--- title: 10 Steps to Making Better Estimates description: 10 Steps to Making Better Estimates for software teams using agile methodologies. image: https://www.catapultlabs.com/hubfs/1_uIc3rBN3HvrbWvTP9SFBBw.jpg --- Menu - ###### Products ![](https://www.catapultlabs.com/hubfs/Site/Navbar/Vector%20(Stroke).svg) Team productivity - [Agile Retros](https://www.catapultlabs.com/retrospectives) - [Scrum Poker](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1218960/scrumpoker-estimates-for-jira?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) - [TeamPulse](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1227873/teampulse-health-check-ins-for-jira?tab=overview&hosting=cloud) - [StandBot](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1217825/standbot-slack-stand-up-bot-for-jira?hosting=server&tab=overview) Customer support - [Freshdesk + Trello](https://www.freshworks.com/apps/freshdesk/trello) - [Freshservice + Trello](https://www.freshworks.com/apps/freshservice/trello) - ###### Solutions New![](https://www.catapultlabs.com/hubfs/Site/Navbar/Vector%20(Stroke).svg) Team productivity - [DevEx New](https://www.catapultlabs.com/solutions/devex) - ###### Platforms![](https://www.catapultlabs.com/hubfs/Site/Navbar/Vector%20(Stroke).svg) Atlassian - [Agile Retros](https://www.catapultlabs.com/agile-retrospectives-for-jira-and-confluence) - [Scrum Poker](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1218960/scrumpoker-estimates-for-jira?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) - [TeamPulse](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1227873/teampulse-health-check-ins-for-jira?tab=overview&hosting=cloud) - [StandBot](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1217825/standbot-slack-stand-up-bot-for-jira?hosting=server&tab=overview) Trello - [Agile Retros](https://trello.com/power-ups/61f7eba5e29fd13c6884a214/agile-retrospectives) monday.com - [Agile Retros](https://monday.com/marketplace/124) Slack - [StandBot](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1217825/standbot-slack-stand-up-bot-for-jira?hosting=server&tab=overview) Freshworks - [Freshdesk + Trello](https://www.freshworks.com/apps/freshdesk/trello) - [Freshservice + Trello](https://www.freshworks.com/apps/freshservice/trello) - ###### Resources![](https://www.catapultlabs.com/hubfs/Site/Navbar/Vector%20(Stroke).svg) - [Help center](https://help.catapultlabs.com/) - [Blog](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog) - [Jira DevEx Guide](https://www.catapultlabs.com/guide/developer-experience-jira) - [Contact Us](https://www.catapultlabs.com/contact) - [Atlassian Marketplace](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/vendors/1213059/catapult-labs-llc) - StandBot for Slack Stop worrying about your stand-up logistics! 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They are rarely 100% correct, but you can make better estimates if you follow these steps. [CatapultLabs](https://www.catapultlabs.com/) as usual sharing what we've learned in our Agile journey Keep in mind that estimates are only one aspect of [making your next software project successful from the start.](http://nearsoft.com/blog/how-to-make-your-next-software-project-successful-from-the-start/) You need to be fully aware of [How to adopt Scrum in your team](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog/how-to-adopt-scrum-in-your-team). #### Without Further Ado - Get the whole team to learn what the user Stories are all about. It is very important that everybody in the team understands all the features that go into a Sprint. Clarify the requirements until everybody understands, in depth, what they are estimating.This will save you time down the line, and remember: [In Agile, as in life, time is precious](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog/in-agile-as-in-life-time-is-precious). - The team must include an active Product Owner, otherwise do not make with estimates. - The Product Owner needs to answer every question the team raises. If the team doesn’t raise any question, then you have a problem. Keep at it until everybody understands all the Stories in the same way. - Use Planning Poker to involve the whole team in making estimates. For distributed teams, you can use a tool like [Scrum Poker for Confluence](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1215875/scrum-poker-estimates-for-confluence?utm_source=lejun&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=post16) or [Scrum Poker for Jira app](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/plugins/scrum-poker-jira/cloud/overview?utm_source=lejun&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=post16), whatever tool you use. These integrations save a LOT of time. - Alternatively, have the team make three estimates for every Story: best case, worst case, and most likely case, in that order (i.e., ask for their most likely estimates last). You need to give people a chance to first be their usual optimistic (best case) or pessimistic (worst case) selves. Once they get this out of their system, they are in a better position to come up with a realistic most likely estimate. Once you have these numbers, you can calculate the ETA as, > (Best Case + 4 \* Most Likely + Worst Case) / 6 - Promote a participative culture in your team. Ask and encourage others to challenge estimates that seem out of range. Why is the estimate so high? Why so low? This discussion might uncover obstacles and opportunities that would normally go unnoticed. The [Key Elements of an Agile culture](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog/key-elements-of-an-agile-culture) might be helpful. As weel as establishing culture using the [Prime Directive](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog/the-agile-retrospectives-prime-directive). - Keep cycling through the estimates until every single question has been answered and each estimate has been sanity-checked by the whole team. BTW, besides better estimates, this process really cements the team’s commitment to these estimates. - Calculate the team’s capacity per Sprint as: > Capacity = #team members \* working hours \* days in Sprint - It’s important to take into account vacations, holidays, personal time off, and anything else that may limit capacity (e.g., office move). And once you know the team’s Capacity, then you can figure out how much payload you can fit in a Sprint. - To learn from your estimation process, keep track of metrics, especially deviations. Once you have history from at least three Sprints, you can use these statistics to polish future estimates. It is very, very important that this be a commitment-driven process. The Sprint goal must be crystal clear and the whole team must be on board with it. A committed team will make sure that Sprints are delivered as promised. As your team gets better at making accurate estimates, they’d get [better at making their next software project successful](http://nearsoft.com/blog/how-to-make-your-next-software-project-successful-from-the-start/). Original post by [Julio Cesar Gonzalez](https://twitter.com/jcquijada) on [Nearsoft Inc’s Blog](http://nearsoft.com/blog/10-steps-to-making-better-estimates/?utm_source=http%3A%2F%2Fnearsoft.com%2Fblog%2F10-steps-to-making-better-estimates%2F&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Planningwith.cards%20medium). --- Trying to improve your #Agile practices? OR are you getting started with Agile? Are you in a remote team? Check out our products for Agile teams at [CatapultLabs](https://www.catapultlabs.com/). We focus on making agile ceremonies more effective and easier to adopt for remote teams. At Catapult Labs, we believe distributed Agile teams deserve tools that reduce friction, not add it. Tools that work where they already are — in Jira, in Slack, in Confluence. Tools that help them communicate better, stay aligned, and get real value from their agile rituals. Because when feedback flows and teams feel heard, work gets better — for everyone. **Make Agile Work for Your Team — Not Just the Process.**   [Check us out in the Atlassian Marketplace](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/vendors/1213059/catapult-labs-llc) ![Luis Ortiz](https://www.catapultlabs.com/hubfs/Luis%20Ortiz%20headshot.png) Luis Ortiz Luis is the Co-Founder and leads Growth at Catapult Labs. He writes about practical Agile workflows across Jira, Confluence, and Slack, helping teams run better stand-ups, retrospectives, and improve productivity without meeting overload. #### You might also like ##### [Remote Work Tips for More Accurate Estimating Sessions Tips for More Accurate Estimating Sessions Luis Ortiz Dec 26, 2024](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog/tips-for-more-accurate-estimating-sessions) ##### [jira Stop Playing Favorites: Why Planning Poker Improves Estimation Accuracy Jira estimation bias creeps in when the loudest voice anchors the room. See how blind, simultaneous Planning Poker votes fix it for good. Luis Ortiz Jul 30, 2026](https://www.catapultlabs.com/blog/jira-estimation-bias-planning-poker) ##### [Remote Work Leading a Happy Remote Team Practical ways to lead a happy, engaged remote team: embrace remote work, create together, build team culture, and use the right tools for agile... 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