Side by side
| Quantity takeoff | Cost estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers | How much material? | What is the price? |
| Output | Quantities by item: CY, SF, LF, EA, tons | Quantities × unit costs + markups |
| Includes labor? | No | Yes, by crew productivity |
| Includes equipment? | No | Yes |
| Typical user | Subs and suppliers who price in-house | GCs and subs building a bid |
| Format | Excel quantity list + marked-up plans | Excel estimate by CSI division + summary |
What goes into a quantity takeoff
A takeoff measures every item on the drawings and lists it with its unit:
- Concrete in cubic yards, rebar in tons
- Drywall and flooring in square feet
- Pipe, conduit, base and trim in linear feet
- Doors, fixtures and devices by count
A good takeoff also shows waste factors separately and includes marked-up plans so each number can be checked.
What a cost estimate adds
A cost estimate takes the takeoff and adds:
- Material pricing for the project location
- Labor, calculated from productivity rates and local wage rates
- Equipment such as lifts, pumps and excavators
- General conditions, supervision and temporary facilities
- Markups: overhead, profit, bonds, insurance and contingency
The result is a number you can submit, organized so you can see where the money is.
Which one do you need?
Choose a takeoff if you already have reliable unit costs for your crews and only need the measuring done.
Choose a full estimate if you are bidding a new trade, a new region or a large project, or if your estimator has no time to price.
Get either one from Premium Estimating
We prepare quantity takeoffs and fully priced construction cost estimates for contractors across the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia. Single-trade work starts from $300. Send us your plans for a quote.
Need a number you can bid from? Send us your plans for a quote, or see our pricing.