Takeoff Software for Construction Gurus

Construction takeoff software is a computer program that helps contractors and project managers to obtain material counts and estimates from digital blueprints.

Now you might be asking, what is construction takeoff? Well, the term takeoff refers to the quantities and amount of labor required to complete a project.

Estimators rely on a project’s blueprint to determine the quantities and types of each material and the labour needed to complete each section of the project.

The takeoff list is then used to generate cost estimate and project bid.

Editor’s Note: The term takeoff usually implies that quantities of each material are “taken off’ (or removed from) the blueprint. 

Previously, contractors and project managers used to perform construction takeoff manually using printed blueprints, rulers, calculators and markers.

This is no longer necessary because advancements in technology have brought about some great software that simplify and enhance this procedure.

Here are some of the best takeoff software for construction:

1. PlanSwift

PlanSwift is a popular takeoff construction software, thanks to its powerful suite of features that combine takeoff and estimating capabilities into a single product.

It offers highly customizable features for various trades, including flooring, plumbing, drywall, HVAC, painting, electrical installation, insulation, masonry, framing, landscaping, etc.

PlanSwift offers a free 14-day trial after which it can be downloaded for a one-time fee of $1,595. Users can buy software updates and support for $300 a year.

A major drawback of PlanSwift is that it is not a cloud-based software, which means it must be installed on devices. It is also incompatible with Apple devices.

2. Stack

Stack is one of the best takeoff and estimating software for construction professionals. The cloud-based program allows users to quickly quantify plans during cost estimating process.

Stack users can upload plans from Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, Evernote, as well as directly from their local machines.

The software offers seamless integrations with various construction software, including SmartBid, Buildertrend, Procore, and Dodge Data and Analytics.

In terms of pricing, Stack is available in price tiers of between $1,999 per year to $4,999 or more – which can be quite expensive for many users.

3. PrebuiltML

PrebuiltML is available is two distinct versions: PrebuiltML PROtrade for professionals with trade-specific needs and PrebuiltML X for builders, framers, and dealers.

PrebuiltML PROtrade comes with preconfigured formulas and advanced 3D takeoff technology at a cost of $40 per month or $360 annually, which makes it suitable for most trades.

However, users are limited to generating only six material quantity reports per month, although this is not a limitation for professionals in most trades.

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On the other hand, PrebuiltML X offers all features in PROtrade as well as extra functions such as 3D viewer and access to a database of 50 million products.

The PrebuiltML X2 costs $90 per month or $995 per year when billed annually and incudes up to 10GB of free storage for 15 users.

The PrebuiltML X3 costs $110 per month or $1,195 per year when paid upfront and includes up to 100GB of free storage for unlimited users.

One of the main drawbacks of PrebuiltML is that the software only works on Windows machines. Some users also complain that the output file sizes are large.

Besides, fixing errors made while performing takeoff can be problematic.

4. On Center

On Center is a great takeoff software for construction, with an extensive range of tools that help builders with takeoff, bidding, estimates, and project tracking.

The software’s takeoff solution, which is known as On-Screen Takeoff, is a locally-installed solution designed to run on Windows 10 or later.

With intelligent paste logic, auto-counts, revision overlays, and multi-condition takeoff functionalities, On Center enables users to speed up the takeoff process while adapting to various circumstances and settings.

On Center has a light-weight version – known as PlanView, which includes some of the most basic takeoff features such as linear and area measurements.

Pricing details of the software are not publicly available.

5. Square Takeoff

Square Takeoff is a cloud-based takeoff software that automates takeoff, estimating, and bidding for both residential and commercial construction projects.

The software comes with an intuitive point-and-click interface that simplifies counting and calculations for takeoff.

Square Takeoff integrates with other tools such as Google Maps, Excel, and project manager software Buildertrend, which makes it a suitable tool for managing an entire workflow.

Prospective customers are allowed a free 14-day trial to test its functionalities, after which it becomes accessible at $997 per user in the first year and $399 per year afterwards.

6. Buildee

Though one of the newest additions to the takeoff software market ­– having been launched in 2018 – Buildee is quickly earning its spot among the market giants.

The cloud-based software has one of the best user interfaces, which allows users to upload multi-format files from their machines and begin takeoff within seconds.

Besides, data from takeoff is automatically fed into Buildee’s estimate generator, thereby saving the estimator’s time while improving accuracy.

Buildee is offered at a monthly subscription of $99 per user or $990 per year when billed annually. Both plans come with unlimited projects and storage.

7. eTakeoff Dimension

eTakeoff Dimension is designed to meet the diverse needs of builders of any trade as it comes with features for flooring, painting, ceilings, drywall, concrete, framing, masonry, steel, independent estimators, general contractors, etc.

The software is offered in three versions: Basic, Advanced, and Premier.

The Basic version, which is free, includes many of eTakeoff Dimension’s key functionalities, including basic takeoff features such as counts, area, arcs, etc.

It is one of the best ideas to acquire construction takeoff software free of charge.

The Advanced version costs $950 for a download, with a non-compulsory $190 yearly fee for maintenance and support. It allows users to create and save measurements and annotations, and to organise them by color or layer.

The Premier version costs $1,895 for a download with an optional fee of $380 per year for maintenance and support. It allows the addition of custom assemblies, which can greatly speed up takeoff for users working on similar projects.

However, eTakeoff Dimension is not a cloud-based software, which means it must be installed on devices. Besides, it only works on Windows devices.

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