Plumbing Takeoff Software
ContractorCounter is browser-based plumbing takeoff software: upload PDF or image plans, calibrate the scale once, and take off the plumbing quantities directly on the sheet into a live Bill of Quantities that flows through to a priced quote.
Free to start — no card · 3-day Pro trial unlocks exports
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01
Measure plumbing quantities on the drawing
Count fixtures — sinks, water closets, floor drains, cleanouts — and measure supply, waste, and vent pipe as linear runs by diameter. Fittings count where they occur, and risers measure floor to floor, so a plumbing rough-in and fixture package comes off the drawings in one pass.
02
How plumbing quantities land in the Bill of Quantities
Fixtures land as counts grouped by type, and pipe runs land as linear lines split by diameter, so the BOQ separates the fixture schedule from the rough-in rather than merging them into one number. Every line feeds the Bill of Quantities and traces back to the geometry that produced it, so editing the drawing updates the quantity instead of starting a re-keying job — in the office or on the iPad on site, within the wider construction takeoff software workspace.
03
How plumbing takeoff works here
Count fixtures by type and measure pipe runs on the calibrated plan so the lengths reflect the routed layout, not a rule of thumb. Group counts by fixture, keep risers as their own runs, and every line traces back to where it sits on the drawing.
04
A worked example, with the math shown
Fixture counts drive pipe sizing through drainage fixture units, so the takeoff doubles as a sizing check: under the IPC's DFU table, a water closet is 4 DFU, a lavatory 1, a shower 2, and a kitchen sink 2. Count a small tenancy at 2 WCs + 2 lavs + 1 shower + 1 sink and the branch carries 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 14 DFU — which a 3-inch horizontal branch handles, but a 2-inch does not. Grouped fixture counts read straight out of the BoQ, so the DFU sum is one glance rather than a recount.
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) |
| 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 | Free trial — card required | Trial only |
| Pricing | Free trial, then US$14/month; US$249 one-time lifetime | License + maintenance per seat |
Common questions
Questions about Plumbing takeoff
What is plumbing takeoff software?
Plumbing takeoff software measures fixture counts and pipe runs from drawings: sinks, WCs, drains, and cleanouts as counts, plus supply, waste, and vent pipe as linear lengths by diameter. ContractorCounter takes it off the calibrated plan and feeds a live Bill of Quantities.
Is there free plumbing takeoff software?
ContractorCounter is free to try on Pro or Team: add a card to start with calibrated measurement, counts, and a Bill of Quantities, then take off a real plumbing job before the first charge. Cancel before then to avoid billing.