Takeoff Step by Step Guide
A construction takeoff is the process of measuring the quantities needed to complete a project. Those measurements become the foundation of your estimate, helping you calculate material quantities, labour requirements, and project costs.
If you’re looking to understand what a construction takeoff is, see: What is a Construction Takeoff.
This guide walks you through the complete takeoff workflow inside TakeCost, from creating a project to sending your measurements directly into your estimate.
Step 1: Create a New Project
When starting a new project in TakeCost, you have two ways to begin depending on your workflow.
Option 1: Upload Drawings (Recommended)
If you’re performing a construction takeoff:
- Click New Project
- Enter your project name
- Select Upload Drawings
- Upload your PDF plans
- Click Create Project
This option lets you measure directly from your drawings and send quantities into your estimate.
Option 2: Start from an Estimate
If you don’t have drawings or simply want to build an estimate manually:
- Click New Project
- Enter your project name
- Select Start from Estimate
- Click Create Project
You can manually add line items, materials, labour, and pricing directly in the Worksheet without performing a takeoff.
Tip: You can always begin with a takeoff and send your quantities to the Worksheet later, or build an estimate entirely from scratch. TakeCost supports both workflows.
Step 2: Verify the Drawing Scale
Before taking measurements, confirm the drawing scale. A correctly scaled drawing ensures every measurement is accurate.
TakeCost allows you to:
- Verify the detected scale
- Manually set the scale if required
- Adjust the scale at any time
Step 3: Measure Your Drawings
Choose the measurement tool that matches the work you’re pricing.
Area Tool
Perfect for measuring:
- Flooring
- Roofing
- Concrete slabs
- Drywall
- Paint
- Insulation
- Surface materials
Linear Tool
Ideal for:
- Stud walls
- Framing
- Trim
- Baseboards
- Perimeters
- Piping
- Conduit
Count Tool
Quickly count items including:
- Doors
- Windows
- Light fixtures
- Floor drains
- Vents
- Anchors
- Electrical devices
Simply click each item on the drawing and TakeCost keeps an accurate running total.
Step 4: Build Smart Scopes as You Measure
Unlike traditional takeoff software, TakeCost lets you organize your measurements into Smart Scopes. A Smart Scope groups together everything required for a specific portion of work.
For example, a wall scope could include:
- Drywall
- Metal studs
- Track
- Insulation
- Screws
- Joint compound
- Labour
- Equipment
Instead of measuring every material individually, you simply apply the Smart Scope while measuring and TakeCost automatically builds the quantities for every included item.
This saves significant time while ensuring consistent estimates across every project.
Step 5: Configure Materials When Needed
You don’t need to build your entire material catalogue before starting a takeoff.
As you measure, you can:
- Select an existing material
- Create a new material
- Add pricing later
- Edit quantities at any time
This flexible workflow allows you to start measuring immediately without unnecessary setup.
Step 6: Review Quantities and Build Your Estimate
Once you’ve finished measuring, click Review Quantities.
TakeCost automatically opens the Estimate tab, where all of your measured quantities are organized into estimate line items.
From here you can:
- Review your quantities
- Add material pricing
- Add labour costs
- Include additional line items
- Apply markup
- Adjust quantities if needed
- Review project totals and profit
If you need to make changes, simply return to the Takeoff tab. Your quantities and estimate stay connected, so updates are reflected automatically.
Step 7: Customize and Generate Your Proposal
Once your estimate is complete, click the Proposal tab.
TakeCost automatically creates a professional proposal using the information from your estimate.
Before sharing it with your customer, you can customize exactly what appears in the proposal, including:
- Company information and logo
- Customer details
- Introductory message
- Which scopes to include
- Detailed or lump sum pricing
- Item names, quantities, units, and pricing
- Marked-up drawing pages
- Proposal notes, inclusions, exclusions, and assumptions
When you’re ready, simply download your client-ready proposal to send to your customer.
Whether you’re estimating a small renovation or a large commercial project, TakeCost simplifies the entire construction estimating process. From measuring drawings and organizing quantities to building estimates and generating professional proposals, everything stays connected in one platform to help you estimate faster and with greater confidence.