How We Help Estimators
Speed up your estimating process, remove duplication, and bring cost and carbon together with one connected, resource-based platform built for construction professionals
Sterling gives estimators the tools to work smarter and faster. With structured libraries, integrated take-off, and real-time links between quantities and costs, you can build accurate estimates with confidence. Whether you’re working top-down, bottom-up, or somewhere in between, Sterling helps you standardise your approach while staying flexible enough to meet project demands.
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Book a personalised demo to see how Sterling can help you build accurate cost and carbon estimates using smart libraries, integrated take-off and real-time updates.
Estimators Challenges
Estimators work under pressure to deliver accurate, timely, and defensible estimates — often with incomplete information and disconnected tools. The challenge is not just producing a number, but producing confidence. In a fast-paced environment, errors, duplication, and inefficiencies can seriously impact project outcomes.
Common challenges include:
Time-consuming take-off and manual quantity entry
Limited visibility of carbon alongside cost
Inconsistent data across teams and systems
Difficulty reusing, cloning or benchmarking previous estimates
Fragmented workflows across drawings, models, and spreadsheets
How Sterling Helps
Sterling brings estimating into a connected, modern workflow. Designed to meet the daily realities of estimating teams, it combines structured data, real-time linking, and built-in carbon insight — all in one powerful platform. Whether you’re pricing a small package or a full cost plan, Sterling makes the process faster, smarter, and more reliable.
Smart 2D & 3D Take-off
Quickly measure quantities directly from drawings or models, with live links to your estimate. Updates flow automatically, keeping your cost plan always in sync.
Resource-Based Estimating
Work with structured libraries for Labour, Plant, and Materials. Build reusable cost items, apply mark-ups, and assign resources with clarity and consistency.
Carbon Built In
Search and apply EPDs directly to resources. Understand A1–A3 embodied carbon values while you estimate, not afterwards.
Version Control & Benchmarking
Track estimate versions, compare against benchmarks, and review changes with full visibility. Learn from past projects and refine future ones.
Fast, Accurate Outputs
Generate professional cost plans, reports and carbon summaries with a single click. Outputs are consistent, transparent, and ready to share.
Build with Confidence Using Smart Libraries
Sterling’s powerful libraries help you work faster and more accurately. Create and manage your own Resource Libraries, structured Cost Item Libraries, and Breakdown Structures to standardise your approach across projects. Whether you’re estimating by discipline, phase or package, you’ll have a consistent foundation to build from — with the flexibility to tailor items to the project at hand.
Estimate Your Way with Top-Down or Bottom-Up Precision
Whether you need a high-level view or a fully detailed cost breakdown, Sterling supports both top-down and bottom-up estimating workflows. Use Smart Builder to rapidly structure estimates using templates or project-specific logic, then add detail with resources, quantities, and mark-ups. It’s estimating designed for how you actually work — fast, flexible and fully auditable.
Connect Every Measurement with Smart Take-off
Speed up measurement with Sterling’s integrated 2D and 3D Take-off tools, or manually enter quantities where needed. Every take-off item links live to your estimate, ensuring updates are instant and always in sync. Whether you’re measuring from models, PDFs or manual data, you can trust that your cost plan reflects the latest quantities at every stage.
Package It Up with Confidence
Once your estimate is in place, create bid packages directly within Sterling and send them to subcontractors via the built-in online portal. Each package includes the relevant documents, quantities and breakdowns for pricing — with the option to collect both cost and carbon data. It’s a streamlined way to engage the supply chain, compare returns, and feed results directly back into your estimate.
... and much more. Ready to see Sterling in action?
Experience the difference of true cost and carbon estimating in the cloud with no downloads, no pressure.
FAQs for Estimators Using Sterling
Everything you need to know about how Sterling helps estimators deliver faster, more accurate cost and carbon estimates
Sterling is built for flexibility, making it ideal for estimators working across a variety of sectors including residential, commercial, infrastructure and public sector projects. Whether you are pricing a housing scheme in Manchester, a healthcare facility in Birmingham or a rail project in London, Sterling’s structured libraries and smart take-off tools adapt to the scale, complexity and standards required. With templates and cost structures available, you can hit the ground running on any job.
Yes. Sterling offers integrated 2D and 3D take-off tools that allow you to measure directly from drawings or models and link quantities live to your cost items. This means that when your model or drawings change, your estimate can be updated instantly without having to re-enter data. This feature is particularly useful for estimators working with evolving designs or BIM models, helping reduce duplication and errors during preconstruction.
Absolutely. Sterling includes embedded carbon tracking, allowing estimators to assign A1–A3 embodied carbon values to resources using integrated databases such as EC3 and 2050 Materials. This means you can generate dual reports showing both cost and carbon estimates, helping meet increasing requirements around net zero and sustainability. This is especially important for UK projects aligned with PAS 2080 and government carbon reduction targets.
Sterling gives you access to custom libraries for resources, cost items and project breakdowns. This allows you to build standardised estimates across different projects, regions or teams. Whether you’re estimating for a main contractor in Leeds or working as part of a consultancy in Glasgow, your team can share and reuse structured data to ensure consistency, accuracy and traceability. Version control and benchmarking tools also help compare and refine your estimates over time.
Yes. Sterling includes a built-in Bid Package portal that allows you to send structured packages directly to subcontractors and suppliers for pricing. They can respond online with their cost and carbon data, which feeds directly back into your estimate. This feature supports better collaboration with your supply chain, whether you are issuing packages to steel contractors in Sheffield or MEP specialists in Bristol, and removes the need for manual collation of returns.
Trusted on Projects Across the Industry
From major contractors to specialist consultants, Sterling is being used to deliver accurate cost and carbon insights on live construction projects – including through partners and service providers.
