You take a lot of time to create your estimate. You send it out. Once you make the change in material cost or labor is running over you are losing your margin before the job is even finished. That’s not an inability to do a skill. That’s a problem with the tools.
With the correct plumbing estimating software, you can have precise material takeoffs, dependable labor estimates and professional bids sent within minutes, rather than hours! Not all tools are made to suit every business, however. Whereas a commercial contractor bidding a rough-in for a multi-story job will look at things differently than a single plumber looking at a bathroom job.
This article discusses the 7 most popular plumbing estimating software packages so you can find the one that will work for you!
What Plumbing Estimating Software Does
Plumbing estimating software saves time on the three most time consuming aspects of a plumbing bid: counting materials off plans, estimating the labor and making a final bid. The software automates calculations of pipe runs, current material pricing, and creates a professional quote for your customer to sign off on, rather than using a spreadsheet and manually tracing pipe runs.
The prices of plumbing materials have increased by an average of 30% since 2020. This is a huge change that could wipe out $500 in profit you thought you were making on the $10,000 purchase. People cannot price handcrafted products in a weekly fashion. The right plumbing estimation software will help you stay up to date on your numbers and your margins are safe.
Here’s a perfect list of the seven industry’s top tools.
1. PlanSwift
Best for: Small to mid-size contractors doing plan-based takeoffs
PlanSwift is a digital takeoff application based on blueprints. A plan is opened within the software, and pipe runs are dropped and PlanSwift counts the number of linear feet, calculates the number of fixtures, and automatically determines the quantity of materials. It supports point-and-click fixture counting, linear pipe measurement for supply drain and waste lines as well as supports the creation of custom assemblies to be used for job types that you bid repeatedly.
The output will be sent to Excel for completing the pricing in a familiar format. It costs $1749 for a one-time purchase and has a 14-day free trial.
2. Bluebeam Revu
Best for: Commercial teams that need document control and plan collaboration
Bluebeam Revu is not an estimating tool per se. A PDF markup & collaboration solution used by plumbing & mechanical teams, in conjunction with their plumbing estimating software. It is used for drawing up documents and adding measurements to drawings when they are being shared with the general contractor, the architect, and other trades on a project. It is called the redline plans.
For existing estimating software users who require improved document management and plan review on commercial projects, Bluebeam seamlessly steps in. If you’re in need of something to take care of real material expenses or structure bids, you will need some other tool.
3. RS Means
Best for: Contractors who need reliable labor and material cost benchmarks
RS Means is a construction cost database. There’s a difference between software that you use to take off a plan and one of the most trusted sources of labor and material cost data in the industry. Cost is listed by trade, and is updated by region to allow you to see how much a plumbing job should cost in your area.
If you don’t have the latest cost information in your estimating software, RS Means can do that. It can also be helpful if you are bidding on a new market or just want to check to see if you are competitive with the other people bidding.
4. Trimble Accubid
Best for: Established commercial plumbing teams with complex project scope
Trimble Accubid is one of the oldest companies around for commercial plumbing estimating software. It contains deep pipe and fixture libraries, audit-grade change tracking that records each change made to a bid with a reason and time stamp, and includes labor unit integration from the supplier of your choice with PHCC, which supplies change tracking, change log, and change history for the supplier’s labor units.
Several estimators can be working on the same job simultaneously and the platform can be integrated with Trimble’s larger mechanical product suite for contractors who model in 3D for BIM. In large commercial projects, when it is important to have details for bids and understanding after the award, Accubid is constructed for this level of detail.
The compromises are a reality. Trimble Accubid costs anywhere from $3,000 per seat per year and it takes between four and eight weeks for an estimator to be productive. It’s enterprise software, and only works and makes sense on large projects, not service plumbing or small residential projects.
5. FastPIPE and FastDUCT
Best for: Industrial pipe and mechanical duct contractors
FastPIPE and FastDUCT are contractor-specific, special programs designed for contractors who do heavy commercial and industrial mechanical work. FastPIPE is dedicated to pipe takeoff at scale including spool drawings, weld count, specialty materials (stainless steel pipe and alloy pipe) and ASME standard fittings. FastDUCT also performs the same for sheet metal ductwork such as square footage calculations and fitting counts for commercial HVAC systems.
The disadvantages are that these, such as FastPIPE and FastDUCT, are too expensive for residential or service plumbing applications. The interface is old-fashioned, or has a steep learning curve.
The price is $2,000-$7,490 based on modules. These are mechanical contractors’ tools for bidding on complex industrial projects. If you are a service plumber pricing repairs they are the wrong ones to have as they are not the right guys.
6. Xactimate
Best for: Plumbing contractors doing insurance restoration work
In the insurance restoration area, Xactimate is the leading estimating software. In all cases of water damage repair and flood remediation projects, or any plumbing associated with an insurance claim, you will almost certainly have to submit in Xactimate format, as this is what insurance adjusters and carriers are looking for.
It has its own pricing database which is updated regularly by Verisk, and it formats bids in the line-item structure that insurance companies are looking for. Restoration companies that do not use Xactimate waste hours trying to reformat their bids to fit what an adjuster requires or they would be at risk of losing contracts to other restoration companies that already use Xactimate.
7. STACK and ProEst
Best for: Mid-size to large plumbing companies with distributed estimating teams
STACK is a cloud-based takeoff and estimating solution designed for teams working collaboratively from various locations to bid on projects. Several estimators can be on the same project working simultaneously and it connects with big accounting software such as QuickBooks. ProEst is an in-depth Cost Management and Bid Tracking solution that sits on top of STACK’s Takeoff workflow with Proposal Management and Reporting capabilities.
In combination, they help plumbing and construction firms implement a completely cloud-based estimating process, without requiring desktop software to maintain. The cost of STACK’s collaboration features and integrations with accounting tools add up quickly for growing teams, but the $2,999 per user per year price tag is justified when companies have a lot of active bids happening at once.
Which Tool Fits Which Contractor
| Tool | Best For | Starts At |
| PlanSwift | Small contractors doing plan takeoffs | $1,749 one-time |
| Bluebeam Revu | Commercial document control and markup | $350/year |
| RS Means | Labor and material cost benchmarking | Subscription based |
| Trimble Accubid | Large commercial plumbing teams | $3,000/seat/year |
| FastPIPE / FastDUCT | Industrial pipe and duct contractors | $2,000+/year |
| Xactimate | Insurance restoration plumbers | Subscription based |
| STACK and ProEst | Distributed estimating teams | $2,999/user/year |
The Role of Plumbing Estimating Services
There are many contractors that have software used internally and some out there that work with professional plumbing estimating services.
These services use professional estimators and cutting-edge software to generate precise estimates. For contractors, outsourcing estimating can help them focus on the project execution while keeping an eye on the cost competitiveness.
Businesses with limited time can benefit from professional estimating services for added flexibility and expertise.
Conclusion
The construction industry is constantly changing and even estimating isn’t getting left behind. Contemporary Plumbing Estimating Software can assist pipefitters save time, increase accuracy and help them craft more competitive bids.
There are solutions available to plumbing professionals that each have their own unique advantages, including PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu RSMeans, Trimble Accubid and FastPIPE and Xactimate STACK and ProEst. The selection of the platform depends on various factors such as the workflow preferences, business goals, and project requirements.
If a business can invest in the correct Plumbing Estimating Software, they can enhance the performance of their business, cut down on the pricey errors, and set themselves for a long and prosperous tenure. These can be utilized by themselves or in combination with Plumbing Estimating Services and they give a better start to successful and profitable project delivery.