TakeCost offers two ways to start a project, depending on your workflow.
Whether you're measuring directly from plans or building an estimate from scratch, you can choose the approach that works best for your project
Option 1: Upload Drawings (Traditional Takeoff)
This is the most common workflow for construction estimating.
Best for:
PDF plans and blueprints
Digital takeoffs
Measuring quantities directly from drawings
Creating estimates from project plans
How it works:
Create a new project.
Upload your PDF drawings or images.
Set or verify the scale.
Use the measurement tools to create takeoffs.
Add pricing, labour, and markup in the Estimate tab.
Open Bid to prepare and send your proposal.
đ This workflow is ideal when you have construction drawings available.
Option 2: Start from an Estimate
Build your estimate manually without uploading drawings.
Best for:
Budget estimates
Quick quotes
Change orders
Small projects without plans
Adding manual quantities
How it works:
Create a new project.
Start from an estimate.
Add items manually using + Add Item.
Enter quantities, costs, labour, and markup.
Open Bid to prepare and send your proposal.
đ This workflow is ideal when you don't have drawings or only need a quick estimate.
Check the scale before measuring
A yellow ruler means the detected scale has not been checked. Click Check and select both ends of a known dimension on the plan. Confirm only when the measured distance matches. The scale chip and sheet ruler turn green.
For line and area measurements, click Finish or press Enter, then name the measurement in Properties. Count does not require a scale.