Setting up a construction estimate shouldn’t eat up your whole day with frustrating, unproductive tasks—but for many contractors, it still does.. Whether you’re using spreadsheets or a complex estimating system, it’s easy to get stuck creating formulas, searching for broken links and miscalculations , redoing work, or needing someone else to figure out the complex software.
Maybe you’re working with someone who’s been estimating the same way for 30 years—and it’s worked fine until now. Or maybe you’re the one still trying to make sense of the new tools your team wants to use. Either way, you need something simple. In this article, we’ll show you what makes Estimating Link® the easiest construction estimating software to use—and why both the guys who’ve been running the company for years and the next generation can jump in and use it fast.
Why Most Construction Estimating Software Is So Hard to Use
Most construction estimating software promises to save time, but ends up slowing you down. Between overloaded menus, hard-to-follow screens, and features you don’t even need, it's no wonder many estimators still rely on spreadsheets. But those were never built for construction—especially not for civil work.
The truth is, a lot of software out there just doesn’t reflect how real jobs are built or how estimators actually work.
Estimating Link® was created by Lance R. Ward, a former contractor who spent decades in the heavy civil industry before founding The Construction Link, Inc. in 1986. He built the software based on firsthand experience—because he lived through the problems that contractors face.
TCLI takes feedback directly from the guys using it in the field every day. That’s why Estimating Link® works the way estimators actually think—not how a software company assumes they should. It’s been shaped by thousands of contractors since 1986. Built by contractors, for contractors—that’s what makes it so simple and easy to use.
Common Frustrations We Hear from Estimators:
👉 “I have to click through five screens just to set up a project.”
👉 “If the guy who usually builds the estimate isn’t in, no one else can figure it out.”
👉 “We had to pay for all these features, but we only use two of them.”
When software becomes a bottleneck, you lose time, confidence, and sometimes even the job. That’s why ease of use isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity.
What Makes Estimating Link® the Easiest Construction Estimating Software to Use
Estimating Link® was built for one reason: to make estimating faster, easier, and more accurate for civil contractors. While most software piles on features you don’t need—or hides the ones you do behind complicated menus—we focused on what actually matters to estimators.
You don’t need a full-time IT person to use Estimating Link®. You don’t need weeks of training or a 200-page manual. If you know how to estimate, you can start using this software within the same day.
Why It’s Easier than the Rest
- Clean layout – Everything is where you expect it to be. No hunting through tabs.
- Fast setup with templates – With templates, customized proposals, and a centralized database, you can literally build a bid in minutes.
- Reusable data and crews – Build it once, use it across multiple jobs without re-entering data.
- Built-in civil calculators – Tools like the Haul and Pipe/Trench Calculators help you plan quantities and production faster, without switching between apps.
Whether you're pricing dirt, pipe, or crews, Estimating Link® keeps things simple. It’s built for how you work—not the other way around.
Award-Winning Estimating Software for Ease of Use
Estimating Link has been recognized by platforms like Capterra and SoftwareSuggest for being a user-friendly estimating software for construction—based entirely on feedback from real contractors and estimators.
These awards back up what we hear from our customers all the time:
⭐ “By far the most adaptable estimating software I have ever used.”
– Kevin, Civil Estimator
⭐ “Don’t overlook this software—it works just like the one from Texas, for a lot less.”
– Nick, Contractor
⭐ “This system is awesome—and simple to use.”
– Charles, Foreman
What Our Users Appreciate Most:
- It doesn’t take a tech expert to get started
- You can start building estimates right away
- Every feature is included—nothing hidden behind extra fees
- It’s designed specifically with the heavy civil industry in mind
If you’re looking for something practical, straightforward, and built for how you actually estimate, Estimating Link® is worth a closer look.
Simple Tools That Help You Estimate Faster and Smarter
Estimating faster doesn’t mean cutting corners—it means cutting out the stuff that slows you down. With Estimating Link®, everything is designed to help you build accurate estimates without the headache.
Here are a few of the tools our customers rely on every day to speed up their estimating process:
- Haul Calculator – Quickly calculate haul costs without switching apps
- Pipe/Trench Calculator – Auto-calculate trench quantities in seconds
- Move Money – Unbalance your bid strategically for a competitive edge
- Copy/Import Items – Save time by pulling in costs from templates or past jobs instead of starting from scratch
- Check Bid – Catch missing costs or mistakes before you submit, so you can bid with confidence.
These tools weren’t added as extras—they’re included because they solve problems heavy civil contractors deal with every day. For any size and type of heavy/civil construction projects, Estimating Link® helps you work faster and smarter.
Book a Demo of the Easiest Construction Estimating Software
If you’re tired of clunky systems, slow setups, and feeling like you need an IT degree to build a bid—it's time for something different.
Estimating Link® was built by contractors, for contractors. It’s been shaped by thousands of heavy civil estimators since 1986, and it keeps getting better thanks to feedback from contractors using it every day.
No civil project is too big or too small —we’ll help you set up faster, estimate smarter, and give you time back in your day.
Want to see how it works? - Book a demo to see why Estimating Link® is the estimating software civil contractors love.
