INEIGHT ESTIMATE
ESTIMATING PRACTICES THAT BUILD CERTAINTY
Create stand-out estimates by establishing confidence even in uncertain times
Estimators today face rising complexity, tighter margins, and heightened scrutiny. Projects are getting larger, while risks are increasing as material and staffing costs become more variable. At the same time, project owners are demanding more transparency and precision than ever before.
The industry research is sobering:
- One large-scale study found that just 8.5% of projects are delivered on time and on budget.[1]
- A McKinsey study found that large projects typically take 20% longer to finish than scheduled and are up to 80% over budget.[2]
- In InEight’s third-annual Global Capital Projects Outlook Report, respondents that reported actually completing projects on time or ahead of schedule also reported an average overspend of 28%.[3]
- Construction input prices rose at a 9.7% annualized rate through the first quarter of 2025 and are over 40% higher vs. five years ago.[4]
In this environment, delivering an estimate that inspires confidence in both timeline and budget is a competitive advantage. A winning bid isn’t just accurate—it’s defensible, detailed, and adaptable to real-world execution. Owners aren’t looking only at total cost. They base award on cost, schedule, and execution plans taken as a whole.
That’s why today’s top estimators rely on three key approaches to build rock-solid confidence into their work. These practices don’t just help them work faster and smarter, but also allow them to answer the dreaded question, “Where’d you get that number?” with data-driven certainty.
[1] Most infrastructure projects are late, over budget. He hopes to fix that, Lori Aratani, Washington Post, June 2023.
[2] Imagining construction’s digital future, McKinsey & Company, 2016.
[3] InEight Webinar: Seeing the Bigger Picture: A Special Look Into The Global Capital Projects Outlook Report, July 2023.
[4] Construction materials costs rise for third month on tariff pressures, Construction Dive, April 2025.