Home › Products › Subcontractor Bid Comparison Sheet
Subcontractor Bid Comparison Sheet
A structured spreadsheet for comparing multiple subcontractor bids on the same scope — side by side on price, inclusions, exclusions, lead time, warranty, and references. Make better sub-selection decisions faster.
GCs who receive 2-5 bids per trade on every project. Most contractors compare bids only on price — and end up selecting a sub whose bid was low because they excluded half the scope. This comparison sheet forces you to document what each sub included vs. excluded, leveling the bids to an apples-to-apples basis.
What Professionals Say
★★★★★
Found out one framer's bid excluded all hardware, blocking, and hurricane straps. On a $35K framing job that was a $4,200 difference. This sheet caught it.
— Nathan R., home builder
★★★★★
I give this to my estimator for every trade package. We are making better selection decisions and our sub relationships are better because both sides understand the scope.
— Cathy L., GC project manager
★★★★★
The exclusions column is the most valuable part. It forces every bidder to list what they are NOT including, which is usually where the price game happens.
— Oscar G., residential developer
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare subcontractor bids fairly?
Start by reviewing each bid for explicit exclusions (what they did NOT include in their price). Add the estimated cost of each exclusion back to the base bid price for a true scope-adjusted comparison. A $12,000 plumbing bid that excludes fixtures may be more expensive than a $14,500 bid that includes everything.
How many bids should I get for each trade?
For trades over $10,000, aim for 3 bids minimum. For smaller trades, 2 is typically sufficient if you have a trusted relationship with one of the bidders.
Should I show subs what competitors bid?
Generally, no — sharing competitor pricing is poor practice and creates distrust. You can indicate that a bid is not competitive without disclosing specific numbers.