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TL;DR: Healthy competitive bid win rates vary by trade. SWPPP and erosion control: 25-45%. Civil and excavation: 20-35%. Concrete and masonry: 22-38%. Electrical (commercial new): 18-30%. Framing, drywall, insulation: 22-38%. Win rates above the high end of any range consistently mean the overhead rate is too low. Win rates below the low end mean overhead rate may be too high or the contractor is bidding outside their competitive sweet spot.
Bid Strategy
Construction Bid Win Rate
Benchmarks by Trade.
A healthy bid win rate differs by trade. A 35% win rate is normal for erosion control and a warning sign for electrical. Here are the benchmarks and what they mean.
Published: May 2026 · Updated: May 2026
Overview
What You Need to Know
Win rate benchmarks by trade reflect the competitive dynamics of each market. Trades with fewer competitors and more specialized expertise command higher win rates. Trades with more competitors and more standardized work have lower healthy win rates. The number that matters is your competitive bid win rate compared to the benchmark for your specific trade.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good bid win rate for a concrete subcontractor?
Healthy competitive bid win rate for concrete contractors is 22-38%. Above 42% consistently on competitive bids suggests the overhead rate is too low. Below 15% suggests either the overhead rate is overstated or the contractor is bidding on GC relationships or project types outside their competitive advantage.
What is a good bid win rate for an electrical contractor?
Healthy competitive bid win rate for commercial electrical new construction is 18-30%. Electrical has more competition than most commercial trades which drives the healthy range lower than trades like SWPPP or insulation. Above 35% consistently on competitive electrical bids is a strong signal of overhead rate understatement.
Why does SWPPP erosion control have a higher healthy win rate than electrical?
SWPPP and erosion control is a more specialized trade with fewer qualified contractors in most markets. When there are fewer competitors bidding on the same scope the win rate is naturally higher. A 40% win rate in SWPPP does not signal underpricing the way 40% would in electrical where more competitors are bidding the same work.
Should I track win rate by GC relationship separately?
Yes. Your win rate with a preferred GC relationship where you have a track record will be higher than your win rate on cold competitive bids against 5+ competitors. Blending these produces a misleading overall win rate. Track competitive bid win rate - bids against 3+ other qualified subcontractors with no preference relationship - as the primary diagnostic number.
