"Used to spend 2-3 days on commercial takeoffs. Now I get initial counts in 15 minutes and spend maybe an hour verifying. The time savings let me bid jobs I would have passed on before."
Construction Takeoff Software That Does the Counting For You
AI-assisted material takeoffs in 15 minutes. Upload plans, get initial counts, review and adjust. No manual counting, no 40-hour marathons.
AI-Powered
95%+ Accuracy
Upload and Count
Upload your construction plans and let AI handle the tedious counting. Get initial material counts in 15 minutes, ready for your review and adjustment.
Review and Verify
AI delivers organized material lists by category. Review flagged items where confidence is lower. Spot-check the rest. Total time: under an hour instead of 40+ hours.
Adjust and Markup
Use toggles and modifiers to adjust counts based on your experience. Add your 10-12% markup. The AI handles counting, you handle the judgment calls that matter.
Export and Bid
Export to Excel or CSV. Import into your existing estimating software. We handle the counting, you handle the pricing and markup in tools you already know.
TakeoffBuilder vs Traditional Construction Estimating Software
Most estimating software requires training, subscriptions, and manual point-and-click. Here's what's different.
Feature
TakeoffBuilder
Manual Counting
Time per takeoff
~15 minutes for a 30-page set
8-40 hours of estimator time
Bids per week
10x more proposals with same team
Limited by manual counting bottleneck
Error risk
Pay per use — credits never expire, no monthly fees
Human fatigue causes counting errors on long sets
Weekend work
Upload Friday, counts ready Monday AM
Estimator working weekends to meet deadlines
Cost per takeoff
Credits — no subscription, pay per project
Estimator salary or expensive sub-out
Cost Model
Works on scanned, hand-drawn, and CAD exports
Same effort regardless of plan quality
How It Works — Three Steps
Upload your PDF plans. Select your trade. Get counts back in about 15 minutes. Review flagged items, adjust if needed, export to Excel or CSV. No software to install. No training. No subscription.
- Upload any PDF plan set — CAD exports, scanned drawings, permit sets
- AI reads your plans in ~15 minutes, flags low-confidence items
- Export to Excel or CSV — import into any estimating software
The Manual Counting Problem
40+ hours per takeoff limits your bidding capacity
Pay When You Use It, Not Every Month
Most estimating software locks you into $240-$400 per year whether you use it or not. TakeoffBuilder is pay-per-use. Buy credits when you need them. They don't expire. Slow months cost you nothing.
- Sign up free to see a live example takeoff
- Pay per use—no subscription required
- Credits never expire—use at your pace
Takeoffs for Every Trade
AI-assisted takeoffs for electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and more. Each trade gets specialized symbol recognition and material lists formatted for your workflow.
Electrical Takeoffs
AI analyzes electrical plans to count receptacles, switches, fixtures, and devices. Get circuit counts, panel schedules, and wire footage. Review the AI's initial counts and adjust based on your experience with the project specifics.
- Component counts organized by category
- Circuit requirements and panel schedules
- Wire footage estimates and conduit runs
HVAC Takeoffs
AI extracts HVAC equipment, ductwork measurements, and diffuser counts from mechanical drawings. Get initial sizing calculations and material lists. You verify the counts and adjust for project-specific installation conditions.
- Equipment schedules and sizing calculations
- Ductwork measurements and diffuser counts
- Refrigerant piping and insulation requirements
Plumbing Takeoffs
AI analyzes plumbing plans to count fixtures, size pipe runs, and identify valve locations. Get drainage calculations and equipment lists. Review the AI's work and make adjustments based on your knowledge of the job site conditions.
- Fixture counts and equipment schedules
- Pipe sizing and valve schedules
- Drainage calculations and riser diagrams
General Construction Estimating
AI extraction for general construction quantities including concrete, steel, drywall, and finishes. Works across multiple construction disciplines for comprehensive project estimates.
- Material quantities for all major trades
- Labor hour estimates based on counts
- Works with commercial and residential plans
Contractors Using AI-Assisted Estimating
See how electrical, HVAC, and plumbing contractors are winning more bids with faster, more accurate takeoffs.
6 reviews
"The flagging system is what sold me. AI marks items it's uncertain about so I know exactly where to focus my review. I trust the bulk count and verify what matters."
"No training needed. Upload plans, get counts. Export to Excel and I'm pricing within minutes. This is how construction software should work."
"Pay per use is perfect for us. Some months we bid 3 jobs, some months 15. Credits never expire so I'm not wasting money on unused subscriptions."
"95% accuracy on a 47-page commercial set. I spot-checked a few sections manually and the counts matched. The AI doesn't get tired like I do after counting for hours."
"One platform for electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Don't need three different tools or subscriptions. Upload the full MEP set and get all trades counted."
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about AI-assisted construction takeoffs
How does the takeoff process work?
Three steps. Upload your PDF construction plans. Select your trade—electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or multi-trade. Download your material count in Excel format, usually within 10 minutes. No software to install, works from any browser.
- Upload plans, select trade, get results in 10 minutes
- Works in any browser, no software installation required
What's the accuracy rate?
On commercial electrical plans, we achieve 94.7% accuracy compared to manual takeoffs. Accuracy varies by trade and plan quality—hand-drawn details or unusual symbols may need manual review. We flag questionable items automatically so you can verify them.
- 94.7% accuracy on commercial electrical plans
- Questionable items flagged automatically for review
Will it work on my plans?
We work best on commercial construction plans with standard symbols. Residential plans work well too. Hand-drawn markup, unusual custom symbols, or very low-resolution scans may reduce accuracy. The cleaner the PDF, the better the results. When in doubt, try your free test takeoff.
- Best on commercial plans with standard symbols
- Residential plans supported, hand-drawn may need review
What does it cost?
Pay-per-use with credits. Sign up free to see a live example takeoff. No monthly subscription. Credits don't expire. Volume packs available for high-volume shops.
- Typical 50-page plan costs 3 credits ($15)
- Credits never expire, no monthly fees
Should I verify the results?
We recommend spot-checking, especially on your first few takeoffs. Compare a section manually to build confidence. The system flags items with lower confidence for your review. Most users find they can trust the bulk count and just verify flagged items—that's still hours saved.
- System flags low-confidence items for manual check
- Verify flagged items, trust bulk count—still hours saved
How fast do I get results?
Typical turnaround is 5-15 minutes depending on plan size and complexity. A 30-page commercial set usually completes in under 10 minutes. Larger plan sets (100+ pages) may take 20-30 minutes. You'll get an email when your takeoff is ready to download.
- 30-page plan completed in under 10 minutes
- Email notification when takeoff is ready
Sign up free to see a real example plan and takeoff output.
See Example TakeoffTry It Free on Your Own Plans
Upload a plan set with a free account and get your first takeoff free. No credit card required required. See the AI-assisted counting in action on your own project.
- Sign up free to see a live example takeoff
- Get results in 10-15 minutes
- No credit card required required for free trial
Get Started
Sign up free to see a live example takeoff