There is no published price list for construction submittals, which makes budgeting hard. What you can measure is the time a package takes to build and what that time costs you. This guide explains what drives the cost of a submittal, what it costs to do in-house, and how outsourced pricing usually works.
What drives the cost of a submittal package
| Factor | Why it changes the effort |
|---|---|
| Number of products | Every product needs the right cut sheet, the right options highlighted and a line-by-line spec check. |
| Product data vs. shop drawings | Product data is compiled and marked up; shop drawings are drafted. Drawings take far more hours. |
| Spec complexity | Sections with many Part 2 requirements, certifications or testing take longer to verify. |
| Substitutions | Any product other than the basis of design needs a comparison and justification. |
| Special documentation | LEED data, Buy America certifications, seismic or delegated-design items add documents to collect. |
| Quality of the inputs | Clear selections and complete drawings are fast; missing information means RFIs and waiting. |
| Resubmittals | Each round of reviewer comments adds corrections, a response letter and a new revision. |
What submittals cost when you do them in-house
Most subcontractors prepare submittals with project managers, estimators or the owner. The cost does not show up as a line item, but it is real:
- Hours per package. A simple product data package can take a few hours; a complex equipment or multi-product section can take days once you include finding the right data, marking it up and checking the spec.
- The rate of the person doing it. When a PM builds submittals, you pay PM rates for administrative work, and that PM is not managing the job.
- The cost of a rejection. Every “Revise and Resubmit” repeats part of the work and adds review time, often two weeks or more per cycle, which can delay ordering and installation.
- Software. Submittal software helps organize the work, but it is usually priced per seat per month and your team still builds every package.
A quick way to estimate your own cost
Hours spent on submittals per month × the loaded hourly cost of the person doing them, plus the cost of any schedule delay from late or rejected packages. Compare that number with a flat quote.
How outsourced submittal pricing usually works
| Pricing model | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | You pay for the hours spent, often with a minimum. | Open-ended cost; revisions billed again. |
| Per package or per spec section | A fixed price for a defined package. | Check what is included: revisions, resubmittals, cover sheet. |
| Monthly retainer | A set monthly fee for a volume of work. | Paying in slow months; minimum commitments. |
| Per project | One price for all submittals on a job. | Scope changes and late product decisions. |
How SubmittalShop prices submittals
We quote a flat price per package or per spec section, based on the spec sections and drawings you send. You see the number and approve it before we start. One round of revisions for reviewer comments is included, with no subscription, no retainer and no minimum volume. Small additions later, such as a product the owner adds after approval, can be quoted separately.
To get a number for your job, send the spec sections in your scope through the contact page. You will have a quote within 48 to 72 hours.
How to keep submittal costs down
- Make product selections early and send them with the spec sections.
- Use the basis-of-design product when price allows; substitutions add work for everyone.
- Build the submittal register at the start of the job so nothing is a surprise.
- Package related sections together when the spec allows it.
- Read the common rejection reasons and avoid them the first time.