Demolition Contractor Estimate Template
A demolition contractor estimate forecasts the price before work starts: 8 lines for tear down a 600 sq ft detached garage with a concrete slab and haul all debris away, totalling $9,090.00, with equipment the largest share (41%). It states its assumptions and stays valid for 30 days. Edit the lines and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a demolition contractor: tear down a 600 sq ft detached garage with a concrete slab and haul all debris away. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Riverside Demolition
789 Market Street
Fairview, OR 97024
billing@example.com
(512) 555-0189
Estimate
Prepared for
Sam Patel
14 Elm Street
Springfield, IL 62704
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition permit and utility disconnect coordination | 1 each | $350.00 | $350.00 |
| Pre-demolition asbestos survey, by licensed inspectorRoof, siding and floor samples sent to lab | 1 each | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Mechanical demolition of garage structureExcavator with thumb and operator | 1 day | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Labor crew for hand demolition and sortingThree laborers separating metal, wood and concrete | 24 hr | $55.00 | $1,320.00 |
| Slab break-out, 4-inch concrete | 600 sq ft | $3.50 | $2,100.00 |
| Roll-off container, 30-yard, mixed debris | 3 each | $650.00 | $1,950.00 |
| Clean concrete haul to recycler | 2 load | $320.00 | $640.00 |
| Site grading and seed after removal | 600 sq ft | $0.80 | $480.00 |
- Subtotal
- $9,090.00
- Estimate total
- $9,090.00
Notes
A demolition estimate should list what comes down and what stays, whether the slab and footings are included, how many loads are assumed and who pays if hazardous material turns up.
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Demolition Contractor estimate at a glance
| Scope estimated | Tear down a 600 sq ft detached garage with a concrete slab and haul all debris away |
|---|---|
| Estimate total | $9,090.00 before tax |
| Valid for | 30 days from the estimate date |
| Deposit | A deposit covering the permit, survey and first containers is common, since those costs are paid before the machine arrives. |
| Equipment (2 lines) | $3,750.00, 41% |
| Labour (2 lines) | $3,420.00, 38% |
| Services (2 lines) | $930.00, 10% |
| Priced in | project |
Estimate breakdown for tear down a 600 sq ft detached garage with a concrete slab and haul all debris away
| Item | Type | Est. quantity | Est. amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition permit and utility disconnect coordination | Fees | 1 each | $350.00 |
| Pre-demolition asbestos survey, by licensed inspector | Services | 1 each | $450.00 |
| Mechanical demolition of garage structure | Equipment | 1 day | $1,800.00 |
| Labor crew for hand demolition and sorting | Labour | 24 hr | $1,320.00 |
| Slab break-out, 4-inch concrete | Labour | 600 sq ft | $2,100.00 |
| Roll-off container, 30-yard, mixed debris | Equipment | 3 each | $1,950.00 |
| Clean concrete haul to recycler | Travel | 2 load | $640.00 |
| Site grading and seed after removal | Services | 600 sq ft | $480.00 |
| Estimated total | $9,090.00 |
What to write on a demolition contractor estimate
A demolition estimate should list what comes down and what stays, whether the slab and footings are included, how many loads are assumed and who pays if hazardous material turns up.
This estimate has no material lines: 38% of it is labour, so the hours are the number to explain.
Usually prices a lump sum for the structure or interior strip-out, built from crew days, machine time and the number of dumpster or truck loads hauled to the landfill.
Assumptions behind each line
Write these next to the 8 lines so the customer sees what the $9,090.00 depends on.
- Demolition permit and utility disconnect coordination: a flat $350.00.
- Pre-demolition asbestos survey, by licensed inspector: 1 each, $450.00.
- Mechanical demolition of garage structure: 1 day of hire ($1,800.00); longer hire is extra.
- Labor crew for hand demolition and sorting: 24 hr at $55.00 per hr ($1,320.00); extra hr at the same rate.
- Slab break-out, 4-inch concrete: 600 sq ft at $3.50 per sq ft ($2,100.00); extra sq ft at the same rate.
- Roll-off container, 30-yard, mixed debris: 3 each of hire ($1,950.00); longer hire is extra.
- Clean concrete haul to recycler: 2 load ($640.00), assuming the site at 14 Elm Street.
- Site grading and seed after removal: 600 sq ft, $480.00.
Changes, overruns and change orders
If the customer adds work, put it on a signed change order first. Here one more hr of "Labor crew for hand demolition and sorting" adds $55.00, or 0.6% of the estimate.
Tips from demolition work billing
- Bill container and truck loads by count and attach the landfill or transfer-station tickets, because debris volume is the line customers most often think was inflated.
- Keep salvage credits on their own negative line, for example scrap steel or reclaimed beams the crew sold, so the customer sees the value they were promised was actually deducted.
- Note which utilities were confirmed disconnected and capped, and by whom, before the building came down; that record matters if a gas or water line is later found live.
- Price hazardous materials such as asbestos siding or lead-painted debris separately from ordinary demolition, since they need different handling and disposal than mixed construction waste.
Checking the labour rate
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Construction Laborers $22.47 (employees, not contractor rates).
The sample's $55.00 per hour for "Labor crew for hand demolition and sorting" is 2.4 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Turning the demolition contractor estimate into an invoice
-
Get it approved
Ask Sam Patel to sign or reply in writing to estimate EST-1802.
-
Record the changes
Update quantities to what was actually used across the 8 lines.
-
Switch the document type
Change Estimate to Invoice in the tool; the lines and parties stay.
-
Deduct what was paid
Enter any deposit as amount paid so the balance due is correct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a demolition contractor estimate?
Describe the job (Tear down a 600 sq ft detached garage with a concrete slab and haul all debris away), list each line with an estimated quantity and rate, total it ($9,090.00 in the sample), state how long it is valid and what it assumes, then send it as a PDF for approval.
Is a demolition contractor estimate binding?
An estimate is a forecast, not a fixed price, so the final invoice can differ when the work or materials change. Rules vary by country and state; to stay safe, get written approval before billing noticeably more than the $9,090.00 you estimated.
How long should a demolition contractor estimate be valid?
Thirty days is common and is what this template uses. With little material cost, a longer validity is usually safe.