Electrical bids lose money in the scope nobody counted: equipment connections hidden on the mechanical drawings, site lighting on the civil sheets, an addendum that changed the fixture schedule, temporary power nobody priced. A takeoff checklist will not replace an estimator's judgment or your labor units, but it makes sure every system has been looked at before anyone starts pricing. Use the one below as a starting point and add to it every time a job teaches you something.
What Should You Review Before Counting?
- The full drawing set, not just the electrical sheets. Architectural, mechanical, plumbing, civil and landscape drawings often carry electrical scope.
- The specifications. On commercial work organized by MasterFormat, electrical work usually sits in Division 26 (Electrical), with related scope in Division 27 (Communications), Division 28 (Electronic Safety and Security) and Division 33 (Utilities).
- Every addendum, logged and read before you count, not after.
- The bid form and scope of work, including alternates, unit prices and anything the general contractor's scope sheet assigns to you.
- Owner-furnished and other-trade equipment you will need to connect.
- Site conditions and phasing, especially on renovation work, where existing conditions and occupied areas change the labor.
- The schedule, because duration drives supervision, temporary power and general conditions.
Write down the questions you find as you go. They become your RFIs, and the answers that never come become your clarifications.
Service and Distribution
- Utility service scope: what the utility provides and what you provide
- Switchboards, switchgear and main disconnects
- Panelboards, with sizes and locations from the schedules
- Transformers
- Feeders, measured along their real routing rather than straight lines
- Grounding and bonding materials shown on the drawings
- Metering
- Generators, transfer switches and surge protection, if they are in your scope
Branch Circuits and Devices
- Receptacles by type, including dedicated and special-purpose outlets
- Switches, dimmers and other wall devices
- Boxes, plates and supports
- Home runs and branch circuits, using the panel schedules
- Conduit and wire, or cable, by type as the specifications require
- Floor boxes, poke-throughs and furniture feeds
Lighting and Lighting Controls
- Fixtures by type from the fixture schedule, checked against the reflected ceiling plans
- Emergency and exit fixtures
- Lighting controls: occupancy sensors, daylight sensors, dimming and control panels
- Site lighting: poles, bases, fixtures and their circuits
- Any fixture packages the owner buys and you install
Equipment Connections
- Mechanical equipment from the mechanical schedules: rooftop units, air handlers, fans, pumps, condensing units
- Plumbing equipment: water heaters, pumps, controls
- Kitchen and laundry equipment
- Elevators, doors, gates and other specialties
- Owner and tenant equipment
- Disconnects and starters, and who provides each
This section is easy to miss, because the information lives on other trades' drawings. Cross-check every equipment schedule in the set.
Low Voltage and Systems
- Telecommunications pathways and cabling, if in your scope
- Fire alarm devices, panels and wiring, if in your scope
- Security, access control and cameras
- Audio-visual, nurse call or other specialty systems
Confirm which of these are yours, which are owner-direct and which belong to a specialty subcontractor. Write the answer into your clarifications.
Site, Underground and Temporary Power
- Trenching, backfill and duct banks
- Underground conduit for site lighting, signage and utilities
- Pole bases and pull boxes
- Temporary power and lighting during construction
- Demolition, make-safe and reconnection on renovation work
General Conditions and Indirect Costs
- Supervision and project management for the duration
- Lifts, scaffolding and equipment rental
- Permit and inspection fees, where your contract makes them yours
- Testing, commissioning support and training
- As-builts, closeout documents and attic stock
- Travel, parking and small tools
How Do You Check the Takeoff Before Pricing?
- Second review. Have someone other than the person who counted check the scope against this list.
- Compare with past jobs. Check your totals against similar completed projects, such as cost per square foot or fixtures per square foot. A large difference is a question, not necessarily an error.
- Confirm addenda. Make sure every addendum is reflected in the quantities.
- Finish the clarifications. List exclusions and assumptions specific to this job, not a boilerplate page.
- Send the RFIs early, so the answers arrive before the bid is due.
Who Should Do the Counting?
Counting takes up much of the time in an electrical estimate, and it does not need to be done by the person who sets the price. A remote estimator can produce the takeoff and the pricing build-up for your review, and a bid coordinator can keep invitations, documents and addenda organized so nothing arrives late. See how we work with electrical contractors, and read what it costs to hire a construction estimator or outsourced estimating or a dedicated remote estimator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an electrical takeoff?
An electrical takeoff is the count and measurement of everything an electrical contractor will install on a project: equipment, devices, fixtures, conduit, wire and accessories, taken from the drawings and specifications. It is the basis for pricing material and labor.
What is easy to miss in an electrical takeoff?
Equipment connections shown on mechanical, plumbing or kitchen drawings, site lighting and underground work on civil sheets, addendum changes, temporary power, and scope assigned by the general contractor's scope sheet rather than the electrical drawings.
Which specification divisions cover electrical work?
In MasterFormat, electrical work is mainly Division 26 (Electrical), with related scope in Division 27 (Communications), Division 28 (Electronic Safety and Security) and Division 33 (Utilities). Check the project's table of contents, because organization varies.
How long does an electrical takeoff take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the project, the quality of the drawings and the software used. Track how long your own takeoffs take by project type, and you will have a better planning number than any general rule.
Can a remote estimator do electrical takeoffs?
Yes. Takeoffs are done on digital drawings in takeoff and estimating software. A remote estimator works in your software, using your labor units and pricing, under access you control.
How quickly can we add someone?
Within a maximum of approximately two weeks we can normally present two to three pre-screened candidates who meet the requirements of the position and are ready to be interviewed. The final hiring time depends mainly on how quickly your own evaluation and decision process moves.
Sources
- MasterFormat csiresources.org
