Free Construction Calculators & Tools/Preliminaries & General (P&G) Estimator

Preliminaries & General (P&G) Estimator

Estimate preliminaries and general costs including site staff, temporary facilities, equipment, utilities, and site overhead based on project duration and value.

Project Details
Site Staff

Enter project details to estimate P&G costs

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FINANCIAL DISCLAIMER

This calculator provides INDICATIVE FIGURES for reference purposes only.

Important:

1. Results are based on standard formulas and user-provided inputs. Actual contractual amounts may differ based on specific contract terms and conditions.

About This Calculator

The Preliminaries & General (P&G) Estimator helps contractors and quantity surveyors calculate site overhead costs for construction projects across the UAE and Gulf. Estimate costs for site staff, temporary facilities (offices, stores, toilets), plant and equipment, utilities, insurance, and other indirect costs based on project duration and contract value. Essential for accurate tender pricing and project budgeting.

When to Use This Calculator

  • Preparing tender submissions with accurate preliminaries pricing
  • Budgeting site setup and running costs for new projects
  • Comparing P&G costs across different project durations
  • Negotiating preliminaries lump sums with clients
  • Calculating monthly site overhead for cash flow projections

How to Use This Calculator

1

Enter Project Details

Input project value, duration in months, and location (affects labor and equipment rates).

2

Select Site Staff

Choose required positions: project manager, site engineer, QS, safety officer, admin, etc.

3

Add Facilities & Equipment

Select temporary facilities (offices, stores, toilets) and site equipment (cranes, generators).

4

Include Utilities & Insurance

Add power, water, communications, and insurance requirements.

5

Review P&G Summary

Get detailed breakdown and percentage of contract value (typically 8-15% for Gulf projects).

Typical Scenarios in UAE & Gulf Projects

High-Rise Tender in Dubai

Main contractor prepares tender for 40-storey residential tower with 30-month program. P&G Estimator calculates site team costs (PM, 4 engineers, QS, safety), tower crane rental, temporary offices, and utilities totaling 12% of contract value.

Infrastructure Project in Abu Dhabi

Civil contractor estimates preliminaries for 50km road project across remote desert terrain. Tool accounts for extended camp facilities, generator power, water tankering, and additional supervision staff for multiple work fronts.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the Gulf, P&G typically ranges from 8-15% of contract value depending on project type. Building projects are usually 8-12%, while infrastructure and remote projects can reach 12-18% due to extended facilities and supervision requirements.

P&G costs are a mix of both. Site staff, equipment rental, and utilities are time-related (monthly). Mobilization, temporary buildings, and insurance are typically fixed or partially fixed. The estimator categorizes costs accordingly for extension of time claims.

Use the monthly rate breakdown from the estimator to calculate additional preliminaries for extended durations. FIDIC contracts typically entitle contractors to prolongation costs for employer-caused delays, calculated from the P&G schedule of rates.

Take Your Calculations Further

This calculator reflects the logic built into Arkan's construction management platform.

Last Updated: January 2026

Standards Reference: RICS NRM 2 Preliminaries Classification, AACE Cost Estimate Classification

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