Electrical Estimating & Bidding Software
Electrical bids live or die on takeoff detail. Two jobs with identical square footage can differ by thousands depending on circuit count, panel capacity, and how far the wire has to run. Pro Spec IQ gives electrical contractors inputs built for that reality instead of a generic cost box.
What Pro Spec IQ tracks on a electrical bid
Beyond material, labor, and equipment, electrical bids get inputs specific to the trade:
Number of Circuits
circuitsTotal circuits to install or modify
Panel Upgrades
panelsNumber of electrical panels to upgrade
Wire Footage
linear ftTotal linear feet of wire needed
Fixture Count
fixturesNumber of fixtures to install
Conduit Footage
linear ftLinear feet of conduit
Starting markups for electrical
10%
Overhead
18%
Profit
5%
Contingency
These are editable defaults, not fixed rates. Set them per bid to match your own cost structure and the risk on the job.
What drives cost on electrical work
- Circuit count and home-run distances, which drive both wire and labor hours
- Panel work — whether you're adding breakers, upgrading a service, or setting a new panel
- Fixture and device counts, including trim-out labor that's easy to underestimate
- Conduit footage and the method required (EMT, PVC, MC) for the occupancy type
- Permit and inspection requirements, which vary widely by jurisdiction
Where these estimates go wrong
- Pricing wire by the spool instead of by measured run, then absorbing the overage
- Forgetting that trim-out is a second mobilization with its own labor hours
- Treating the panel as a single line item when a service upgrade carries utility coordination
- Leaving permit and inspection time out of the labor number entirely
Electrical estimating questions
How do you estimate an electrical job?
Start with a takeoff: count circuits, devices, and fixtures, and measure wire and conduit runs. Price material from those counts, then apply your labor rate to the hours each assembly requires. Add equipment, permits, and inspection time, then layer overhead, profit, and contingency on the subtotal. Pro Spec IQ structures the estimate in that order so nothing gets skipped.
What overhead and profit should an electrical contractor use?
It depends on your fixed costs, your market, and how much risk the job carries. Pro Spec IQ starts electrical bids at 10% overhead, 18% profit, and 5% contingency as an editable starting point — every one of those is a field you set per bid, not a fixed rule.
Can I bid electrical work as a subcontractor to a GC?
Yes. Trade accounts are built for scope bidding — you estimate your portion, submit it, and track it through to the job. General contractor accounts work the other way around, combining multiple trade scopes into one project bid.
Build your next electrical bid in Pro Spec IQ
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