Template · Architecture
Construction cost estimate by CSI division
Preliminary cost estimate by CSI MasterFormat 2018 division, with general conditions, OH&P, contingency and escalation.
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XLSXCSVODSXMLNumbers| Construction cost estimate by CSI MasterFormat division | |||||||||
| Example data — replace the blue input cells with your own. Unit rates are illustrative, not current market prices. | |||||||||
| Item | CSI division (MasterFormat 2018) | Description | Quantity | Unit | Material rate (USD per unit) | Labour rate (USD per unit) | Material cost (USD) | Labour cost (USD) | Total cost (USD) |
| 01-01 | 01 General Requirements | Site management, supervision and temporary facilities (lump sum) | 1 | LS | $165,000.00 | $0.00 | $165,000 | $0 | $165,000 |
| 01-02 | 01 General Requirements | Insurance, bonds and permits (lump sum) | 1 | LS | $42,000.00 | $0.00 | $42,000 | $0 | $42,000 |
| 02-01 | 02 Existing Conditions | Strip and remove existing surfaces | 300 | m² | $0.00 | $14.00 | $0 | $4,200 | $4,200 |
| 03-01 | 03 Concrete | Strip footings, reinforced | 70 | m³ | $170.00 | $95.00 | $11,900 | $6,650 | $18,550 |
| 03-02 | 03 Concrete | Ground-floor slab, 150 mm | 600 | m² | $32.00 | $24.00 | $19,200 | $14,400 | $33,600 |
| 03-03 | 03 Concrete | Suspended floor slab, 200 mm | 600 | m² | $70.00 | $48.00 | $42,000 | $28,800 | $70,800 |
| 03-04 | 03 Concrete | Reinforcing steel, supplied and fixed | 22 | t | $1,450.00 | $380.00 | $31,900 | $8,360 | $40,260 |
| 04-01 | 04 Masonry | Exterior masonry, 200 mm block | 380 | m² | $58.00 | $62.00 | $22,040 | $23,560 | $45,600 |
| 04-02 | 04 Masonry | Masonry lintels and accessories (lump sum) | 1 | LS | $14,000.00 | $6,000.00 | $14,000 | $6,000 | $20,000 |
| 05-01 | 05 Metals | Structural steel frame, supplied and erected | 38 | t | $2,650.00 | $980.00 | $100,700 | $37,240 | $137,940 |
| 05-02 | 05 Metals | Steel stair, one flight | 2 | ea | $9,800.00 | $3,200.00 | $19,600 | $6,400 | $26,000 |
| 05-03 | 05 Metals | Guardrails and handrails | 60 | m | $180.00 | $140.00 | $10,800 | $8,400 | $19,200 |
Showing the first 16 of 65 rows and 10 of 10 columns. Cells with formulas show the formula on hover.
| Cost by CSI MasterFormat 2018 division | ||||||
| Totals are calculated from the Estimate tab. Divisions with no items do not appear. | ||||||
| Division | Items | Direct cost (USD) | Share of direct cost | Material (USD) | Labour (USD) | Cost per m² of floor area (USD) |
| 01 General Requirements | 2 | $207,000 | 9.5% | $207,000 | $0 | $173 |
| 02 Existing Conditions | 1 | $4,200 | 0.2% | $0 | $4,200 | $4 |
| 03 Concrete | 4 | $163,210 | 7.5% | $105,000 | $58,210 | $136 |
| 04 Masonry | 2 | $65,600 | 3.0% | $36,040 | $29,560 | $55 |
| 05 Metals | 3 | $183,140 | 8.4% | $131,100 | $52,040 | $153 |
| 06 Wood, Plastics, and Composites | 2 | $67,500 | 3.1% | $45,900 | $21,600 | $56 |
| 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection | 5 | $101,640 | 4.7% | $66,320 | $35,320 | $85 |
| 08 Openings | 4 | $168,160 | 7.7% | $106,640 | $61,520 | $140 |
| 09 Finishes | 6 | $132,760 | 6.1% | $68,840 | $63,920 | $111 |
| 10 Specialties | 4 | $27,800 | 1.3% | $21,400 | $6,400 | $23 |
| 11 Equipment | 1 | $100,000 | 4.6% | $85,000 | $15,000 | $83 |
| 12 Furnishings | 2 | $74,140 | 3.4% | $72,820 | $1,320 | $62 |
Showing the first 16 of 28 rows and 7 of 7 columns. Cells with formulas show the formula on hover.
| Cost build-up: markups, contingency and escalation | ||
| Example data — replace the blue input cells with your own. Markup rates are illustrative; use your own contract terms. | ||
| Project | ||
| Gross floor area (m²) | 1,200 | |
| Direct cost, all divisions (USD) | $2,184,330 | |
| Markups, applied in sequence | ||
| General conditions and site overhead (% of direct cost) | 8.0% | Site management, temporary works, insurance carried by the contractor |
| General conditions (USD) | $174,746 | |
| Subtotal after general conditions (USD) | $2,359,076 | |
| Overhead and profit, OH&P (% of subtotal) | 10.0% | Head office overhead and contractor profit |
| Overhead and profit (USD) | $235,908 | |
| Subtotal after OH&P (USD) | $2,594,984 | |
| Contingency (% of subtotal) | 5.0% | Allowance for unknowns at this stage of design |
| Contingency (USD) | $129,749 | |
| Subtotal before escalation (USD) | $2,724,733 |
Showing the first 16 of 27 rows and 3 of 3 columns. Cells with formulas show the formula on hover.
| Construction cost estimate by CSI division |
| Notes: what this workbook does, how to use it and the method behind it. |
| What it does |
| A preliminary cost estimate for an example two-storey building of about 1,200 m². Line items are grouped by CSI MasterFormat 2018 division. Each line has a quantity, unit, material and labour rate. The division summary and the markup build… |
| How to use it |
| 1. On the Estimate tab, replace the example items with your own quantities and rates. Use the division list in column B. |
| 2. Enter lump sums as quantity 1 with unit LS, and put the amount in the material rate column. |
| 3. Check the Divisions tab. It totals the direct cost by division and gives each division's share and cost per square metre. |
| 4. On the Markups tab, set the floor area and the general conditions, OH&P, contingency and escalation rates for your project. |
| 5. Read the total estimated cost and the cost per square metre. Check that the division check says OK. |
| Formulas and method |
| Division labels follow CSI MasterFormat 2018 (Level 2 titles). Only the divisions used in this example appear on the Divisions tab. |
| Material cost = quantity × material rate; labour cost = quantity × labour rate; total = material + labour. |
Showing the first 16 of 32 rows and 1 of 1 columns. Cells with formulas show the formula on hover.
About this template
This preliminary cost estimate is built for a fictional two-storey building of about 1,200 square metres. Line items sit under CSI MasterFormat 2018 divisions, from 01 General Requirements to 33 Utilities. Each line has a quantity, a unit, a material rate and a labour rate. The unit costs are illustrative and are not market prices.
The Divisions tab totals the direct cost by division, with each division's share, its material and labour split, and its cost per square metre. The Markups tab then applies general conditions, overhead and profit, contingency and escalation in sequence, and reports the total estimated cost and the cost per square metre.
Use it to see how a budget builds up, to test the effect of a markup or an escalation rate, or to set up your own estimate in a consistent format. Replace the rates with current local pricing and quantities from your drawings before you rely on the total.
What’s inside
- Line items grouped by CSI MasterFormat 2018 division, using the published division titles
- Material cost, labour cost and total cost per line from quantity × rate
- Divisions tab totals direct cost, share, material and labour by division, with cost per m²
- Markups applied in sequence: general conditions, OH&P, contingency, then escalation
- Escalation = subtotal × ((1 + rate) ^ years − 1), with the total cost per m² of floor area
Tabs
| Tab | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Estimate | Line items with CSI division, quantity, unit, material and labour rates, and material, labour and total cost. |
| Divisions | Direct cost by CSI MasterFormat 2018 division, with item counts, shares, material and labour, and cost per m². |
| Markups | Floor area, markup sequence (general conditions, OH&P, contingency, escalation), total cost and cost per m². |
| Notes | What the workbook does, how to use it, the method, the assumptions and the professional-verification note. |
How to use it
- On the Estimate tab, replace the example items with your own quantities and rates.
- Choose each item's CSI division from the list in column B.
- Enter lump sums as quantity 1 with the unit LS and the amount in the material rate column.
- On the Markups tab, set the floor area and your general conditions, OH&P, contingency and escalation.
- Read the total estimated cost and the cost per square metre, and confirm the division check says OK.
Good for
- Preparing an early budget for a small commercial building
- Comparing the effect of contingency and escalation on a project total
- Showing a client where the cost sits by CSI division
- Setting up a consistent estimate format for a team
Questions about this sheet
Are the rates current prices?
No. The rates are illustrative values for a fictional building. Replace them with current local quotations or cost data before using the total.
Why does the Divisions tab list only some divisions?
It lists the divisions used in the estimate, in MasterFormat order. A division with no items does not appear, so add items to a division to show it.
How is escalation calculated?
Escalation is the subtotal before escalation multiplied by ((1 + rate) to the power of years − 1). Years run from the estimate date to the midpoint of construction.
Does the estimate include soft costs?
No. Professional fees, land, financing, taxes and owner costs are outside this sheet and need adding separately.