How do you do takeoffs?

Are you still using pen and paper? Perhaps you’ve switched to an on-screen tool, or maybe
you’ve already tried AI tools that do the heavy lifting for you.

Regardless of your current method, one thing’s clear: takeoff software has become essential in the construction industry. Everyone aims to work faster and reduce errors. 

However, takeoffs are where speed must align with accuracy. Get it right, and your estimate stands on solid ground. Get it wrong, and you’re facing budget overruns and missed timelines before the project even begins.

In this post, we’ll explore what makes a takeoff tool effective and take a look at some of the top options available in 2025.

What Makes a Great Takeoff Software?

Selecting the right takeoff software can significantly impact your estimating process. A well-suited tool can save hours per project, minimize costly errors, and keep you ahead of the competition. To make an informed choice, consider the following key qualities:

1. Accuracy

The primary purpose of takeoff software is to deliver precise quantities. If the numbers aren’t reliable, nothing else matters. Seek a solution that can extract data cleanly from your plan sets and provide consistent, dependable results. Precision in takeoffs lays the foundation for accurate estimating and bidding.

2. Speed 

In the bidding process, the speed at which you build estimates can determine whether you win or lose a bid. Effective takeoff software enables a swift transition from plan review to quantity takeoff without compromising accuracy. It should reduce busywork, allowing your team to focus on pricing, planning, and strategy.

3. Ease of Use 

A powerful platform is only beneficial if your team is comfortable using it. The best takeoff tools are intuitive and don’t require extensive training. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, the interface should feel approachable. Estimators should be able to jump in, get to work, and easily find what they need.

4. Collaborate Capabilities

Construction projects are rarely solo endeavors. Estimators, project managers, and stakeholders all need access to the same information. Your takeoff software should support shared access, real-time edits, and feedback loops. Consider these questions to assess the collaborative features:

• Can multiple team members work on the same plan sets?

• Can a project manager review and provide feedback?

• Does it function seamlessly for remote or hybrid teams?

5. Support 

Good support matters, especially during onboarding or when new features roll out. Reliable documentation and faster response help prevent small issues from turning into project delays. When your team is accessing a new platform, having access to real humans (not just chatbots) makes all the difference. 

This is when a responsive, knowledgeable support becomes invaluable. Choose software backed by strong onboarding, clear documentation, and real people who respond when you need assistance the most.

Top Construction Takeoff Software in 2025

Here are some of the best construction takeoff tools available for contractors. 

1. Beam AI 

Beam AI is designed for teams ready to move beyond time-consuming material takeoffs without losing control or confidence in the numbers. You upload your drawings, define your scope of work, and within 24 to 72 hours, you get a complete, ready-to-use takeoff. No tracing, or extensive clicking. Just accurate quantities, reviewed and verified by expert estimators.

The platform supports 16+ trades, helping you save up to 90% of your time on takeoffs and enabling you to bid on 30% more jobs.

Why it stands out:

• • Fully automated takeoffs: Eliminates manual tracing, delivering accurate quantities swiftly.
    

  • Reviewed by expert estimators to guarantee ±1% of your in-house accuracy: Ensures reliability and trust in the results
    .
  • Simple editing toolbar for quick modifications: Allows for easy adjustments post-takeoff.

  • Export Takeoffs: Takeoffs delivered in custom Excel reports, PDF, or shareable links for easy estimating and handoffs

• Resubmit Takeoffs:  Resubmit takeoffs when an addendum is issued. Compare changes between drawings and obtain updated quantities effortlessly.
  

• Auto-detect Spec Details:  Get spec details keyed in notes to make assumptions and perform takeoffs so that you don’t have to read through 100s of sheets.
  

• Resubmit takeoff feature: Quickly resubmit takeoffs when an addendum is issued. Compare changes between drawings and obtain updated quantities effortlessly.

Ideal for: Busy estimating teams that want fast, accurate AI-based takeoffs without the manual grind.

2. PlanSwift 

PlanSwift is a hands-on desktop application tailored for estimators who prefer direct control. Users can trace over plans using point-and-click tools to create accurate takeoffs with manual precision. Integration with Excel and support for various trades, including concrete, drywall, electrical, and HVAC, make PlanSwift a flexible choice for contractors seeking a balance between manual control and digital efficiency.

Strengths:

• Point-and-Click Interface: Measure areas, lengths, and volumes directly from digital blueprints with ease.

• Custom Assemblies: Create and apply custom formulas and assemblies for materials and labor, enhancing estimation accuracy.

• Excel Integration: Seamlessly export data to Excel for further analysis or integration with other estimating tools.

• Trade-Specific Plugins: Access a range of plugins tailored to specific trades, expanding the software’s versatility.

Ideal for: Estimators and contractors who value hands-on precision and customization in their takeoff and estimating processes.

3. Bluebeam Revu 

While not exclusively a takeoff software, Revu offers robust measurement capabilities that assist estimators in performing accurate quantity takeoffs directly within PDF drawings. The software also features dynamic fill, which enables quick area selections for complex shapes, and quantity link, which connects measurement data to Excel for seamless bid calculations.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive Measurement Tools: Measure lengths, areas, volumes, and counts with precision directly on PDFs.

• Dynamic Fill: Quickly select and calculate complex areas by filling enclosed regions.

• Quantity Link: Link measurement data to Excel for automatic bid calculations.

• Studio Collaboration: Collaborate in real-time with team members on the same documents, regardless of location.

• Custom Tool Sets: Create and share standardized markup tools to maintain consistency across projects.

Ideal for: AEC professionals seeking an integrated platform for PDF markups, measurements, and team collaboration within their existing workflows.

4. STACK 

STACK is a cloud-based platform that offers both takeoff and estimating tools. It enables multiple team members to work on the same project from different locations, with real-time updates. The platform offers a suite of tools that facilitate efficient project management, including document control, field collaboration, and customizable workflows.

Strengths:

• Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple team members can collaborate simultaneously, improving efficiency and decision-making.

• Integrated Estimating Tools: Generate detailed estimates with pre-built libraries, assemblies, and customizable templates.

• Document Management: Organize and manage project documents, plans, and specifications within a centralized platform.

• Field Collaboration: Share documents, assign tasks, and manage issues directly from the job site using STACK’s mobile app

Ideal for: Contractors and construction professionals seeking a comprehensive, cloud-based solution for takeoff, estimating, and project collaboration.

5. Togal.AI

Togal.AI uses artificial intelligence to speed up manual takeoff workflows. It assists estimators by auto-detecting and labeling areas in construction drawings, reducing the amount of manual clicking and measuring required. While it still requires user oversight, it significantly reduces time spent on repetitive tasks.

Strengths:

• Togal.CHAT: An AI assistant that allows users to interact with project documents using natural language, facilitating quick information retrieval
• AI-Driven Image Search: Enables users to search and count specific elements across drawings efficiently
• Auto-Naming of Drawings: Automatically names and organizes uploaded plans, saving time on manual labeling
• Real-Time Collaboration: Supports multiple users working simultaneously on the same project, enhancing team coordination. 

Limitations:

• Currently focused on floor areas, walls, and fixtures.
• Does not detect plan changes across addenda.
• Doesn’t offer complete takeoffs, as it doesn’t capture all quantity types.

Ideal for: Construction professionals seeking an AI-driven solution to expedite partial takeoffs and enhance collaboration, while supplementing with manual checks for complete accuracy.

How to Choose the Right Construction Takeoff Software

Selecting the right takeoff software isn’t just about checking off feature boxes. It starts with a clear understanding of how your team works, what kind of projects you take on, and what’s the gap you want to fill in your current process. 

Start by asking a few key questions:

• How large is your estimating team?
• Are your projects more standardized or complex with custom scopes?
• How often are you generating takeoffs, and under what time constraints?
• Do you prefer full automation or a tool that offers more manual control?
• What’s your current software stack, and does the takeoff tool need to integrate with it?
• And most importantly, what’s your available budget for software?

For smaller teams or companies handling simpler scopes, a tool like PlanSwift may provide the right level of control at a manageable cost. 

If your biggest pain point is time, especially in the early bidding phase, Beam AI is worth serious consideration. It eliminates the need for manual tracing, delivers expert estimator’s validated takeoffs, and gives you confidence that quantities are accurate from day one.

Ultimately, the best software aligns with your workflow, scales with your projects, and enhances your preconstruction process.

Final Thoughts

The takeoff process is too critical to overlook. Whether you need to expedite workflows, collaborate remotely, or manage complex projects, there’s a tool designed to meet your needs.

Digital takeoff software has evolved significantly. Teams now have access to faster, smarter, and more connected options than ever before.

Explore the available tools, and find the one that saves your team time without compromising accuracy.