> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.contractor-co-pilot.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build and manage construction estimates

> Create detailed estimates with line items, category groups, and materials catalog autocomplete. Track every estimate from draft through won or lost.

Estimates are the foundation of Contractor Co-Pilot. Every estimate ties together your client, project scope, line items, and pricing into a single document you can move through your workflow — from initial draft all the way to a signed deal.

## What an estimate contains

Each estimate has four core parts:

* **Basic info** — Client, project name, description, and current status
* **Line items** — Individual costs organized into categories
* **Cost profile** — The markup and pricing rules applied to the estimate total
* **Attachments** — Supporting documents, photos, and reference files

## Creating an estimate

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Estimates list">
    Go to **Estimating > Estimates** in the sidebar, then click **New Estimate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the client and project">
    Select an existing client from the dropdown, or type a new name to create one on the fly. Enter a **project name** and an optional description.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add line items">
    Click **Add Line Item** to add your first row. Enter a description, quantity, unit, and unit cost — the line total calculates automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Group by category">
    Click **Add Category** to create groups like "Demolition", "Framing", or "Electrical". Drag line items between categories to reorganize your estimate.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using the materials catalog

When you type in a line item description field, Contractor Co-Pilot searches your materials catalog and surfaces matching items as you type.

Select a suggestion to auto-fill the unit, unit cost, and supplier. You can override any of these values after selecting — the suggestion is a starting point, not a lock.

<Tip>
  Keep your materials catalog current with real supplier pricing. The more accurate your catalog, the faster you can build estimates without manual lookups.
</Tip>

## Estimate statuses

Estimates move through a defined set of statuses as they progress through your workflow.

| Status              | Meaning                                           |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Draft**           | Work in progress, not shared with anyone          |
| **In Review**       | Sent internally for team review                   |
| **Approved**        | Approved by an internal reviewer                  |
| **Rejected**        | Rejected by an internal reviewer — needs revision |
| **Sent to Client**  | Shared with the client for their review           |
| **Client Approved** | Client has approved the estimate                  |
| **Client Rejected** | Client has declined the estimate                  |
| **Expired**         | No response received within the validity period   |
| **Won**             | Deal closed — ready to convert to a project       |
| **Lost**            | Opportunity lost                                  |

### Status flow

The typical progression moves through these stages in order:

1. **Draft** — You're building and refining the estimate
2. **In Review** — Your internal team reviews it
3. **Approved** or **Rejected** — Internal decision made (rejected estimates return to Draft for revision)
4. **Sent to Client** — Client receives the estimate
5. **Client Approved** or **Client Rejected** — Client makes their decision
6. **Won** or **Lost** — Final outcome recorded

<Note>
  Expired estimates can be reset to Draft to restart the cycle — for example, if a client comes back after a lapsed validity period.
</Note>

## Templates

Estimate templates let you pre-build line items and categories for project types you bid repeatedly.

1. Go to **Organization > Templates** and click **New Template**
2. Add your standard line items, categories, and any default values
3. When creating a new estimate, click **Use Template** to pre-fill the estimate with those items

Modify the pre-filled items as needed for the specific project. Templates do not lock any values.

## Duplicating an estimate

To use an existing estimate as the basis for a new one:

1. Open the estimate you want to copy
2. Click the **...** menu (top right)
3. Select **Duplicate**
4. Edit the copy — client, project name, and line items — for your new project

<Tip>
  Duplicating is useful when bidding similar scopes for different clients or when a client requests a revised bid on the same project.
</Tip>

## Exporting to PDF

Click **Export** or **Download PDF** from the estimate detail page to generate a print-ready PDF. Use this for sharing offline, attaching to emails, or filing physical copies.

<Note>
  For a branded, client-facing document with your logo and terms, convert the estimate to a proposal first. See [Send professional proposals to clients](/sales/proposals).
</Note>

## Pipeline view

The **Sales > Pipeline** board shows all your estimates organized by stage in a Kanban layout. From there you can:

* See the full state of your sales pipeline at a glance
* Drag estimates between status columns to update them
* Filter by client, date range, or estimate amount
* Track your overall win rate

See [Track your sales pipeline from lead to close](/sales/pipeline) for details.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Digital takeoffs" icon="ruler" href="/estimating/takeoffs">
    Measure quantities from blueprints and push them directly into an estimate.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Proposals" icon="file-text" href="/sales/proposals">
    Convert an approved estimate into a branded proposal for your client.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sales pipeline" icon="kanban" href="/sales/pipeline">
    Track all open opportunities in a Kanban board from draft to close.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cost profiles" icon="percent" href="/costs/cost-profiles">
    Set up markup and pricing rules that apply to your estimates.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>