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Units of Measureaka: EAaka: unit

Each

In Plain English

A unit meaning 'per item,' used when counting individual components like doors, fixtures, or outlets.

Definition

Each (abbreviated EA) is a unit of measure used in construction estimating and bidding when items are counted individually rather than measured by length, area, or volume. Items commonly priced per each include doors, windows, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, fire sprinkler heads, and electrical devices. Using 'each' allows estimators and suppliers to price a quantity of discrete, identical items without further dimensional qualification.

Why It Matters in Bidding

In bidding and estimating, 'each' (EA) is the unit that drives pricing for discrete, countable components such as doors, fixtures, sprinkler heads, and devices, so an accurate count directly determines the bid total for those scopes. Miscounting eaches from the drawings, or applying a per-each price to an item that should be measured by length or area, is a frequent source of bid errors that surface as change orders or margin loss during construction.

Example

During takeoff the estimator counted 47 hollow-metal doors at $1,200 each, flagging three door types the spec priced differently so the quantities matched the door schedule exactly.

Related Terms

Unit PriceLump SumLinear Foot

Frequently Asked Questions

Use 'each' for discrete, identical, countable items like doors, light fixtures, or outlets where dimensions do not change the unit price. Switch to linear foot for items measured by length such as pipe, conduit, or trim, and square foot for area-based work like drywall or flooring. The wrong unit distorts both quantity and price.
On unit-price contracts, each line shows a quantity, the unit 'EA,' and a per-item rate, and the owner pays that rate for the actual installed count. This lets the owner adjust quantities during construction without renegotiating the whole contract, and it protects the contractor when as-built counts differ from the estimated takeoff.
Frequent errors include double-counting items shown on multiple drawing sheets, missing items buried in details or schedules, and overlooking that visually identical items carry different prices, such as a fire-rated door versus a standard one. Cross-checking the count against the door, fixture, or equipment schedules catches these discrepancies before the bid goes out.

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