Accurate, fast, and affordable construction cost estimates for Texas contractors in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and all 254 TX counties. All trades. CSI-compliant. 24–48 hours. Starting at $200.
Texas is the largest construction market in the United States and one of the most competitive. The Texas construction industry generates over $130 billion annually, driven by the fastest population growth of any US state, massive commercial and industrial expansion across the DFW Metroplex, explosive residential growth in Austin, suburban expansion around Houston, and ongoing energy-sector infrastructure investment across West Texas and the Gulf Coast. With that volume comes fierce competition and the contractors who win consistently are the ones who estimate most accurately.
Texas is a right-to-work state with a competitive open-shop labor market which means labor rates vary significantly across the state's diverse markets. A commercial electrician in Austin earns different rates than one in El Paso or Brownsville. A framing crew in Dallas-Fort Worth prices differently than one in Amarillo or Lubbock. Generic national pricing databases that do not calibrate to Texas zip codes produce estimates that miss the actual market by 10 to 20 percent enough to lose a bid you should have won or win one you should have passed on.
CES estimates for Texas projects use RSMeans 2026 zip-code pricing calibrated to your specific project location whether it's a 200,000 SF distribution center in Dallas, a custom home in The Woodlands, a restaurant buildout in South Congress Austin, or a healthcare facility in San Antonio's Medical Center. Every line item priced for your actual market.
Texas construction costs vary significantly between markets Austin's tech-driven labor market prices very differently from South Texas border markets. Here is RSMeans 2026 data for each major Texas market:
| Project Type | Houston | Dallas–FW | Austin | San Antonio | Key TX Cost Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Home (Mid-Range) | $155–$205 | $165–$215 | $190–$270 | $145–$195 | Labor rates + slab vs pier-and-beam foundation |
| Class A Office | $180–$260 | $190–$270 | $220–$300 | $165–$240 | Curtain wall + high-performance HVAC |
| Retail / Restaurant | $150–$230 | $155–$240 | $175–$260 | $140–$210 | Kitchen MEP for QSR/FSR + tenant improvement |
| Industrial / Warehouse | $80–$140 | $85–$145 | $95–$160 | $78–$130 | Tilt-up vs steel frame + dock doors + ESFR sprinkler |
| Healthcare / MOB | $260–$380 | $270–$390 | $290–$420 | $250–$360 | Medical gas + isolation HVAC + radiation shielding |
| Multi-Family (Per Unit) | $145–$200 | $150–$210 | $175–$240 | $135–$190 | Unit mix + amenities + structured parking adds cost |
All ranges are RSMeans 2026 zip-code benchmarks including contractor overhead, excluding land, site development, and permits. Your actual project cost depends on your specific zip code, design complexity, and current local labor availability.
CES estimates every construction trade for Texas projects residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure. All CSI divisions. All project types. All Texas markets.
Simple and fast designed for busy Texas contractors who do not have time to manage an estimating process.
Houston commercial bidding is brutal margins are thin and every competitor is undercutting. CES gave me an accurate number that I could actually defend to the owner. Won the project at 4 percent gross margin and actually made money on it. That's rare in Houston right now.
Austin custom home market is insane labor costs change monthly. I was spending 3 weeks on every estimate and still missing. CES delivered a complete estimate in 36 hours. Their Austin labor rates were spot on. Client approved budget same day. Project started on schedule.
DFW industrial market moves fast. I needed a complete estimate for a 120k SF tilt-up warehouse in 48 hours. CES delivered in 44. Tilt-up concrete, dock equipment, ESFR sprinkler all there. Won the project at competitive price. CES is my go-to for every DFW industrial bid now.
CES estimates for contractors in every Texas city and all 254 Texas counties with RSMeans pricing calibrated to your specific project zip code. Here are the Texas cities we serve most frequently:
Send your Texas project drawings and receive a complete, accurate estimate in 24–48 hours. Every Texas market. Every trade. Fixed pricing. NDA protected. Starting at $200.