What do the benchmarks say?
Each figure below comes from one source, and none is a global study. Compare like with like.
| Type of work | Figure | Source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Hard-bid public work | About 10% to 20% | ConstructConnect, 2026. A vendor article on commercial contractors, and directional only. |
| Negotiated or selective work | About 30% to 50% | ConstructConnect, 2026. You are already closer to the shortlist. |
| UK contractors and consultants | About one in five | A University of Reading survey reported in 2004. It covered only 78 bids and is old. |
How do you work out your break-even rate?
Divide what one bid costs you by the profit you expect from the contract. That is the win rate you need to cover your bidding.
Say a bid costs you 3,500, and the contract should earn you 70,000. You need to win 5% of bids like it. If the contract earns only 17,500, you need 20%. This example comes from ConstructConnect.
Use the break-even calculator with your own numbers.
What does a bid cost?
Count everything, because staff time is easy to miss. The 2004 survey found contractors spent about 3% of turnover on winning work, though its sample was small. Track your own cost on your next few bids.
- Staff hours on reading, pricing and writing.
- Tender document fees.
- Site visits.
- Bid security charges.
- Printing, delivery and any outside help.
How do you improve your rate?
Most firms gain more by choosing better than by writing more. These steps help.
- Say no sooner. A bid or no-bid check saves the cost of weak bids.
- Bid only where you meet the qualification rules.
- Count how many bids were rejected for compliance. See what non-responsive means.
- Ask for a debrief after each loss. See how to challenge a tender award.
- Record your results by buyer, type and size of job.
How can Bidligence help?
Bidligence gives each tender a Bid Score out of 100, with a recommendation. You then record your own bid or no-bid decision. It cannot promise that you will win, and no honest tool can.
Questions
- Is a higher win rate always better?
- No. A very high rate can mean you bid too cheaply or too rarely. Check your profit as well as your rate.
- How many bids do I need before my rate means anything?
- We know of no fixed number. A rate from a few bids can move a lot, so treat it as a rough signal.
- Should I count a rejected bid as a loss?
- Yes, but track it separately. A rejected bid points to a compliance problem, and a lost bid points to price or quality.
Sources
Rules and portals change. Check the tender’s own documents and the official source before you rely on any of this.