method.
Complete cost estimates for office developments, corporate fit-outs, and mixed-use office buildings. Full trade-by-trade breakdowns covering structure, MEP, finishes, and tenant improvement scopes nationwide.
Accurate retail construction and fit-out estimates for standalone stores, strip centres, shopping malls, and restaurant builds. Priced to current local labor and material rates using RSMeans zip-code databases.
Detailed TI estimates for leasehold fit-outs, office suites, retail spaces, and medical offices. We cover demolition, partition systems, MEP upgrades, finishes, and all tenant improvement allowance documentation.
Specialist cost estimates for hospitals, medical office buildings, outpatient facilities, and dental fit-outs. Healthcare construction carries unique MEP and compliance requirements — our estimators know them all.
Full-scope cost estimates for hotels, resorts, and hospitality fit-outs nationwide. We cover structure, MEP, FF&E allowances, finishes, and all project phases from schematic through construction documents.
Complex mixed-use projects need estimators who understand the full stack — residential upper floors, commercial ground floors, structured parking, and shared MEP systems all priced as one coordinated estimate.
From small retail fit-outs to landmark commercial towers — DFE estimates every commercial project type across all 50 states.
Proven commercial estimating expertise, backed by 12 years, 2,500+ projects, and a senior PM review on every deliverable.
Commercial estimating
Projects completed
Estimating methodology
Reviews every estimate
Pricing databases
Guaranteed pricing
US nationwide
Always available
Other services commercial contractors and developers frequently combine with commercial estimating.
Material counts for all CSI trades.
5D model-driven cost estimates.
Mechanical, electrical & plumbing.
Full commercial cost reports.
Critical path project schedules.
Commercial construction costs in the United States typically range from $150 to $500 per square foot for standard commercial buildings such as warehouses, light industrial, and basic retail. Mid-range commercial construction — office buildings, schools, and standard hotels — ranges from $250 to $600 per square foot. High-specification projects such as hospitals, luxury hotels, and Class A office buildings range from $400 to $1,200 per square foot. Costs vary significantly by state, city, and market conditions. DFE uses RSMeans zip-code pricing to provide accurate local cost estimates.
Commercial estimating service fees typically range from $500 to $5,000 depending on project size, trade scope, and complexity. Small commercial fit-out estimates generally start at $500 to $1,000. Full commercial building estimates for mid-size projects range from $1,500 to $3,000. Large-scale or complex multi-trade estimates can exceed $5,000. DFE Estimating charges transparent flat fees based on project scope — contact us for a free quote based on your drawings and project type.
A complete commercial construction estimate from DFE includes digital quantity takeoffs for all trades, material costs priced to current local rates using RSMeans zip-code databases, labor cost calculations by trade using current regional wage rates, equipment and general conditions costs, subcontractor allowances, overhead and profit, and a total project cost summary. Every estimate is organised by CSI division, reviewed by a senior project manager before delivery, and formatted for direct use in bid submissions, lender packages, and developer pro formas.
Standard commercial estimates from DFE are delivered within 24 to 48 hours. Smaller commercial fit-out or tenant improvement estimates are often completed within 24 hours. Large-scale commercial projects — multi-storey office buildings, hospitals, or mixed-use developments — typically take 3 to 5 business days depending on scope and number of trades. Rush delivery within 12 hours is available for urgent commercial bid deadlines. DFE has maintained a 100% on-time delivery record across all commercial projects.
Tenant improvement (TI) estimating covers the cost of fitting out a leased commercial space to a tenant’s specific requirements. This typically includes demolition of existing partitions, new partition systems, MEP upgrades, lighting, ceiling systems, flooring, and all interior finishes. TI estimates are used by landlords, developers, tenants, and their GCs to establish the TI allowance budget, negotiate lease terms, and bid out the fit-out work. DFE provides detailed TI estimates for office, retail, medical, and restaurant spaces nationwide.
Yes. DFE Estimating regularly prepares commercial cost estimates specifically formatted for construction loan applications, development financing, and investor presentations. These estimates include a full scope summary, trade-by-trade cost breakdown, square footage analysis, contingency allowances, and a total project cost figure — all in a clean format that lenders, equity partners, and financial institutions can review without additional processing. This is one of our most frequently requested commercial services for developers pursuing project financing.
Commercial estimating differs from residential estimating in scope complexity, trade specialisation, and regulatory requirements. Commercial projects involve more complex MEP systems, structural steel, curtain wall systems, elevator shafts, and life safety systems that require specialist estimating knowledge. Commercial estimates must also account for prevailing wage requirements on public projects, ADA compliance costs, and complex phasing across longer project timelines. DFE’s commercial estimating team has dedicated specialists for each major commercial trade, separate from our residential estimating team.
DFE Estimating uses industry-leading tools for commercial projects including RSMeans (for zip-code-based commercial cost data), PlanSwift and Bluebeam (for digital takeoffs from commercial construction documents), Revit and AutoCAD (for BIM-based estimates), FastPIPE and FastDUCT (for commercial mechanical estimates), and Trimble (for quantity surveying on large commercial projects). Our team is AACE-certified and delivers all commercial estimates in Excel format, organised by CSI division and reviewed by a senior project manager before delivery.
DFE Estimating is a trusted provider of construction estimating services, delivering accurate quantity takeoffs, material takeoffs, labor pricing, and bid-ready construction estimates for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. We help contractors save time, reduce estimating errors, and bid with confidence.
Monday – Friday 09AM – 05PM Saturday 10AM – 2PM
© 2026 DFE Estimating. All rights reserved.
