Hi! Can all of you please give me an idea what is standard pricing per drop for network cabling to be run in large offices that are being fully remodeled. I'll have full access as the ceiling grids and drywall will be off when I pre-wire. These jobs will have me home running Cat6 from a server room to 17-20 different offices all located on the same floor. All my past projects I've quoted as a complete project but this GC wants the pricing per drop. If two network cables are needed in the same room is that considered two drops. Also, does the price per drop include the trim out/termination portion after drywall and paint? I need to know typical pricing in the Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles markets. Thanks!

Typically, the pricing that is done per drop means per wire. If you charge 50-100 per drop, its times two when you are pulling two. I usually find the average distance, then price accordingly. Remember, this is not just materials cost, it is also labor, so look it over to good.

Pre-wire does NOT included trim-out. That also has to be calculated to an average.

Thanks so much! That really helps. In Socal what do you think is a typical price per drop as $50-$100 per is quite a spread. Thanks.

In Houston, if the average run is under 50' $50.00 per. Under 100' $75.00 Over 100' is $100.00

Is it a plenum ceiling?

Are you installing the patch panels, racks, ladder rack, etc?

Is it cable tray or zone pipe or just caddy rings?

Are you installing it in modular furniture?

Are there cables that come through the flooring in any way? What about power poles to the furniture?

Those are all great questions. This is suspended ceiling and metal framing. Prewire will be done before drywall and ceiling tiles go in. They are looking at two Cat6 to each office at a single wall and wall plate. Any racks, etc. will be handled by a separate IT company who will be doing everything but the prewire.

Thanks! That works for me. You Rocked it.

You need to know if its a plenum ceiling. That will have a major impact on material costs.

If it's commercial, most companies just put in plenum regardless. Also are you trimming out wall plates? If so, does it have to be panduit (2-4 times the cost of many other 45 jacks).

for cabling jobs we've done, we were responsible for wiring and terminating at each end. I estimate using a panduit cat6 45 jack at each end, wall plate on one and labor. Racks are senate, but labor includes routing into rack.

i think per drop avg for warehouse or large work has been $225-$425 per drop depending on the building and retro vs new.

new construction or even just small offices in general would probably be $125-$200.