Level Subcontractor Bids in Minutes, Not Days
Every sub scopes the job differently. Line them up side by side, see who actually included what, and stop finding out about a scope gap after you've already awarded the job.
Line items in this bid package
| Line item | ||
|---|---|---|
| Untitled item | $ | $ |
| Total | $0 | $0 |
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Why bid leveling takes 1-3 days when it shouldn't
Every bidder formats their number differently. One rolls permits into the base price, another lists it separate. One assumes you're supplying fixtures, another quotes them in. None of that shows up until you're squinting at five PDFs trying to figure out who's actually cheaper - and a missed exclusion doesn't surface until change-order time, when it costs a lot more to fix than it would have to catch on bid day.
More free tools
Bid Tabulation Template
Free online bid tabulation template for general contractors. List line items, enter each bidder’s price, flag exclusions, and see the true low bid.
Subcontractor Bid Comparison Tool
Compare subcontractor bids side by side, catch scope gaps and exclusions, and find the real low bid before you award the subcontract.
Bid Leveling Spreadsheet (Without the Formulas)
Free bid leveling spreadsheet alternative. Enter line items and bidders, mark exclusions, and see the true low bid without building formulas in Excel.
Construction Bid Analysis Template
Free construction bid analysis template. Compare subcontractor bids line by line, spot exclusions and outliers, and see the true low bid before you award.
Bid Exclusions Checklist for General Contractors
A practical checklist of scope items subcontractors commonly exclude from bids, plus a free tool to mark exclusions and compare bids on equal scope.
Frequently asked questions
Is TrueBid free?+
The bid leveling tool is free and needs no account. TrueBid Pro is $15/month and saves your bid packages so you can reuse bidders and line items on the next job.
What is bid leveling?+
Bid leveling is adjusting subcontractor bids so they cover the same scope and can be compared fairly. It means lining up line items, flagging what each bidder excluded, and accounting for the cost of those gaps before choosing the low bid.
How many bids can I compare at once?+
You can compare between two and five bidders side by side, across as many line items as the bid package needs.
What does "N/I" mean in the bid leveler?+
"N/I" means not included. Mark a cell N/I when a bidder excluded that line item, so the scope gap is visible instead of silently making that bid look cheaper.
From the blog
All articles →What Is Bid Leveling? A Plain-English Guide for General Contractors
Bid leveling explained without the jargon: what it is, why the lowest bid is often not the cheapest, and how to level subcontractor bids step by step.
Bid Leveling Template: How to Compare Subcontractor Bids Apples-to-Apples
The columns and rules a good bid leveling sheet needs, how to handle exclusions and alternates, and a simple way to make the comparison repeatable.
7 Scope Gaps That Show Up in Subcontractor Bids (and How to Catch Them)
The exclusions and assumptions that most often turn a low bid into an expensive change order, and how to spot them before you sign.