Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software
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What is Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software?
Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software is used by construction professionals to calculate the quantities of materials, labor, and equipment needed for a construction project. It produces estimated project costs for inclusion in project proposals and bids.
The software enables contractors, construction project managers, builders, and trade specialists to easily extract material counts and related cost estimates from digital blueprints using its point, click, and drag features. Automating this process facilitates producing linear measurements for materials such as wiring or piping and calculating area measurements that are needed to determine the amount of drywall or the number of windows that may be required to complete a project.
The material and quantity report generated by the takeoff software is input to cost estimation software that uses a material, equipment, and labor cost database to generate project costs, proposals, and bids. The software’s analytics and “what if” functionality easily revise cost estimates and bids based on changing project requirements.
A product may include both takeoff (material and quantity calculation) and estimating (cost estimation, proposals, and bidding) features, or only one or the other. Standalone takeoff software will integrate with estimating software, and vice versa.
Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software Features
Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software includes many of the following features:
- Automated extraction of data from digital blueprints
- Generation of build lists for material counts and dimensions
- Production of cost estimates based on materials, labor, and equipment required
- Materials, labor, and equipment cost database
- Proposal and bid generation
- Material takeoff summary report and data export
- Analytics and “what if” scenarios
- Ability to import digital blueprints
- Ability to point, click, and drag information from digital plans
- Support for linear measurements, area, and volume-based measurements
- Plan editing and overlays
- Predefined, stored, and custom assemblies
- Assembly labor cost calculator
- Support for multiple digital blueprint formats, SVG, DXF, DWG, PDF
- Takeoff and estimation workflows
- Collaboration, editing, and connectivity
- Sub-contractor portal
- Proposal and bid templates
- Document and specifications management
- Proposal and bid calendars
- Proposal and bid changes tracking
- Historical proposal and bid database
- Contact database
- Search
- Mobile support
- Cloud-based and on-premises implementations
- Integrations amongst takeoff, estimation, bid, and construction management tools
- Integrations with spreadsheet software and project management software
Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software Comparison
Consider the following when purchasing Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software solutions.
Scope and Scale: Construction Takeoff Software and Construction Estimating Software can be purchased as standalone products, combined in a single vendor offering, or included as part of larger construction management suites. The more complex your project requirements, the greater the need may be for the more advanced features provided by standalone products. Some vendor products are designed for large commercial users, others for small businesses.
Integrations: When purchasing standalone solutions, evaluate how well they will integrate with any construction takeoff, estimating, bidding, or construction management software that is already in place. Solutions that combine takeoff and estimation functionality are a convenient option when they can fully address your needs.
Trade-Specific Features: Some products support a wide range of construction projects, while others specialize in specific construction trades such as electrical, mechanical, or plumbing. Solutions with 3D takeoff tools and advanced measurement tools are especially useful for projects that include concrete, landscaping, and excavation activities.
Team Size: Projects with large teams and multiple subcontractors will benefit from the convenience and increased productivity provided by cloud-based software that supports collaborative takeoff and editing.
Free Software: For simple projects, free software is available that has limited features with a cap on the number of projects supported. Some free products also include a requirement to complete projects within a limited time frame.
Pricing Information
Prices are driven by the features included and the number of users supported. Vendors use a variety of different pricing models. Vendors who charge per user typically charge between $40 to $400 per user per year. Some charge a one-time download fee, which ranges from $350 to $5,000. Others charge an annual fee that is not dependent on the number of users, which can range from $200 to thousands of dollars. An annual license fee is sometimes charged in addition to the one-time download cost. Material and labor cost database updates that are needed for estimation software sometimes incur an additional monthly subscription fee. Large-scale users need to obtain a custom vendor price quote. For basic projects, free software is available that has limited features with a cap on the number of projects supported. Free trials are available.
More Resources
What is Construction Takeoff and Estimating Software? | TrustRadius