HVAC Estimating & Bidding Software
HVAC bids combine a big equipment line with highly variable ductwork and labor. The equipment is the easy part to price and the hard part to margin — the money is usually made or lost on duct runs, access, and commissioning. Pro Spec IQ keeps equipment and installation separate so you can see both.
What Pro Spec IQ tracks on a hvac bid
Beyond material, labor, and equipment, hvac bids get inputs specific to the trade:
System Tonnage
tonsTotal HVAC tonnage capacity
Ductwork Footage
linear ftTotal linear feet of ductwork
Vent / Register Count
ventsNumber of vents and registers
Unit Count
unitsNumber of HVAC units to install
Refrigerant Line Sets
setsNumber of refrigerant line sets
Starting markups for hvac
12%
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 hvac work
- System tonnage and equipment selection, typically the largest single line
- Duct footage and configuration, including whether existing duct can be reused
- Register and return counts, which drive both material and balancing labor
- Refrigerant line length and any required lineset replacement
- Access difficulty — attic, crawlspace, and rooftop installs carry very different labor
Where these estimates go wrong
- Passing equipment through at cost and losing margin on the largest line on the bid
- Assuming existing ductwork is reusable before inspecting it
- Leaving commissioning and airflow balancing out of the labor number
- Not accounting for crane or lift time on rooftop units
HVAC estimating questions
How do you estimate an HVAC installation?
Size the system first, then price equipment, ductwork, linesets, and registers as separate lines. Apply labor hours to installation and commissioning, add permits and any lift or crane cost, then apply overhead, profit, and contingency. Pro Spec IQ tracks tonnage, duct footage, and register counts as distinct inputs.
Should equipment carry the same markup as labor?
Many contractors mark equipment differently from labor, since a pass-through price on a large equipment line can quietly erase the margin on the whole job. Pro Spec IQ applies overhead and profit to the full subtotal by default, and every percentage is editable per bid.
What defaults does the HVAC estimator start with?
HVAC bids start at 12% overhead, 18% profit, and 5% contingency. Those are starting points you adjust — not fixed values.
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