Material Takeoff Services for Contractors, Suppliers and Fabricators
Purchase-ready material lists from your plans: quantities by size, grade and unit with waste, ordered by trade or CSI division.
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Material Takeoff Services is a measured list of the materials a project needs, by item, size, grade and unit, taken from the drawings and specifications and ready to send to suppliers for pricing or to purchasing for ordering.
A material takeoff answers a narrower question than a full estimate: what has to be bought, and how much. It lists lumber by size and length, concrete in cubic yards, block by course and height, drywall by sheet, conduit and wire by run, and so on, with waste carried where the trade normally carries it.
Contractors use a material takeoff to request supplier quotes, check a supplier's own list, order for a job already awarded, or compare materials between bid alternates. Suppliers and fabricators use it to quote from the same drawings the contractor is bidding.
How a material takeoff differs from a quantity takeoff
A quantity takeoff measures the work: square feet of wall, linear feet of footing, counts of fixtures. A material takeoff converts that work into purchasable items. Square feet of CMU wall becomes block units by size and type, grout in cubic yards, rebar by size and length, and mortar. The conversion needs the specification, because the product, grade and accessories come from there. See our quantity takeoff services for the measuring side.
What goes into the list
- Item description with size, grade, finish and manufacturer where the specification names one
- Unit of measure that matches how the supplier sells it: each, sheet, linear foot, cubic yard, ton
- Net quantity, waste factor and order quantity shown separately
- Location or area references back to marked-up plans
- Notes on alternates, allowances and items by others
Waste, cuts and lap allowances
Waste depends on the material and the layout. Sheet goods lose material at cuts and openings, rebar needs lap splices, tile needs cuts at edges and pattern allowances, and concrete needs a volume allowance for over-excavation and spillage. We show the waste factor on its own column so you can change it to match your crews and your suppliers' rules.
Trades and divisions we take off
Concrete, masonry, metals, wood framing, roofing, doors and windows, drywall, flooring and tile, painting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and sitework, organized by CSI division or by your own cost codes. Our concrete, masonry and metals pages describe what is measured in each.
What you receive
- Excel material list by trade or division with net, waste and order quantities
- Bill of materials grouped for supplier quote requests
- Marked-up PDF plans showing what was counted
- Assumptions, inclusions and exclusions
- Updated list when an addendum changes the scope
Technical scope and terminology we work with
- Bill of materials, bid items and cost codes
- Net quantity, waste factor, order quantity
- Units: SF, LF, CY, EA, tons, sheets
- Specifications, submittals and approved equals
- Supplier quotes and price validity
- Alternates, allowances and addenda
Who this service is for
General contractors and subcontractors requesting supplier quotes, suppliers and fabricators quoting from plans, owner-builders and remodelers who order their own materials.
How it works
- Send plans, specifications and any supplier requirements.
- We confirm scope, units, waste approach and turnaround.
- We measure, convert to purchasable units and send the list for your review.
- We revise the list after addenda or comments.
Software, standards and file formats
We use PlanSwift and Bluebeam Revu for digital takeoff and markup, Excel with current local cost data for pricing, Oracle Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project for schedules, and AutoCAD-compatible tools for drawings. Deliverables are Excel and PDF files, plus DWG for drawings.
When to use this service
Use material takeoff services when a bid date is close, when your team is stretched across projects, when you need an independent check of your own numbers or drawings, or when you want consistent deliverables in the same format every time. Tell us the due date when you request a quote so the schedule can be planned around it.
Engagement options
- One project: order material takeoff services for a single bid or job and receive a firm price and turnaround before we start.
- Several trades or divisions: combine this service with related scopes so quantities, drawings and pricing agree.
- Bid-season capacity: send multiple projects with their due dates and we schedule the work to hit each one.
- Ongoing support: repeat-volume contractors can agree standard formats, cost codes and turnaround so every delivery drops straight into their process.
Quality control, confidentiality and communication
Every deliverable is reviewed by a second team member before it reaches you, and assumptions, inclusions and exclusions are written down so they can be checked. If information is missing we send a short list of questions rather than guessing, and we tell you which assumption we used when a question cannot be answered in time. Your plans, specifications and files are used only to prepare your project work and are not shared publicly; see our privacy policy.
Related services, guides and pages
Frequently asked questions
What is a material takeoff?
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A material takeoff is a list of the materials required for a project, with sizes, grades, units and quantities taken from the plans and specifications. Contractors send it to suppliers for pricing or use it for purchasing.
What is the difference between a material takeoff and a cost estimate?
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A material takeoff lists what to buy and how much. A cost estimate prices materials, labor, equipment and subcontracts, then adds general conditions, overhead and profit.
Do you include waste?
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Yes, waste is shown as a separate column so you can adjust it. We tell you what factor we used and why.
Can you quote one trade only?
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Yes. Many clients order a single trade, such as framing lumber, rebar or drywall, from a full plan set.
Bid Sharp at a glance: 3 steps, 50 states
Bid Sharp prepares construction estimates, takeoffs, shop drawings, structural and permit drawings and schedules for contractors and homeowners in all 50 states, on public and private projects. Typical turnaround is about 48 hours; the turnaround and a firm price are confirmed before any work starts.
- 1. Upload plans. Send PDF, DWG or a plan-room link with your bid due date.
- 2. Get a firm quote. Scope, price and turnaround in writing, with no obligation.
- 3. Receive deliverables. Excel and PDF files, plus DWG for drawings, checked by 2 team members.
Standards and official sources
Rules, wage rates, codes and procurement procedures change and differ by agency. Confirm the requirements that apply to your project with these primary sources and with the solicitation itself.
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Last updated by the Bid Sharp estimating team.