Takeoff & BoQ software compared · 2026
Best takeoff and BoQ software: how to choose
Construction takeoff and bill of quantities tools fall into a few types. Here's what each one does, who it suits, and when AI takeoff makes sense.
Takeoff software types compared
| Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| AI takeoff + BoQ (e.g. Enormous Buildings) | Upload plans; AI measures and prices automatically | Fast first measure and priced BoQ, any country |
| AI-assisted takeoff (e.g. Togal.AI) | AI detects areas on plans; estimator refines | Commercial estimators in the US market |
| On-screen desktop takeoff (e.g. PlanSwift) | You trace and count on the drawing | Estimators who want full manual control on Windows |
| Cloud on-screen takeoff (e.g. STACK) | Manual tracing in the browser, team sharing | Teams sharing takeoffs across offices |
| PDF markup with measure tools (e.g. Bluebeam Revu) | Measure inside a PDF editor | Firms already using it for drawing review |
| Spreadsheet BoQ templates | Quantities typed in by hand | Very small jobs, or no budget at all |
What to look for
- Time per drawing set. Manual takeoff takes hours, AI takeoff takes minutes.
- Output, not just quantities. A priced bill of quantities saves building the estimate separately.
- Local measurement standard and currency. A bill in the wrong format gets re-measured by every bidder.
- Excel export so you can adjust rates and send tenders.
- No install and fair pricing. Avoid per-seat desktop licences if you only run a few takeoffs a month.
Where AI takeoff fits
AI takeoff is the fastest way to get from drawings to a priced bill. Use it as your first measure, check it against the drawings, and spend the time you saved on pricing and winning work.
See how AI takeoff works, or browse BoQ formats by country.
Questions
What is the best takeoff software?
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It depends on how you work. If speed matters most, AI takeoff gives a measured, priced first pass in minutes. If you want to trace every element yourself, on-screen tools give full manual control but take much longer.
What is the best BoQ software?
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The one that outputs a bill in the measurement standard your market tenders in (NRM2, SMM7, POMI, IS 1200, MasterFormat and so on) and in your currency, so contractors can price it without reworking it.
Is there free takeoff software?
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Spreadsheet templates are free but manual. Here you can upload plans and preview an AI takeoff for free, and the first 7 complete BoQs are free during the trial.
Should I choose desktop or cloud takeoff software?
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Cloud tools run on any device and need no install or licence keys; desktop tools work offline. Most new tools, including AI takeoff, are cloud-based.