"First takeoff I was skeptical. Ran it against my manual count on a 40-page commercial build. AI caught three items I missed at 2 AM. Now I run every bid through it first, then verify flagged items. Cuts my takeoff time from two days to three hours."
General Construction Takeoffs. Concrete, Steel, Finishes. About 15 Minutes.
Upload your architectural and structural plan set. Get concrete volumes, rebar schedules, structural steel counts, drywall areas, and finish quantities — organized by trade category and ready for your pricing software.
General Construction Takeoff
Concrete, steel, drywall — all counted
Concrete Quantities
Square footage, cubic yards, and rebar counts extracted automatically
Structural Steel
Beam lengths, column counts, and connection details counted across all drawings
Drywall & Finishes
Wall areas, ceiling areas, and linear footage for trim calculated by room
Multi-Trade View
See all trades on one takeoff - architectural, structural, MEP systems together
Upload Plans, Get Counts, Export to Excel
No software to install. No training required. Upload your PDF construction plans, select general construction takeoff, and download your material count in Excel format within 15 minutes. Works with any standard construction drawing set.
- Upload PDF plans - any size, any format
- AI analyzes drawings and extracts quantities
- Download Excel with material counts ready to price
Every Trade. One Platform.
Upload your plans and get accurate material counts in about 15 minutes — across all major trades.
Upload Plans, Get Counts, Export to Excel
General construction takeoffs cover concrete (slabs, footings, walls), structural steel (beams, columns, joists), framing (wood or metal studs), drywall and finishes (walls, ceilings, trim), doors and windows, and casework. Basically anything shown on architectural and structural drawings.
- Concrete: slabs (CY), footings, walls, rebar by bar size
- Structural steel: W-sections, HSS columns, joists, metal deck
- Foundation: pier counts, grade beam lengths, anchor bolts
Review and Adjust - You're in Control
On standard commercial plans with clear symbols, we achieve 95%+ accuracy. Complex custom details, hand-drawn sections, or unusual architectural features may need manual review. The AI flags items with lower confidence so you know what to verify. Most contractors find they can trust the bulk count and focus verification time on flagged items.
- Drywall: wall areas (SF) with opening deductions
- Flooring: area by finish type — tile, carpet, VCT, hardwood
- Painting: wall and ceiling area by surface and finish
Common Questions About General Construction Takeoffs
Absolutely. We're not asking you to abandon tools you already know. TakeoffBuilder does the initial counting and exports to Excel or CSV. Import those counts into PlanSwift, Accubid, or your pricing spreadsheets. We handle the tedious counting; you handle the pricing and markup in your existing workflow.
- Electrical: device counts, wire footage, panels
- HVAC: ductwork footage, equipment schedules
- Plumbing and fire protection from MEP plans
What You Get in Every General Construction Takeoff
AI works best on standard architectural symbols and clear drawings. Custom details, hand-drawn markup, or unusual symbols may get flagged for manual review. That's intentional - we don't pretend to count everything perfectly. You'll see which items need your expertise, and you can adjust those quickly with toggles and modifiers.
- Excel organized by trade and CSI category
- Import into PlanSwift, Accubid, or your GC software
- See a live example takeoff — free when you sign up
Review and Adjust - You're in Control
AI delivers initial counts in about 15 minutes. You review flagged items and spot-check the rest - typically 15-30 minutes more. Total time under an hour versus 40+ hours manual. The AI handles tedious counting so you focus on judgment calls that matter.
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You're in Control
Review, adjust, then export
What General Contractors Say
From solo contractors to full estimating departments, see how AI-assisted takeoffs fit into different workflows.
6 reviews
"We use it as a first pass on all commercial bids. AI handles the bulk counting, our team focuses on the complex details and pricing strategy. Consistency is huge - same accuracy whether it's the first takeoff Monday morning or the fifth one Friday afternoon."
"I can't afford a full-time estimator. This lets me bid three times as many jobs without hiring. The pay-per-use model is perfect - I only pay when I'm pursuing work. Credits don't expire, so no pressure to use them up."
"The flagging system is smart. It doesn't pretend to be perfect. Items with lower confidence get marked, and I can see why. I focus my time on those edge cases. The bulk count I trust after spot-checking the first few takeoffs. Saves 20+ hours per project."
"Exports clean into our existing estimating software. We don't have to learn new tools or change our process. TakeoffBuilder does the counting, we do the pricing in the software we already know. Addition, not replacement."
"We ran it against our manual takeoffs for two months before trusting it on live bids. 94-96% match rate on standard commercial plans. Now it's part of our QA process - junior estimators run AI first, senior staff review and adjust. Catches mistakes both directions."
General Construction Takeoff Questions
Everything you need to know about AI-assisted takeoffs for general construction
What construction categories are included in a general takeoff?
General construction takeoffs cover concrete (slabs, footings, walls), structural steel (beams, columns, joists), framing (wood or metal studs), drywall and finishes (walls, ceilings, trim), doors and windows, and casework. Basically anything shown on architectural and structural drawings.
- Concrete and foundation work
- Structural steel and framing systems
How accurate is AI on complex commercial projects?
On standard commercial plans with clear symbols, we achieve 95%+ accuracy. Complex custom details, hand-drawn sections, or unusual architectural features may need manual review. The AI flags items with lower confidence so you know what to verify. Most contractors find they can trust the bulk count and focus verification time on flagged items.
- 95%+ accuracy on standard commercial drawings
- Flagging system identifies items needing review
Can I use this alongside PlanSwift or other software?
Absolutely. We're not asking you to abandon tools you already know. TakeoffBuilder does the initial counting and exports to Excel or CSV. Import those counts into PlanSwift, Accubid, or your pricing spreadsheets. We handle the tedious counting; you handle the pricing and markup in your existing workflow.
- Export to Excel, CSV, or JSON formats
- Import into your existing estimating software
What if my plans have custom details or non-standard symbols?
AI works best on standard architectural symbols and clear drawings. Custom details, hand-drawn markup, or unusual symbols may get flagged for manual review. That's intentional - we don't pretend to count everything perfectly. You'll see which items need your expertise, and you can adjust those quickly with toggles and modifiers.
- Custom items are flagged for your review
- Use toggles to adjust flagged quantities
How long does a typical general construction takeoff take?
AI processing takes 5-15 minutes for most commercial plan sets. Add 15-30 minutes for you to review flagged items and spot-check the rest. Total time under an hour versus 40+ hours manual. The larger the plan set, the more time saved. A 100-page commercial project that would take days manually is done in under an hour.
- AI processing: 5-15 minutes
- Your review: 15-30 minutes
What if I need to adjust quantities before exporting?
You're in control. Use toggles and modifiers to mark up quantities based on your experience. Add your standard waste factor or markup percentage. Adjust for site conditions the AI can't see from plans. These changes take seconds, not hours. You're refining the AI's work, not starting from scratch.
- Add markup percentages instantly
- Adjust for site conditions and experience
Still have questions? We're here to help.
Contact SupportTry Your First General Construction Takeoff Free
Create a free account. See a real example plan and AI-generated takeoff. Then run your own general construction plan when you’re ready.
- First takeoff completely free - test with your own plans
- Results in 15 minutes - see if AI accuracy meets your standards
- No subscription required - pay only when you use it
General Construction Takeoffs
~15 minutes. Concrete, steel, finishes.