---
title: Item Estimates
description: Build detailed estimates to convey the Cost Impact of each Item.
---

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# Item Estimates

## Build detailed estimates to convey the Cost Impact of each Item.

Item Estimates allow the potential cost implications of a decision to be analyzed along with the other contextual details such as attachments, descriptions, and categorizations. Item Estimates are broken into three parts: Direct Costs, Item Markups, and Milestone Markups. This article will walk through the various parts of an Item Estimate, along with some tips and tricks.

### Sections of an Item Estimate

Item estimates are broken down into several sections: Direct Costs, Item Markups, Milestone Markups, and Contingency and Allowance Adjustments.

#### Direct Costs

An Item’s direct cost can vary from a single lump sum to a fully itemized estimate with multiple [categorizations](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/categorizations?hsLang=en). An Item’s estimate will likely evolve over time. When generating an idea in an Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meeting, it might start with a high-level rough order of magnitude, and after development, it grows into a detailed estimate with several cost line items. The Direct Cost table allows for this flexibility.

To get the detailed cost line items into an Item estimate, you can:

1. Enter them in manually
2. [Copy-paste](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/import-your-spreadsheet-estimate-into-join?hsLang=en) them from another source (Excel, estimating software, Milestone estimate open in another window)
3. Use [formulas](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/formulas-in-join?hsLang=en) to calculate or link the values within the Item

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DjCC0YS5gq2cgZg6DGNJe6nPCSFDBw1jBtK6qpLgNXJ5UU8qAOZSPMZeIpkwIjsGX6l1tyWvZFFaZmT9C5OJ799vZsejvNTOck35Pf1jzix-BoouwQnGObzN3WdIgtvaiQh64MJ-pgv7BZa0390ute4)

***Best Practice:** Use the [Default Item Template](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/setting-up-the-default-item-template?hsLang=en) to set up the typical categorization columns for your Item Estimates.*

#### Item Markups

The **Item Markups** section contains additional indirect costs specific to each Item. For additional information, see the [Markups in Item Estimates](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups-in-item-estimates?hsLang=en#item_markups) article.

#### Milestone Markups

The **Milestone Markups** section shows all percent markups created at the [Milestone Estimate](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups-in-milestones?hsLang=en) level. For additional information, see the [Markups in Item Estimates](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups-in-item-estimates?hsLang=en#milestone_markups) article.

#### Contingency and Allowance Adjustments

To draw from a Contingency or Allowance with an Item, use the drop-down in the **Contingency & Allowance Adjustments** subsection of the Item's **Cost Impact** section. Positive adjustments can also be made when an item's cost is a reduction in scope or when you choose to increase the value of a Contingency or Allowance.

***Tip:** [Create Contingencies and Allowances](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/working-with-markups?hsLang=en#markup_type) on your project in the Milestone Markups section of a Milestone Estimate.*

![](https://success.join.build/hs-fs/hubfs/Feb-12-2025%2010-18-59-gif.gif?width=670&height=292&name=Feb-12-2025%2010-18-59-gif.gif)

You can allow the Contingency/Allowance adjustment to match the item's **Full Estimate,** or you can specify a new amount by typing in the value. You can also split the amount over various Contingencies and Allowances by clicking on the plus sign.

![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeiQrsfAdoPD2bfCl8cprFamsniCqtxrl7L4IL7jBJ9ICv2SeNRK-VZyBsj45s6fWS4JlCfmrLEEDUdnXPCYfAXKOjKGQ0WE_--6uhpVrUP9ZbCOWhtoEK5pglIBEqRHRlEHM_N6A?key=unR37aBufMPd1b5hMGlfSiHe)

***Note:*** *Adjustments can also be applied to deductive items when you'd like to reallocate funds back to Allowances and Contingencies.*

### Working with Item Estimates

#### Adding an Estimate

If you add a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) value when creating a new Item, an estimate will be created with it. 

![](https://success.join.build/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-22-2024-05-20-03-8283-AM.png?width=670&height=480&name=image-png-Jun-22-2024-05-20-03-8283-AM.png)

If you leave the ROM value blank, you can click the **Add Estimate** button after the Item has been created.

![](https://success.join.build/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-22-2024-05-18-42-2163-AM.png?width=670&height=308&name=image-png-Jun-22-2024-05-18-42-2163-AM.png)

#### Deleting an Estimate

An Item estimate can be deleted for Items still in the Pending status. This can be helpful if you want to change the Cost Impact of an Item from **$0** back to **No Estimate** on the Items List.

![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcynJU-pT59oU2-9-iz3MCBlZan1bl4abch-ZDMGTJmNa6r3BbrxWa_rXW3FiLaj0eh9aaBLCCToDCcBby9ztq4pqFg-1VlW51RTxTyhbqrxlyOtFUiBo6ixkIdyX353kuVqJfn6w?key=unR37aBufMPd1b5hMGlfSiHe)

#### Fullscreen View

As you work on the Item Estimate, you can do so from the detailed Item view or the fullscreen view. To access the fullscreen view, click the button to expand the estimate to fullscreen and the button to minimize the estimate into the detailed Item view. You can also do this from the [Item Sidebar](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/item-sidebar?hsLang=en).

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Qj57vHKYwoJmHj4tGHVXfbkYLkKP2RG4Z-LhJP92S70qir-d69YNqvudK6Tg87vw1L65jUNvnBkUwjkSCnew0vYl-y8-hqn0_Qayt9mytBV3yEhp5tm9MpAylw22W54TzDaVl4b4BQ8RcWRdxd8BfiY)

### Viewing Previous Item Estimates

Expand the **View Estimate History** section and click on the cost to view a read-only version of an Item Estimate from a previous Milestone. ![](https://success.join.build/hs-fs/hubfs/2024-09-04_11-58-29-gif-1.gif?width=670&height=422&name=2024-09-04_11-58-29-gif-1.gif)

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