Best Takeoff Software
Takeoff software automates and helps standardize the process of establishing and estimating costs in a construction project. Construction takeoff, also referred to as quantity takeoff or material takeoff (MTO), counts, measures, and creates lists of any materials, labor, or other resources that a construction project requires. Takeoff exists firmly within the pre-construction (pre-con) phase of the construction project lifecycle; effective and efficient takeout software results in accurate construction estimates, which in turn mitigates any unrealistic expectations or increased costs at the end of a project.
Construction takeoff software digitizes the previously manual, time-consuming, and error-prone process to streamline the entire bidding process. Both project owners and contractors can leverage takeoff software to determine pricing for materials and resources when generating and publishing bills of materials (or bills of quantities) and bids. Construction takeoff software can exist as a standalone solution or bundled into the functionality of more comprehensive construction estimating software.
To qualify for inclusion in the Takeoff category, a product must:
Best Takeoff Software At A Glance
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- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Autodesk Construction Cloud™ connects workflows, teams and data at every stage of construction to reduce risk, maximize efficiency, and increase profits. Autodesk Build is part of Autodesk Constructi
- BIM Manager
- Project Manager
- Construction
- Architecture & Planning
- 45% Mid-Market
- 31% Enterprise
275,662 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Procore construction software manages your construction projects, resources and financials from planning to closeout. The platform connects every project contributor to solutions built specifically fo
- Project Manager
- Project Engineer
- Construction
- Architecture & Planning
- 49% Mid-Market
- 39% Small-Business
16,428 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Bluebeam is the leading provider of digital productivity and collaboration solutions for industries that design and build our world. Trusted by over 3 million users in more than 160 countries, Blue
- Project Manager
- Project Engineer
- Construction
- Architecture & Planning
- 44% Mid-Market
- 36% Small-Business
7,160 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
On-Screen Takeoff® (OST) is the industry’s trusted digital takeoff solution that helps contractors measure plans faster, smarter, and more accurately. As the first digital takeoff software in preconst
- Estimator
- Construction
- 67% Small-Business
- 42% Mid-Market
56,064 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Beam AI automates the construction takeoff process for general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. It reads site plans and spec sheets to deliver accurate material quantities—without manual tr
- Construction
- 69% Small-Business
- 31% Mid-Market
186 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
ConWize is a cutting-edge cloud-based software utilized today by general contractors, developers, subcontractors, and management companies. Our customers' biggest challenge in bid management and estim
- Estimator
- Bid Manager
- Construction
- Civil Engineering
- 58% Mid-Market
- 32% Small-Business
54 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Togal.AI is the fastest, most user-friendly takeoff tool built BY estimators, FOR estimators. With a combination of cutting-edge manual takeoff tools and easy-to-use AI features, Togal's pre-construct
- Construction
- 61% Small-Business
- 32% Mid-Market
370 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
From project evaluation to completion, contractors use STACK’s cloud-based software to help run their business and maximize their profits. Save time with STACK's powerful, time-saving AI features. Ac
- Estimator
- Construction
- 76% Small-Business
- 9% Mid-Market
1,118 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Never miss the right job opportunity again. AI-powered estimating built for the busy builder who does it all. Designed for residential builders and remodelers, Buildxact helps you manage every sta
- Director
- Construction
- 94% Small-Business
- 4% Enterprise
676 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
PlanSwift is the #1 Takeoff and Estimating software in the world! Created by estimators for estimators, PlanSwift will save you time and money while greatly increasing your accuracy! With PlanSwifts
- Estimator
- Construction
- Civil Engineering
- 61% Small-Business
- 27% Mid-Market
56,064 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Countfire is electrical estimating software that uses automation to help electrical estimators work faster and increase accuracy. Take off drawings 10x faster and win more work. Features include:
- Electrical Estimator
- Estimator
- Construction
- Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
- 62% Small-Business
- 28% Mid-Market
66 Twitter followers
- Overview
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Speed up takeoff and reduce costly data entry errors with Trimble LiveCount, a cloud-based digital takeoff software for MEP Contractors. With multi-user support and fast Auto Count symbol recognition,
- Design
- Construction
- 45% Enterprise
- 38% Mid-Market
11,965 Twitter followers
- Overview
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Now an Autodesk company, ProEst is the industry’s leading cloud-based estimating and pre-construction management software, offering contractors new levels of process efficiency, information accuracy,
- Estimator
- Construction
- 71% Small-Business
- 29% Mid-Market
275,662 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Methvin is a comprehensive, cloud-based platform built to support construction professionals in producing precise estimates and managing projects with efficiency. By integrating advanced estimating me
- Construction
- Civil Engineering
- 55% Small-Business
- 27% Enterprise
15 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
The Trades' Edge Starts Here: Simpro is the AI-First Operating Platform built to eliminate complexity, unlock clarity, and double contractor profitability. Contractors deserve a platform that works as
- Office Manager
- Director
- Construction
- Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
- 75% Small-Business
- 24% Mid-Market
2,396 Twitter followers
Learn More About Takeoff Software
What is Takeoff Software?
Takeoff software helps construction professionals manage the takeoff process during the preconstruction phase of a project. Takeoff, also referred to as quantity or material takeoff, is the process of estimating how much of each type of material is needed for a particular project and how much those materials will cost. Takeoff solutions digitize what has traditionally been a time-consuming manual process. The material cost is then added to operational and labor costs to produce a comprehensive estimate of the entire project's cost. The takeoff is vital to construction professionals, as it helps establish baselines against which to compare subcontractor estimates, ensuring that pricing across the project is fair, and guarding against artificial inflation based on overestimates of material costs. Construction takeoff software helps automate and streamline the entire takeoff process.
For example, a construction project manager or a general contractor is tasked with building a commercial warehouse. Before actually breaking ground and building the warehouse, they need to plan. During the planning phase, they would use takeoff software to create accurate estimates of how much of each material they need to complete the project as well as the cost of those materials.
What are the Common Features of Construction Takeoff Software?
The following are some core features within takeoff software that can help users:
Document markup: Takeoff solutions contain document markup features that allow users to alter plans, typically PDFs that users have uploaded, within the tool. The markup functionality gives users the ability to exert some manual control over the document and step in to complement the automation that takeoff and estimating software introduces into the quantity takeoff process.
Document management: Takeoff software manages documents related to specific projects. Users can collaborate on these projects and alter documents within the tool to help produce the most accurate takeoff possible. Instead of endless excel spreadsheets for specific projects, construction professionals can use construction takeoff software to streamline the process.
Construction solution integrations: Takeoff solutions often integrate with construction management solutions to provide a seamless transition from the takeoff process to the remainder of the preconstruction and construction phases of a given project. Takeoff solutions almost always integrate with construction estimating software, mainly if they don’t provide comprehensive estimating functionality. For cloud-based solutions, these integrations are easier than ever before, so takeoff solutions are becoming part of the preconstruction technology fabric.
What are the Benefits of Construction Takeoff Software?
Enhance takeoff accuracy: Takeoff software helps improve the accuracy of the material takeoff that construction companies produce during the preconstruction phase of a project. Takeoff has historically been an arduous, mostly manual process. Takeoff solutions digitize that process and help construction professionals produce the most accurate material takeoff possible. The more accurate the takeoff, the more accurate the project cost estimate. Construction professionals asking for subcontractor bids on particular parts of a given project can use the information produced during the takeoff process to better understand which bids are higher quality and in line with the costs laid out in the takeoff.
Win more bids: Companies looking to streamline their takeoff process and win more bids by creating more accurate takeoffs can utilize takeoff solutions. These solutions can help construction companies respond to bid packages faster and with more accurate information. Certain construction takeoff software may include specific features tailored toward specific sub-industries like roofing, drywall, landscaping, or HVAC.
Who Uses Construction Takeoff Software?
General contractors: Construction industry professionals, specifically general contractors, use takeoff software to improve their quantity takeoff by introducing automation into the workflow of producing material lists.
Subcontractors: Subcontractors looking to win more bids and enhance their takeoff accuracy can use takeoff solutions to improve their business. Specialty contractors may use the tools to automate part or all of their takeoff process by implementing a digital takeoff that automatically takes into account square footage and project plan details.
Software Related to Construction Takeoff Software
Related solutions that can be used together with takeoff software include:
Construction project management software: Takeoff solutions often integrate with construction project management software. Some comprehensive construction management suites contain native takeoff functionality.
Construction estimating software: Construction takeoff software often contains estimating functionality. If a particular takeoff software doesn’t include full-fledged estimating features, it should have native integrations with a construction estimating solution.
Challenges with Construction Takeoff Software
Takeoff solutions can come with their own set of challenges.
Interoperability: Takeoff is one part of the preconstruction process. Quantity takeoff solutions need to integrate with either estimating solutions or, ideally, with comprehensive construction project management tools to provide buyers with a seamless transition from the preconstruction phase of a project to the building phase.
Return on investment (ROI): ROI is one of the most important considerations for software buyers. While takeoff software provides obvious benefits, proving ROI is often difficult. To address this difficulty, users should track time saved during the takeoff process, takeoff accuracy, and bids won as inputs to calculating the ROI for the tool.
How to Buy Construction Takeoff Software
Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Takeoff Software
The selection team should put together the requirements list. The list should include any necessary integrations and contain security requirements compiled by the relevant security professionals.
Compare Construction Takeoff Software Products
Create a long list
The long list should contain products that meet the selection team's core requirements. These products should fall within the general range of acceptable prices.
Create a short list
The short list should be more cost and ROI-conscious and hone in on products with nice-to-have features. The short list should only have products that have been vetted for security concerns and those that will fit seamlessly into the company’s existing tech stack.
Conduct demos
During the demo process, the selection team should bring a list of questions and scenarios specific to the business. The demos should involve testing the various scenarios the business is likely to encounter.
Selection of Construction Takeoff Software
Choose a selection team
The selection team should include finance professionals, IT professionals with knowledge of the company’s technology stack, and the actual users. Selection team members should have in-depth knowledge of the core requirements and the goal of software selection.
Final decision
The selection team should decide based on the available information acquired during the vetting process. The decision should be based on functionality, ease of use, and demonstrated ROI as long as all core requirements have been met.
