What is a quantity takeoff in construction?
A quantity takeoff in construction is the measured list of work and materials in a project, read from its plans and specifications: areas, lengths, counts and volumes, each in the unit the bid pays. Estimators price the bid from it, and the same quantities feed material orders and scheduling.
Organize a quantity takeoff with conditions in Zip Takeoff
Zip Takeoff collects measurements into conditions. A condition is a named, colored measurement group with a unit, and it totals takeoff from every sheet in the project. Area conditions use SF, SY or ACRE, linear conditions use LF or LY, and count conditions use EA. Bid items attached to a condition turn its measured area or length into CY or TON from the depth, width or density you enter.
What a quantity takeoff in construction includes
Each line of a takeoff ties a quantity to an item of work and to the sheet or specification it came from. A takeoff for a parking lot might list the pavement area, curb length, storm structures and the base course under the pavement. The estimator sets the scope and payment limits; the takeoff records how much of each item falls inside them.
| Unit | Means | Typical site and civil items |
|---|---|---|
| SF | Square feet | Slabs, sidewalk area before conversion |
| SY | Square yards (9 SF) | Paving, milling, seeding |
| LF | Linear feet | Curb, pipe, fence, striping |
| EA | Each | Manholes, catch basins, signs |
| CY | Cubic yards (27 cubic feet) | Aggregate base, concrete |
| TON | Short tons (2,000 lb) | Hot mix asphalt, stone sold by weight |
Quantity takeoff vs material takeoff
A material takeoff is a quantity takeoff carried through to what has to be bought: tons of asphalt, cubic yards of stone, lengths of pipe. Some items are paid in one unit and ordered in another, so one measured area can give both a pay quantity in square yards and a material quantity in tons.
How a quantity takeoff is done
- 1
Read the bid form and specifications to list the pay items and their units.
- 2
Confirm you have the current sheets, including addenda, and set or check each sheet's scale.
- 3
Measure the areas, lengths and counts for each item on the plans.
- 4
Convert each measurement to the bid unit, adding a depth and density where the item is paid by volume or weight.
- 5
Check the totals against the scope list before pricing.
Why is it called a takeoff in construction?
The name describes the work: the estimator takes the quantities off the drawings, reading each measurement from the plans and writing it onto a list. On paper prints that meant a scale ruler and a plan measuring wheel; the name stayed when the measuring moved to PDFs and software. You will also see it written take-off, or abbreviated QTO.