How digital takeoff and estimating software works, which tools each trade uses, and how we turn your drawings into a priced Excel estimate.
Our day-to-day takeoff and estimating tools are PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu and Microsoft Excel. Deliverables are Excel workbooks and PDF markups, so they open on any computer and import into most estimating systems.
Every quantity is drawn on the plan in its own colour and listed beside it, so you can check any number against the drawing. (Illustration.)
Tools such as PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu, On-Screen Takeoff and STACK display your PDF or CAD drawings. The estimator first sets the scale from a known dimension, then draws over the plans: areas for slabs, floors and roofs, lines for walls, pipe and duct, and counts for fixtures, devices and doors. Each measurement is saved as a coloured condition, so anyone can see exactly what was counted.
Instead of measuring the same wall five times, an assembly links one measurement to every item it needs. A wall type measured once in linear feet produces studs, track, board on both sides, insulation, tape, compound and labor hours. Assemblies make takeoffs faster and keep quantities consistent.
Trade systems such as Trimble Accubid, McCormick, AutoBid and IntelliBid carry thousands of material items with labor units. After takeoff, the estimator applies labor factors for height, building type and conditions and updates material pricing from suppliers.
When a Revit model exists, quantities can be extracted directly from model elements. It is fast for well-built models, but quantities are only as good as the model, so they still need checking against the drawings and specifications.
Earthwork tools build an existing surface and a proposed surface from grading plans or CAD files and calculate cut and fill on a grid, by area and by material layer.
Whatever tool measures the quantities, almost every estimate ends in Excel for pricing, markups, bid leveling and sharing with owners, GCs and subcontractors.
The tools commonly used across the industry for each trade. Product names belong to their owners and are listed for information; we are not affiliated with these vendors.
| Bluebeam Revu | PDF markup and measurement tool used to review sets, compare revisions and measure areas, lengths and counts with visible markups. |
|---|---|
| PlanSwift | On-screen takeoff with assemblies, so one measurement produces all related materials and labor; exports to Excel. |
| On-Screen Takeoff (ConstructConnect) | Long-established digital takeoff tool for measuring conditions across a plan set. |
| STACK | Cloud takeoff and estimating with shared projects for estimating teams. |
| ProEst, Sage Estimating, Procore Estimating | Estimating databases and bid management, with cost libraries, markups and proposal output. |
| Microsoft Excel | Still the universal format for estimates, bid leveling and schedules of values. |
| PlanSwift / Bluebeam | Slab areas, footing lengths, wall areas and pier counts with depth and thickness attributes to produce cubic yards. |
|---|---|
| STACK | Area and linear conditions with concrete assemblies for formwork, mesh and finishing. |
| RebarCAD, aSa Rebar | Detailing and bar-list software used by rebar fabricators to produce schedules and weights. |
| Trimble AutoBid Mechanical / AutoBid SheetMetal | Mechanical estimating with duct and pipe fitting databases and labor units. |
|---|---|
| Trimble FastEST | Mechanical, plumbing and sheet metal takeoff with fitting-by-fitting pricing. |
| ConEst IntelliBid | MEP estimating with labor and material databases. |
| Bluebeam / PlanSwift | Duct runs, equipment counts and diffuser counts from PDF mechanical sheets. |
| Trimble Accubid | Electrical estimating with assemblies, labor units and supplier price updates. |
|---|---|
| McCormick Systems | Electrical estimating and digital takeoff used by many electrical contractors. |
| ConEst IntelliBid | Electrical takeoff and estimating with material and labor databases. |
| Procore Estimating | Cloud takeoff for counting devices and measuring runs. |
| Bluebeam Revu | Device counts and circuit lengths, popular for fire alarm and low voltage scopes. |
| Trimble AutoBid Mechanical / FastEST | Pipe and fitting takeoff by system, material and size with labor units. |
|---|---|
| ConEst IntelliBid Mechanical | Plumbing and piping estimates with material databases. |
| PlanSwift / Bluebeam | Fixture counts and pipe runs from PDF plumbing plans and risers. |
| On-Screen Takeoff | Widely used by interior contractors for wall-type takeoffs. |
|---|---|
| PlanSwift | Wall assemblies that turn one linear measurement into studs, track, board, tape and labor. |
| STACK | Cloud wall-type and finish takeoff with templates for drywall and painting. |
| Bluebeam Revu | Measuring wall lengths and finish areas with visible, shareable markups. |
| Trimble Business Center | Builds existing and proposed surfaces for cut and fill and machine-control models. |
|---|---|
| AGTEK | Earthwork takeoff from CAD and PDF grading plans with volume reports by area. |
| InSite SiteWork | Earthwork, utility and paving takeoff for site contractors. |
| Carlson Takeoff | Surface-based earthwork quantities from CAD drawings. |
| PlanSwift / Bluebeam | Roof areas, perimeters, ridges and penetrations from roof plans. |
|---|---|
| Aerial measurement reports | Roof measurement reports from aerial imagery, common for re-roof and residential work. |
| Tekla Structures, SDS2 | 3D steel detailing and modeling software used by fabricators and detailers. |
|---|---|
| Bluebeam / PlanSwift | Member counts and lengths from framing plans to calculate tonnage. |
| Autodesk Revit | Building information modeling; schedules extract quantities directly from the model. |
|---|---|
| Autodesk Navisworks / Autodesk Takeoff | Model review and 2D/3D quantity takeoff from design models. |
| Assemble | Model-based quantity extraction and grouping from Revit models. |
| AutoCAD | 2D drafting standard for plans, details and shop drawings. |
|---|---|
| Revit | 3D modeling and documentation for architectural and MEP design. |
| SketchUp | Fast 3D massing and design models. |
| Lumion, Enscape, V-Ray | Rendering engines for photo-realistic exterior and interior images. |
Can't find your answer? Call (850) 343-4090 or email info@premiumestimatings.com.
PlanSwift and Bluebeam Revu for takeoff and markups, and Excel for pricing and the delivered estimate.
Our estimates are Excel workbooks organized by CSI division, which most estimating programs and bid tools can import or reference. Tell us your software and we will confirm the best layout.
No. You receive an Excel file and PDF markups that open on any computer.
It is faster and easier to check, because every measurement is visible on the plans. Accuracy still depends on correct scaling and on the estimator reading the drawings and specifications properly.
Yes. We work from DWG and DXF files and can use model data where it helps, always checked against the drawings.
Send your drawings and we'll reply with a price and delivery date before any work starts.