A quantity takeoff is the process of measuring and counting everything that has to be built from the drawings (lengths of wall, areas of floor and roof, volumes of concrete, numbers of doors and fixtures) so it can be priced. Today most takeoffs are done on PDF drawings rather than paper prints: you set each sheet's scale, then trace lengths and areas on screen. A full estimating workflow then links those quantities to rates and a cost database, which is a job for dedicated estimating software.
What a quantity takeoff measures
| Type | Unit | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Linear | m or ft | Walls, skirting, kerbs, pipes, cables, fencing |
| Area | m² or ft² | Floors, ceilings, roofs, wall finishes, paving |
| Volume | m³ or yd³ | Concrete, excavation, fill |
| Count | No. / each | Doors, windows, light fittings, sanitary ware |
How to do a takeoff from PDF drawings
- Check you have the current revision. Read the revision block and the transmittal; a takeoff on a superseded sheet is wasted work.
- Set the scale for each sheet. Use the scale in the title block, then verify it by measuring a dimension printed on the drawing. If the two disagree, calibrate on the known dimension.
- Work in a fixed order, such as by trade or by the specification structure, so nothing is measured twice or missed.
- Mark what you have measured on the drawing, so a second person can check it.
- Record quantities with their source: sheet number, revision, and a short description.
- Add waste and allowances separately, never hidden inside the measured quantity.
Measuring tool vs estimating software
| PDF measuring tool | Takeoff and estimating software | |
|---|---|---|
| Lengths and areas to scale | Yes | Yes |
| Counts and volumes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Quantities linked to rates and a cost database | No | Yes |
| Grouped quantities by trade, export to a bill of quantities | Rarely | Yes |
| Best for | Architects, engineers and reviewers checking dimensions and areas | Estimators and quantity surveyors pricing whole projects |
Many architects and engineers only need the first column: checking a room area against the brief, confirming a run of wall, or verifying a contractor's measured quantity. Estimators pricing a whole building need the second.
Where Ncored fits, and where it does not
Ncored is the PDF editor we built in our architecture studio. It measures length, polylines and areas to scale on PDF drawings: you choose the sheet's scale (1:50, 1:100 or any ratio) or calibrate on a known length, one scale can be applied to all sheets in one click, and points snap to the drawing's own corners, line ends and crossings. Results are in millimetres, centimetres or metres; feet and inches, counts and volumes are not supported yet, and there is no quantity database linked to rates. So it is a measuring tool for checking and reviewing, not estimating software. Measurements are saved as standard PDF measurement annotations, which Adobe Acrobat lists with their values. It runs on Windows and Mac. See the PDF measurement tool guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a takeoff in construction?
Measuring and counting the quantities of work and materials shown on the drawings, so the project can be priced.
Who does quantity takeoffs?
Estimators at contracting firms, quantity surveyors, and subcontractors pricing their own trade. Architects and engineers often check specific quantities rather than doing full takeoffs.
Can you do a takeoff from a PDF?
Yes, if the PDF is at a known scale. Set or calibrate the scale for each sheet, then measure lengths and areas on screen.
How accurate is a takeoff from a PDF?
As accurate as the scale calibration and the drawing itself. Always check the calibration against a printed dimension, and never measure a sheet marked "not to scale".
Related: architectural scales explained, measure on a PDF drawing, Ncored for quantity surveyors.
Further reading: can AI read construction drawings.