Construction Takeoff Software
ContractorCounter turns a set of drawings into quantities you can price. Upload PDF or image plans, calibrate the scale once, take off lengths, areas, volumes, and counts on the sheet, and watch them land in a live Bill of Quantities that updates as the takeoff changes.
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Verdict
Choose ContractorCounter if one estimator takes off several trades from the same plan set — concrete volumes, roof squares, drywall areas, and fixture counts all run on one calibrated-measurement engine in the browser, from US$14/month. Choose a trade-specific desktop package if that trade's assembly library and pre-loaded rates matter more to you than keeping the whole package in one workspace.
01
Take off directly on the drawing
Linear runs, areas, height-driven volumes, perimeters, and symbol counts are all measured on the calibrated sheet, so every quantity stays tied to the plan location that produced it. Set the scale once from a known dimension or the drawing's scale bar, and every measurement after that reads in real-world units — metres, feet, square metres, cubic yards — with no manual conversion.
02
Takeoff for every trade
One workspace covers the measurement types each trade actually bills. Concrete and earthwork take off slab and footing areas plus height-driven volumes in cubic yards or cubic metres. Roofing measures plan area and converts to squares. Electrical drops symbol counts for fixtures, devices, and outlets, then runs linear conduit and cable. Plumbing and mechanical count fixtures and fittings and measure pipe and duct runs. Drywall, painting, and flooring take off wall and floor areas. Framing and steel measure linear members and counts. Because it is all the same calibrated-measurement engine, a general contractor can take off a whole multi-trade package on one set of drawings instead of buying a separate tool per trade.
03
Quantities flow into a live Bill of Quantities
Most takeoff tools stop at a number. Here every measurement feeds the Bill of Quantities, and editing the geometry on the drawing updates the quantity, with no re-keying into a spreadsheet. Counts group by type, measurements carry their unit, and each BOQ line traces back to the exact geometry on the sheet so a reviewer can audit where every quantity came from.
04
From takeoff to a priced quote
The BOQ connects to multi-version quotes with snapshots, so the path from drawings to a professional, priced quote stays in one workspace. When a drawing is revised, re-measure the changed area and the quantity — and the quote line built from it — update together, instead of hunting through a spreadsheet for what moved.
05
Let the AI take the first pass
Ask in plain English and the AI takeoff assistant places counts, draws markups, and sets the scale, and you review every result before it commits. It is a first pass that removes the repetitive clicking, not an unchecked black box. Pair it with cloud takeoff and quantity takeoff in the same workspace.
06
Runs in any browser: desktop or iPad
No Windows-only install, no license server, no virtual machine for Mac users. Take off on the desktop in the office or on the iPad on site, on the same drawing — a browser-based alternative to desktop-only takeoff tools like Bluebeam, PlanSwift, and On-Screen Takeoff. The estimator and the field super open the identical workspace without syncing files or matching software versions.
07
How to choose: the questions the table answers
The comparison below covers the practical differences, but the deciding questions are usually just two. Where do you work — if the answer includes a Mac, an iPad, or a site trailer, per-seat Windows desktop tools carry a platform tax before you measure anything. And what happens after the number — if pricing lives in a separate tool, budget for the re-keying; if not, look for a live BOQ connection like the one described in takeoff software that ends in a quote. For the pricing side of the estimate, the free construction calculators and the material price index charts carry current reference data.
Bluebeam, PlanSwift & desktop takeoff tools vs ContractorCounter
A practical comparison for contractors choosing a markup and drawing review workflow.
| Category | ContractorCounter | Bluebeam, PlanSwift & desktop takeoff tools |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Any browser: Windows, Mac, iPad | Windows desktop install (VM for Mac) |
| Trades | All trades in one calibrated workspace | Often per-trade plugins or editions |
| Takeoff to quote | Live BOQ to multi-version quotes | Usually a separate estimating step |
| AI assistance | AI counts, markups & scale (you review) | Usually manual |
| Free option | Try for free, cancel anytime | Trial only |
| Pricing | Try for free, then $14/mo (from $5/wk) or $249 lifetime | License + maintenance per seat |
Common questions
Questions about Construction takeoff
What is construction takeoff software?
Software that measures quantities (lengths, areas, volumes, and counts) from construction drawings so they can be priced. ContractorCounter does the takeoff on calibrated PDFs or images and feeds a live Bill of Quantities, so the measurement and the price stay connected in one workspace instead of a takeoff tool plus a spreadsheet.
Is there free construction takeoff software?
ContractorCounter is free to try: add a card to start with calibrated measurement, counts, clean exports, and a Bill of Quantities. Unlike most desktop takeoff trials, there is nothing to install and no sales call: run a real takeoff, then cancel before first charge to avoid billing.
Does construction takeoff software work on a Mac?
Most traditional takeoff tools are Windows-only, so Mac users run a virtual machine or a second laptop. ContractorCounter is browser-based, so it runs natively on macOS and iPad as well as Windows, with no VM and no per-platform license.
Which trades can do takeoff in ContractorCounter?
Any trade that measures from drawings: concrete and earthwork (area and height-driven volume), roofing (area and squares), electrical and data (symbol counts plus conduit and cable runs), plumbing and mechanical (fixture and fitting counts plus pipe and duct runs), drywall, painting and flooring (wall and floor area), and framing and steel (linear members and counts). It is one calibrated measurement engine, so a general contractor can take off a multi-trade package on a single set of drawings.
How is it different from Bluebeam or PlanSwift?
Bluebeam and PlanSwift are capable Windows desktop tools, but they install per seat, are not native on Mac or iPad, and usually keep takeoff and estimating in separate steps. ContractorCounter runs in the browser on any platform, carries quantities straight into a live Bill of Quantities and versioned quotes, adds a reviewable AI first pass, and is free to try with a card required.
Does ContractorCounter connect takeoff to the quote?
Yes. Measurements and counts pulled from the drawing feed a live Bill of Quantities, and those quantities flow into multi-version quotes, so the takeoff and the price stay connected.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. Try Pro or Team for free with markup, calibrated measurement, counts, BoQ workflows, clean exports, previews, and a trial agent allowance. Add a card to start; Stripe shows the first charge date before confirmation, and you can cancel before then.
