Accurate mechanical, electrical, and plumbing estimates for contractors, subcontractors, developers, and owners across all 50 US states. FastDUCT · FastPIPE · Planswift · RSMeans 2026. 24–48 hours. Starting at $200.
MEP systems are the single most expensive scope in most commercial construction projects. The US MEP services market reached $34.6 billion in 2026 and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems routinely represent 30 to 75 percent of total building construction cost depending on building type. For a $5 million commercial office building, MEP alone often runs $1.5 to $2 million. A 10 percent estimating error in MEP is a $150,000 to $200,000 problem on that one project.
MEP estimating is the most specialized takeoff in construction. Each of the three trades requires separate engineering drawings mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans and trade-specific software. Ductwork is estimated in lbs using FastDUCT. Piping is measured in LF by diameter and material using FastPIPE. Electrical conduit, wire, and devices are counted individually from electrical drawings using Planswift. A contractor estimating all three MEP trades without specialized software consistently produces numbers that are either too high and lose bids, or too low and lose money on the job.
CES provides professional MEP estimating for all three trades using FastDUCT, FastPIPE, Planswift, and Bluebeam the same software used by the industry's leading MEP estimators. Every estimate uses RSMeans 2026 zip-code pricing for your specific project location. Delivered in 24 to 48 hours. Fixed price. NDA protected. Unlimited revisions.
CES uses FastDUCT for all ductwork takeoffs the industry-standard HVAC estimating software that calculates duct weight in lbs by size and gauge from sheet metal fabrication drawings and FastPIPE for all piping systems, measuring every pipe run in LF by diameter, material, and insulation specification.
Mechanical is consistently the most underestimated MEP trade. Accurate mechanical estimating requires reading HVAC plans, equipment schedules, and duct fabrication drawings simultaneously and correctly accounting for duct weight (not just area), equipment pad costs, vibration isolation, and TAB (Testing, Adjusting, Balancing) items that quick estimates routinely miss.
CES mechanical estimates cover every system type split systems for residential, VAV and VRF for commercial, chiller and cooling tower plants for large facilities, medical HVAC for healthcare, and precision cooling for data centers.
CES uses Planswift and Bluebeam for all electrical takeoffs measuring every conduit run, counting every device and panel, and calculating wire in LF by gauge and circuit type from electrical drawings.
Electrical estimating is the most detail-intensive MEP takeoff. A commercial project electrical estimate may contain 500 to 2,000 line items every panel, circuit, conduit size, wire gauge, device, fixture, and specialty system counted individually. The most common errors are missed conduit runs in slab, incorrect wire gauge for long circuit lengths, and overlooked low voltage systems.
CES electrical estimates use NEC-compliant wire sizing based on circuit length and load, current local electrician wage rates from RSMeans for your specific project zip code, and current pricing for conduit, wire, devices, and panels.
CES uses FastPIPE for all plumbing piping takeoffs measuring every pipe run in LF by diameter, material, and insulation from plumbing drawings and Planswift and Bluebeam for fixture counts and specialty system measurement.
Plumbing is the most code-driven MEP trade. Every estimate must account for the applicable plumbing code (IPC or UPC depending on state), pipe sizing per code, and inspection requirements. The most commonly missed plumbing costs are underground sanitary in concrete slabs, grease interceptors, gas piping pressure testing, and backflow preventers required by local water authorities.
CES plumbing estimates cover all residential and commercial systems from a 3-bath custom home to a 400-room hotel with commercial kitchen, pool, and spa. Healthcare plumbing is a specialty including medical gas and sterile processing requirements.
CES MEP estimating serves every professional who needs accurate mechanical, electrical, or plumbing cost numbers before a project breaks ground.
Beyond standard commercial MEP, CES estimates specialty systems that require trade-specific knowledge most general estimators do not have.
"Healthcare HVAC is my specialty isolation rooms, medical gas, 100% OA. CES was the only company that actually understood what they were measuring. FastDUCT takeoff matched my field measurements within 3 percent. Won the job. Came in on budget.
"Data center electrical is complex UPS, PDUs, generator paralleling, 480V distribution. I was spending 3 weeks per estimate. CES delivered a complete critical power estimate in 44 hours. Conduit and wire quantities were spot on. Won the project.
"I do restaurant MEP hoods, grease, gas, fire suppression. Most estimators miss the kitchen. CES nailed it every time. Hood sizing, Ansul, grease interceptor, gas manifold all there. Win rate went from 30% to 52% in 6 months.