Precise material takeoffs, accurate cost estimates, and certified estimators for residential, commercial, and industrial projects across all five NYC boroughs.
DFE Estimating is a New York City-based construction cost estimating company with over 12 years of experience serving general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and architects across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. New York is the most expensive construction market in the United States — with commercial construction costs ranging from $350 to $1,200 per square foot depending on project type and borough. Getting the numbers wrong here is expensive. Our certified estimators price every project using current NYC union labor rates, prevailing wage schedules, and DOB-compliant cost benchmarks. We use RSMeans zip-code pricing, cover all CSI divisions, and meet AACE standards on every estimate. Most projects are delivered in 24 to 48 hours.
These are the four most common reasons NYC contractors lose bids, and money, every week.
Using incorrect NYC prevailing wage rates can either inflate your bid or make it too low, putting your chances of winning the project at risk.
Overlooking DOB compliance requirements, permits, and NYC-specific code items can lead to costly budget overruns and project delays.
Lengthy estimating processes can cause you to miss submission deadlines and lose valuable bidding opportunities.
When your estimating team is already at capacity, every project you can't bid on represents lost revenue and missed growth opportunities.
DFE Estimating eliminates all four — every NYC estimate is priced to current union labor rates, DOB-compliant, and delivered before your bid deadline.
A clear, four-step process built for the pace of New York construction.
Upload your plans, specifications, or DOB drawings through our secure portal. We accept PDF, Revit, CAD, and all major file formats.
Your dedicated NYC estimator reviews the project scope, verifies trade coverage, and contacts you within 2 hours if clarification is needed.
We perform detailed quantity takeoffs and apply current NYC union labor rates along with RSMeans zip-code-based material costs across all CSI divisions.
Receive a professionally formatted Excel estimate, itemized by CSI trade, priced to NYC market rates, audit-ready, and bid-ready within 24–48 hours.
Nine reasons every estimate from DFE wins more bids in the New York market.
From a single-family renovation in Staten Island to a 40-storey commercial tower in Manhattan, we estimate every project type across the five boroughs.
Single-family homes, multi-family buildings, and brownstone renovations across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Priced to current NYC residential labor and material rates.
Office fit-outs, retail builds, and mixed-use commercial projects across Manhattan and all NYC boroughs. Full scope with trade-by-trade cost breakdowns and bid package support.
Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centres in the New York metro area. Detailed industrial estimates covering structure, MEP, and site work.
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing estimates for NYC projects of all sizes. Priced to New York union trade rates with FastPIPE and FastDUCT for complete MEP accuracy.
Digital material quantity surveys from your NYC construction drawings. Every CSI division, every item counted and formatted in Excel — ready for direct supplier pricing.
5D BIM cost estimating directly from your Revit or CAD model — the most accurate estimating method available for complex NYC commercial and institutional projects.
From corner stores to skyscrapers — DFE Estimating covers every project type across all five NYC boroughs.
Built on 12 years of New York construction market experience, certified expertise, and a 100% on-time delivery record.
NYC construction experience
NYC projects estimated
Industry-standard estimating expertise and certified estimating practices
Fast estimate turnaround time
NYC pricing databases and industry-leading estimating software
Precision-focused estimates on every deliverable
Serving all five boroughs of New York City
Dedicated project team available whenever you need assistance
Other services NYC contractors frequently request alongside construction cost estimating.
Material counts for all CSI trades.
5D model-driven cost estimates.
Mechanical, electrical & plumbing.
Insurance restoration estimates.
Primavera P6 critical path schedules.
Construction estimating fees in New York City typically range from $250 to $3,000 depending on project size, scope, and trade complexity. A single-trade residential takeoff generally starts at $250 to $500. Full commercial cost estimates for mid-size NYC projects range from $800 to $2,500. Large-scale commercial or BIM-based estimates can exceed $3,000. DFE Estimating charges flat fees based on project scope with no hidden charges — contact us for a free quote based on your drawings.
Yes — DFE Estimating is headquartered in Staten Island, New York, and provides construction cost estimating services across all five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey. Our local presence means we understand NYC material costs, union labor rates, and DOB compliance requirements better than any national estimating firm. We are your local NYC estimating partner.
Construction costs in New York City vary significantly by project type and borough. Residential construction typically ranges from $200 to $550 per square foot for standard builds, rising to $700 to $1,500 for luxury residential. Commercial construction in Manhattan ranges from $350 to $1,200 per square foot depending on fit-out level and building type. Industrial and warehouse construction generally runs $150 to $300 per square foot. DFE Estimating provides precise, borough-specific cost estimates using current NYC market pricing.
Most construction cost estimates for New York City projects are completed and delivered within 24 to 48 hours of receiving your plans. Single-trade residential takeoffs are often delivered within 24 hours. Complex commercial estimates involving multiple trades, MEP coordination, or BIM modelling may take 3 to 5 business days. Rush delivery within 8 to 12 hours is available for urgent NYC bid deadlines. DFE has maintained a 100% on-time delivery record for all client bid deadlines.
Yes — this is one of DFE Estimating’s core differentiators in the New York City market. Every estimate we produce for NYC projects is priced using current prevailing wage schedules and NYC union labor rates by trade, sourced from RSMeans and updated quarterly. This ensures your bid reflects the real cost of construction in New York — not national averages that are typically 30 to 50% lower than actual NYC labor costs.
Yes. DFE Estimating regularly prepares preliminary and budget estimates from schematic drawings, design development documents, conceptual sketches, and partial construction sets. We clearly document all assumptions made for incomplete scope areas and flag items requiring design confirmation as drawings progress. This type of early-stage NYC construction estimating is one of our most frequently requested services, particularly from developers and architects during pre-construction planning and feasibility analysis.
DFE Estimating covers every type of construction project in New York City — single-family and multi-family residential, commercial office buildings, retail fit-outs, mixed-use developments, healthcare facilities, schools, government buildings, industrial facilities, infrastructure projects, and renovation and restoration work. We cover all project sizes from $50,000 residential renovations to $500 million commercial developments, and serve general contractors, subcontractors, developers, architects, and project owners across all five boroughs.
DFE Estimating uses industry-leading tools including RSMeans (for NYC zip-code-based cost data), PlanSwift and Bluebeam (for digital takeoffs from construction drawings), Xactimate (for insurance restoration estimates), FastPIPE and FastDUCT (for mechanical and HVAC estimates), and Trimble (for quantity surveying). Our team is AACE-certified and trained in all of these platforms. Every estimate is delivered in Excel format, organised by CSI division, and formatted to attach directly to your bid submission.
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.
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