What are DOT average bid prices?
Checked 2026-11-04
Many state transportation departments publish the average unit price for each pay item from their bid lettings. These reports are free and public, which makes them one of the few open references for US construction unit prices. Omnicost loads the reports of nine DOTs. Each one names its average differently, and that difference matters when you compare.
The reports Omnicost loads
| DOT | Report | Entries in Omnicost |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia (VDOT) | District Average Bid Prices and Statewide Average Bid Prices | 4,065 and 1,223 |
| Tennessee (TDOT) | Average Unit Prices, awarded contracts | 4,048 |
| Connecticut (CTDOT) | Master Bid Item List | 2,064 |
| New York (NYSDOT) | Weighted Average Item Price Report | 1,787 |
| Washington (WSDOT) | Unit Bid Analysis | 1,734 |
| Indiana (INDOT) | Weighted Average Unit Price Summary | 1,411 |
| Wisconsin (WisDOT) | Average Unit Price List | 687 |
| Florida (FDOT) | Statewide Historical Item Averages | 614 |
| Texas (TxDOT) | Average Low Bid Unit Prices | 229 |
Counts as of November 4, 2026. Links to each report are listed in the sources.
What "average" means in each one
The report titles already tell you the method. New York and Indiana publish weighted averages. Texas publishes the average of low bids. Tennessee averages the prices of awarded contracts for the calendar year. Florida publishes historical item averages over a moving window. Comparing a Texas low-bid average with a Tennessee awarded average mixes two different measures, so read each header first.
Quantity changes the unit price
Tennessee's 2025 report shows how much the pay item and quantity matter, even for the same material:
| TDOT item | Description | Statewide avg | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 604-01.32 | Class A concrete (leveling) | $704.72/cy | 86 cy |
| 604-02.01 | Class A concrete (box bridges) | $916.45/cy | 7,175 cy |
| 604-03.01 | Class A concrete (bridges) | $1,205.83/cy | 8,686 cy |
| 611-07.01 | Class A concrete (pipe endwalls) | $2,260.71/cy | 453.45 cy |
Source: TDOT Average Unit Prices, 01JAN2025 thru 31DEC2025, Awarded Contracts.
A checklist for using them
- Match the pay item and the unit. "Concrete" alone is too broad.
- Note the period printed on the report and the date you pulled it.
- Look at the quantity behind the average when the report gives it.
- Prefer the district or region figure when the report has one and your job is in that area.
- Cite the report, the item number and the period next to every number you reuse.
Sources
How to cite this
State DOT average bid prices: where to find them and how to use them to check an estimate. Omnicost (Ipita LLC). Checked 2026-11-04. /en/guides/state-dot-average-bid-prices. Sources: TDOT Average Unit Prices 2025; VDOT Items and Codes (district and statewide averages); CTDOT Master Bid Item List; NYSDOT Weighted Average Item Price Report; WSDOT Unit Bid Analysis; INDOT CY2025 Unit Price Summary; WisDOT Average Unit Price List; FDOT Statewide Historical Item Averages (6 months); TxDOT Average Low Bid Unit Prices.
Frequently asked questions
What are DOT average bid prices?
Reports in which state transportation departments publish the average unit price bid or awarded for each pay item over a period. They are public and free.
Which states publish them?
Among others, Tennessee, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Washington, Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida and Texas. Omnicost loads the reports of these nine.
Are all averages calculated the same way?
They differ by report. New York and Indiana publish weighted averages, Texas publishes average low bids and Tennessee averages awarded contracts. Read the report's title and header before comparing states.
How do I use them to check my estimate?
Find the same pay item and unit, check the period and the quantity behind the average, and compare. A small quantity usually means a higher unit price.
Is there an example of how much they vary?
In Tennessee's 2025 report, Class A concrete ranges from $704.72/cy for leveling to $2,260.71/cy for pipe endwalls, statewide.