Construction bid template
A construction bid sheet presents your price to the owner or GC by scope item, with what is included, what is excluded, and any alternates. Download this template as a CSV or print it.
A construction bid template is the price breakdown you send to the owner or general contractor: each scope item with its amount, plus clear inclusions, exclusions, and alternates, and a total. It is built from your estimate but written for the reader on the other side of the table. The free template below gives you a clean, consistent bid sheet so the reviewer can compare your number to the others without calling you to ask what is in it.
When a GC levels bids, the lowest number does not always win. The bid that is easiest to compare, with a clear scope and no surprises in the exclusions, often gets the call. If the reviewer has to guess what you left out, your bid gets marked up in their spreadsheet.
What the bid sheet is for
The bid sheet summarizes your estimate into the format the invitation to bid or bid package asks for. Public jobs and many private ones require their own bid form; in that case, fill in the required form exactly and use this sheet as your backup and as the scope letter. On negotiated or private work, this sheet can be the bid itself.
How to fill in each column
- Line: a number for each scope item, matching the bid package breakdown if one is given.
- Scope item: the work, described the way the owner or GC organized it.
- Spec or drawing reference: shows you priced from the documents, and which ones.
- Included: a short note of what the price covers, such as "labor, material, equipment, cleanup."
- Excluded: what is not in the price. Be specific: "Permits by owner" is clear, "Permits" is not.
- Amount: your price for that line.
- Type: base bid, alternate, allowance, or unit price, so the totals add up correctly.
Common bid mistakes
- Not acknowledging all addenda, so the price is based on old documents.
- Exclusions so broad they make the bid impossible to compare, like "anything not shown."
- Mixing alternates into the base bid total.
- Forgetting bond cost, permit fees, or sales tax when the bid documents put them on the bidder.
- Sending the bid without a validity period, then being held to it after material prices move.
Related forms and guides
Read how to build a construction bid that wins and how to write bid clarifications and exclusions. If you are on the GC side comparing sub bids, use the bid leveling template. Before you bid at all, how to decide which construction jobs to bid can save the estimating hours.
When a bid is won, Smart Business Automator carries the scope, price, and cost codes into the new project so the team starts from what was sold. See estimate to project handoff automation.
Construction bid sheet
| Line | Scope item | Spec or drawing reference | Included | Excluded | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General conditions and supervision (10 weeks) | Div 01 | Superintendent, temp facilities, dumpster, final clean | Builder's risk insurance (by owner) | 38,500.00 | Base bid |
| 2 | Demolition | D-101 | Interior demo as shown, haul-off | Hazardous material abatement | 14,200.00 | Base bid |
| 3 | Framing, drywall, and ceilings | A-101, A-501, 09 21 16 | Metal stud, 5/8 drywall, ACT ceilings | Fire caulking at rated walls by others | 96,400.00 | Base bid |
| 4 | Doors, frames, and hardware | A-601, 08 11 13, 08 71 00 | Furnish and install per hardware schedule | Access control wiring | 27,800.00 | Base bid |
| 5 | Flooring allowance | 09 65 00 | Allowance for owner-selected flooring, installed | Amounts over allowance | 22,000.00 | Allowance |
| 6 | Alternate 1: upgrade lobby tile to 24x48 porcelain | ALT-1, A-602 | Material and labor difference | 6,850.00 | Alternate (add) |
- Sample data only. Amounts are made up for illustration.
- Total the base bid and allowances separately from alternates.
- Add a header with project name, bid date, bidder name and license number, addenda acknowledged, and bid validity period.
- If the bid documents include a required bid form, fill that form in exactly and attach this sheet as a scope breakdown.
- Keep exclusions specific so the reviewer can compare bids line for line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bid and an estimate?
The estimate is your internal cost build with quantities and unit costs. The bid is the price and scope you send to the owner or GC, summarized from the estimate.
What should a construction bid include?
Scope breakdown with amounts, inclusions, exclusions, alternates and allowances shown separately, addenda acknowledged, validity period, and any bond or license details the bid documents require.
Can I use this bid template for public projects?
Use the agency's required bid form for the actual submission. This sheet works as the backup breakdown and scope letter, if the agency allows attachments.
Can I use this bid template in Excel?
Yes. Download the CSV and open it in Excel or Google Sheets, then add totals for base bid and alternates.
