Key Takeaways
- Estimating security & low-voltage cost = quantities × (material + labor) + overhead + profit.
- Use your actual $45-85/hr labor rate, not national averages.
- Reference Security & Low-Voltage costs: $300-800/EA/camera installed, $400-900/EA/card reader, $3-10/LF/cable run.
- AI takeoff does the quantity step in minutes; pricing stays yours.
Step-by-step: how to estimate Security & Low-Voltage cost
- 1. Take off quantities. Measure device counts and other security & low-voltage scope from the plans (AI takeoff reads PDFs in seconds).
- 2. Price materials. Get real quotes for Cameras, Access control readers, Intrusion devices, Cable (CAT6, fiber) — not list prices.
- 3. Apply labor. Use your burdened security & low-voltage rate ($45-85/hr (low-voltage techs)).
- 4. Add waste. 5-15% typical for security & low-voltage materials, per your actuals.
- 5. Add overhead and profit. 10-20% overhead, 5-15% profit — from your books.
- 6. Sanity-check. Compare per-unit to the ranges below; investigate any outlier.
Security & Low-Voltage cost reference
| Item | Typical range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Camera installed | $300-800/EA | |
| Card reader | $400-900/EA | |
| Cable run | $3-10/LF |
Worked example
For a mid-size security & low-voltage scope, multiply your quantities by the material and labor rates above, add waste, overhead, and profit, then divide by the relevant unit. Compare the result to the $300-800/EA range for camera installed. If you are far off, find out why before you bid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you estimate Security & Low-Voltage cost?
Take off quantities from the plans, price material and labor per your local rates, add overhead and profit, then compare the per-unit total to the ranges here. AI takeoff speeds the quantity step from hours to minutes.
What labor rate should I use for Security & Low-Voltage?
Use your actual burdened labor rate for your market — $45-85/hr (low-voltage techs). Burden includes taxes, benefits, and overhead on top of base wages.
How much waste should I add for Security & Low-Voltage?
Waste factors vary by material and trade — typically 5-15% for security & low-voltage materials. Use your historical actuals; generic factors are a starting point only.
What overhead and profit should Security & Low-Voltage bids carry?
Overhead commonly runs 10-20% and profit 5-15%, but set both from your own books and the project's risk — not rules of thumb.
How accurate are the Security & Low-Voltage ranges here?
They are general industry benchmarks for planning. For a defensible number, take off the actual plans and price with your local vendor quotes and labor rates.