Estimating General Conditions: A Complete Guide for Contractors

General conditions (GCs) — also called jobsite overhead — are the indirect costs required to manage and support a construction project that cannot be attributed to a specific trade. Overlooking or underestimating GCs is one of the most common causes of profit erosion.

What Are General Conditions?

General conditions include all costs related to field management and site operations:

• Project management — Project manager, superintendent, assistant superintendent salaries
• Field office — Trailer rental, furniture, phones, internet, utilities
• Temporary utilities — Power, water, toilets, heat for construction
• Security and safety — Fencing, cameras, signage, PPE, safety meetings
• Testing and inspections — Soil testing, concrete cylinder breaks, weld inspections
• Permits and fees — Building permits, plan check fees, impact fees
• Cleaning and waste — Daily cleaning, dumpsters, debris hauling
• Closeout — Punchlist, commissioning, as-builts, warranty

How to Estimate General Conditions

1. Duration-Based Items

Staff salaries and temporary utilities are calculated by project duration:

• Project manager: $45,000/month × 8 months = $360,000
• Superintendent: $35,000/month × 8 months = $280,000
• Trailer rental: $2,500/month × 8 months = $20,000

2. Lump Sum Items

Some GC items are fixed regardless of duration:

• Building permits: negotiated with municipality
• Bonds (bid, performance, payment): percentage of contract value
• Submittal software: Bluebeam, Procore, or similar

3. Quantity-Based Items

Items that scale with project size:

• Dumpster service: $1,500/month estimated
• Safety supplies: $5,000 flat for medium project
• Concrete testing: $100-$200 per cylinder set

GC Percentage Benchmarks

General conditions typically run 5-15% of the total project cost:

At F&K Estimatings, we include comprehensive general condition line items in every estimate. Get your next bid professionally prepared with full GC coverage.