Material takeoff
Quantities and specifications of materials only.
Takeoff Services
Material Takeoff Services for Contractors, Subcontractors and Builders
Every material your drawings call for: measured, counted and broken down by trade.
A bid is only as good as the quantities under it. Our material takeoff services give you a complete, organized list of every material your drawings call for, so you can get supplier pricing, build your number, and submit with confidence.
Send us your plans and specifications, tell us the scope and your bid date, and we'll come back with a price and a delivery time before any work starts.
CSI MasterFormatOr your own cost codes
Order-ready unitsCY, LF, lb, sheets, counts
Excel + marked-up PDFEvery quantity traceable
Qty only or pricedYour suppliers or ZIP-code pricing
Definitions
What a Material Takeoff Is (and How It Differs From an Estimate)
A material takeoff (MTO) is a list of every material needed to build what's shown on the drawings: the item, its size or specification, the quantity, and the unit it's ordered in. Concrete in cubic yards. Rebar by bar size in linear feet or pounds. Drywall in sheets. Conduit in linear feet. Fixtures by count.
It's easy to blur three related terms, so here's how we use them:
Quantity takeoff
Materials plus other measurable items such as labor units and equipment.
Cost estimate
Quantities with pricing applied: material costs, labor, equipment, overhead and profit.
Many contractors only want the quantities. They have their own suppliers, their own labor rates and their own markup, and they'd rather not have someone else's numbers in the bid. Others want the full picture. We do both. If you need pricing on top of the takeoff, see our construction cost estimating services.
Deliverables
What You Receive
Each takeoff is built to be used, not just read. You can send it straight to a supplier for a quote or drop it into your own estimating sheet. A typical takeoff package includes:
- An itemized spreadsheet organized by CSI MasterFormat division, or by your own cost codes or template if you send one.
- Descriptions that match the drawings and specs: sizes, gauges, grades, types, so a supplier can price without guessing.
- Order-ready units of measure for each item.
- Marked-up PDF plans showing what was measured and counted, so you can check our work sheet by sheet.
- A list of assumptions and exclusions: what the drawings didn't show and how we handled it.
- Regional material pricing based on the project's ZIP code, when you ask for a priced takeoff.
Sample
A Sample of What a Takeoff Line Looks Like
A simplified, illustrative example for a 40' × 60' slab on grade, 4" thick, with #4 rebar at 18" on center each way.
| Division | Item | Calculation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03: Concrete | 4" slab on grade | 2,400 SF × 0.333 ft ÷ 27 | 29.6 CY |
| 03: Concrete | #4 rebar, 60' direction | 28 bars × 60 LF | 1,680 LF |
| 03: Concrete | #4 rebar, 40' direction | 41 bars × 40 LF | 1,640 LF |
| 03: Concrete | #4 rebar total | 3,320 LF × 0.668 lb/LF | ≈ 2,218 lb |
Quantities shown before laps, chairs, edge forms, vapor barrier and waste. Illustrative only, not from a real project.
On a real job, the takeoff would carry on from there: lap splices, chairs, perimeter forms, vapor retarder, control joints, curing compound, and the waste factor. Waste is shown in its own column, set to the specification or your standard practice, so you see net and order quantities side by side. The point is that every number traces back to a dimension on the drawings, and you can follow the math.
Assumptions and Exclusions
No Takeoff Can Count What Isn't on the Drawings
Every takeoff lists the assumptions we made and the items we left out, so you know exactly where the gaps are before bid day instead of after award.
We don't invent it
If the structural sheets don't show slab reinforcing at a pit, or the electrical plans leave out branch circuiting, we don't make it up.
We write it down
Each gap is noted on the assumptions and exclusions list that comes with the takeoff, so nothing is silently left out.
We flag it for you
If something looks missing, we'll flag it so you can send an RFI or carry an allowance before the bid goes in.
Scope
Trades and CSI Divisions We Take Off
We provide construction takeoff services across residential, commercial and industrial scopes. You can order a single trade or a full multi-trade package.
Site and Structure
From demolition and earthwork up through the structural frame.
- DemolitionSelective and full demolition quantities
- Earthwork and site workCut and fill, grading and site work→
- Utilities and drainageSite utilities, storm and drainage runs
- Piling and foundationsPiles, caps and foundation elements
- Concrete, precast and formworkVolumes by element, formwork by contact area→
- Reinforcing steelBy bar size, in linear feet and pounds→
- Masonry and stoneBlock, brick, stone, mortar and grout→
- Structural and miscellaneous metalsSteel members, joists, deck and misc. metals→
Envelope
The frame, the roof and everything that closes the building in.
- Rough carpentry and framing lumberLumber by size and length, sheathing by sheet→
- Roofing, sheet metal and flashingRoofing in squares, flashing and trim by LF→
- Insulation, waterproofing and dampproofingThermal and moisture protection systems→
- Façade systemsCladding, panels and exterior wall systems
- Doors, frames, hardware and windowsCounted from schedules and plans→
Interiors
Partitions, ceilings, finishes and fit-out items.
- Drywall, framing and ACT ceilingsBoard by sheet, studs and track, ceiling grid→
- Flooring and finishesFlooring, tile, base and trim→
- PaintingPaint and coatings by surface→
- Specialties, furnishings and conveying equipmentToilet accessories, signage, casework, elevators
MEP
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
- Plumbing and drainagePipe by size and material, fixtures by count→
- HVAC and ductworkDuct by size and gauge, equipment and devices→
- ElectricalConduit and wire by LF, devices and fixtures by count→
Don't see your scope? Send the drawings and ask. Specialty trades are often a matter of reading the right sheets and specs carefully.
Project Types
Projects We Take Off
We work from drawings for projects of very different sizes and complexity, including:
- Custom homes, additions and remodels
- Multifamily and mixed-use buildings
- Retail and office spaces
- Schools and educational facilities
- Recreation facilities
- Civic and public works
- Industrial facilities
- Roads and other horizontal work
Need the Whole Project Priced?
A takeoff gives you the quantities. If you want them carried through to a full, priced estimate for the project type, see our residential and commercial services.
Who We Work With
Who Uses Our Takeoff Services
General contractors
Use multi-trade takeoffs to check subcontractor bids, spot scope gaps between trades, and build a self-performed number when they don't have time to measure in-house.
Subcontractors
Usually order single-trade takeoffs. It's the measuring that eats the evenings, and outsourcing it lets the owner or estimator spend time on pricing and pursuing more bids.
Material suppliers and distributors
Use takeoffs to quote contractors faster and more accurately.
Developers and owners
Use them to check budgets and compare contractor bids against an independent count.
Architects and designers
Use early takeoffs to see how design choices affect material quantities before drawings are finalized.
Have a set ready to measure?
Send the drawings and tell us which trades you need. You'll get a fixed price and a delivery date before any work starts.
Request a takeoff quote →
Process
Send Your Documents →
How the Process Works
Six steps from your drawing set to a takeoff that's ready for bidding.
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01
Send Your Documents
Email the bid invitation, drawings, specifications and addenda. For large plan sets, share a Google Drive folder or plan-room link.
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02
We Review and Quote
We look through the set, confirm the scope you want measured, and reply with a price and a delivery date.
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03
You Approve
Once you accept the quote, we schedule the work and confirm the delivery date.
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04
We Perform the Takeoff
Our estimators measure and count digitally from the drawings. If questions come up (site conditions, unclear details, conflicts between sheets and specs) we'll ask rather than guess.
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05
You Review
We aim to deliver early enough before your bid date to leave time for review, typically at least two days ahead when the schedule allows.
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06
We Revise if Needed
If you want changes, have supplier quotes to fold in, or the scope shifts, we update the takeoff so it's ready for bidding.
What to Send Us
The more complete the set, the more complete the takeoff. Ideally include:
- Full drawing set (architectural, structural, civil, MEP: whichever apply)
- Project specifications
- All addenda issued so far
- The bid invitation or bid form, if there is one
- A clear note on scope: which trades or divisions, and anything to exclude
- Your bid date
- Your template or cost codes, if you want the takeoff in your format
PDF drawings are fine. We work in on-screen takeoff software such as PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu and On-Screen Takeoff.
When Drawings Change (Addenda and Revisions)
Addenda tend to arrive at the worst possible time. When they do, send them over. We'll update the affected quantities and identify what changed, so you're not re-checking the whole takeoff yourself.
Send an Addendum →
Pricing and Turnaround
Per-Project Pricing, Agreed Before We Start
We price takeoffs per project, not by the hour. Most contractors bid a handful of jobs a month, so paying per takeoff usually costs far less than carrying a full-time estimator.
Single-trade takeoff
Often within 24 hoursOne trade or CSI division: concrete, framing, drywall, MEP and so on.
Typical fee $250 to $600
Multi-trade package
24 to 48 hoursSeveral trades, or a full residential set, taken off to the same assumptions.
Quoted per project
Large or complex sets
Confirmed in your quoteDense commercial, institutional or industrial drawings with many divisions.
Quoted per project
Steady monthly volume
Priority queueA set number of takeoffs each month with the same dedicated estimator.
Retainers from $1,500/mo
What affects the price and timing:
- Number of trades or divisions in scope
- Size and number of sheets in the drawing set
- Detail and complexity: a simple slab-on-grade building takes less time than a hospital with dense MEP
- Quality of the documents: incomplete or conflicting sets take longer
- Quantities only vs. priced takeoff
- Your bid date
You'll always know the price and the delivery date before we start.
Why Prime Estimation
Why Contractors Outsource Takeoffs to Prime Estimation
Our estimators have priced more than 1,500 projects across federal, institutional, commercial and residential work, and every takeoff is checked by a second estimator before it reaches you.
Quantities you can check
Marked-up plans and traceable calculations mean you're not taking our numbers on faith.
Your format, not ours
Organized by CSI division, by your cost codes, or in your own template.
Gaps flagged, not hidden
Assumptions and exclusions are written down, so missing scope surfaces before bid day.
Quantities only or fully priced
Use your own supplier pricing, or ask us to apply regional pricing based on the project's ZIP code.
Clear quotes before work starts
You approve the price and delivery date first.
Nationwide coverage
We take off projects across the United States from digital drawings.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What contractors ask before sending us a set to take off.
What is the difference between a material takeoff and a quantity takeoff?
A material takeoff lists the materials and their quantities. A quantity takeoff is broader and can include labor units and equipment along with materials. Neither includes full pricing unless you ask for a priced estimate.
Do your takeoffs include material pricing?
Only if you want them to. Many clients order quantities only and price with their own suppliers. If you'd like pricing, we apply regional material costs based on the project location.
How much do material takeoff services cost?
Pricing is per project and depends on the number of trades, the size and complexity of the drawing set, and your deadline. Single-trade takeoffs typically run $250 to $600. Send your plans and we'll quote a fixed price before starting.
How long does a takeoff take?
It depends on the scope and the drawings. Single-trade takeoffs are often back within 24 hours, and most multi-trade packages within 24 to 48 hours. We confirm the delivery date in our quote and aim to finish early enough for you to review before bidding.
What file format will I receive?
An itemized Excel spreadsheet organized by CSI division (or your format), plus marked-up PDF plans showing everything that was measured and counted.
Can you work from PDF drawings?
Yes. Most of our takeoffs are performed on-screen from PDF plan sets.
Do you include waste factors?
Yes. Waste is set by material type to the specification or your standard practice and shown in its own column, so you can see net and order quantities side by side and adjust the factor to match your crews.
Can you take off just one trade?
Yes. Single-trade takeoffs are common, especially for subcontractors. You can also order several trades or a full package.
Ready to Get Started?
Send Your Plans for a Takeoff Quote
Have a bid coming up? Send your drawings, specs and bid date, and we'll reply with a price and delivery date for your takeoff.
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