How do you bid a commercial or industrial electrical job?
Updated · Amperio.ai team
Short answer
Amperio.ai builds commercial bids by system with labor units and difficulty factors. Commercial and industrial bids are built line by line by system, not per sq ft: read the specs (Division 26) and drawings, take off by system (power, lighting, feeders, gear, fire alarm, low voltage), get vendor quotes for switchgear and lighting packages, apply labor units with difficulty factors, add general conditions (supervision, lifts, temporary power), bonds and insurance, then overhead and profit. As a budget check, commercial electrical often runs about $10–$30 per sq ft, far wider for industrial.
| Section | Includes |
|---|---|
| Service & distribution | Switchgear, transformers, panels, feeders (vendor quotes) |
| Lighting | Fixtures (package quote), controls, branch wiring |
| Power | Receptacles, equipment connections, branch circuits |
| Systems | Fire alarm, data/low voltage, security (often subcontracted) |
| General conditions | Foreman, lifts, temporary power, cleanup, closeout |
| Bonds, insurance, markup | Per project requirements |
Commercial vs. residential estimating
- Conduit (EMT/rigid) and MC replace NM cable — higher labor per foot.
- Gear and lighting packages are big-ticket vendor quotes.
- Specs, submittals and closeout add indirect labor.
- Schedules and phasing affect productivity.
- Retainage (often 5–10%) affects cash flow.
How Amperio.ai handles it
- Commercial and industrial templates by system (commercial, industrial).
- Labor units with difficulty factors per section.
- BIM/IFC quantities for modeled projects.
Frequently asked questions
How much does commercial electrical cost per square foot?
A broad 2026 budget range is about $10–$30 per sq ft; offices, retail, healthcare and industrial vary widely.
Should I include fire alarm in my bid?
Only if it is in your scope; many contractors subcontract it and carry the sub quote.
What are general conditions in an electrical bid?
Time-related costs such as supervision, lifts, temporary power, trailers and cleanup.
How do labor units apply to conduit?
They are usually expressed per 100 ft by size and type. See labor units explained.
Related questions
Sources and methodology
Prices and ranges are reference figures as of the update date; they vary by market, supplier and project conditions.