CSI Division 05 · Structural
Structural Steel Estimating
Fabricated tonnage by shape and grade, plus the connection material, metal deck and erection hours that mill tonnage never includes.
- TON
- fabricated steel by shape and grade
- EA
- pieces, joists, connections
- SF
- metal deck by profile and gauge
- LF
- handrail, angle, edge trim
Scope
What we measure.
Measured from
Framing plans, column schedules, connection details and the steel specification
- 01Structural Steel
- 02Connection Material
- 03Steel Deck · 1.5b
- 04Open-web Joists
- 05Miscellaneous Metals
Where bids go wrong
What other structural steel estimates miss.
Connection material and shop labor, which the mill tonnage does not include.
Erection sequencing, crane time and bolt-up, priced by piece count rather than tonnage.
Shop primer versus field paint and any intumescent fireproofing carried by another trade.
Miscellaneous metals — lintels, embeds, stairs, railings — that sit outside the frame takeoff.
Sample takeoff
How structural steel line items come back.
Every quantity is traceable to the sheet it came from, in the units the trade buys in.
- Quantities traced to the sheet they came from
- Waste and productivity carried as visible lines
- Formulas intact — edit any rate
| CSI | Line item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 05 12 00 | Structural steel | 12.4 T |
| 05 12 23 | Connection material | 1.1 T |
| 05 31 00 | Steel deck — 1.5b | 4,600 SF |
| 05 21 00 | Open-web joists | 38 EA |
| 05 50 00 | Misc. metals | 0.7 T |
FAQ
Structural Steel Estimating, answered.
Talk to an estimator
Not a salesperson. Same-day answers on working days.
+1 518 974 7222[email protected]Do you include connection weight?
Yes. Connection material is carried as a stated percentage or measured from typical details, never left out of the tonnage.
Can you separate misc. metals from structural steel?
Yes. Stairs, railings, lintels and embeds are measured as miscellaneous metals on their own lines.
Can you use our cost book and labor rates?
Yes, and we prefer it. Your historical costs reflect your crews and your suppliers better than any published average. Send the template and we work inside it.
How does pricing work?
Pricing is per project and quoted before any work starts — no retainer, no minimum volume and no subscription.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes. Drawings, specifications and pricing are treated as confidential by default, and we sign your NDA on request before any documents change hands.
Start a quote
Need structural steel numbers for your next bid?
Pick your project type and send the drawings. We confirm the fee and delivery date within the hour on working days.