What Is Material Takeoff?
Material takeoff is the process of identifying, organising, and presenting the materials required for a construction project, based on your drawings and project documentation. Depending on project scope and information provided, it can cover material quantities and information organised by category, trade, or specification, to support estimating, pricing, and procurement planning.
It's related to, but distinct from, Quantity Takeoff: Quantity Takeoff measures quantities across project elements and work items, structured into trade-based takeoffs. Material Takeoff focuses specifically on identifying, organising, and presenting material quantities and information to support procurement planning, pricing, and estimating. A material takeoff can draw on an existing quantity takeoff or be prepared independently from your drawings and documentation, depending on what's available.
What This Covers
Depending on project scope and the information available, a material takeoff may cover:
- Material quantities identified from drawings and specifications
- Materials organised by category, trade, or specification
- Quantities structured to support estimating and pricing
- Information organised to support procurement planning
- Trade or package-based material breakdowns
- Project-specific assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications
Not every project includes the same material information — coverage is based on the drawings and documentation you're able to provide for that project.
Who Uses This Service?
Material Takeoff support is typically used by:
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Developers
- Procurement teams planning material orders and budgets
- Construction consultants
- In-house estimators
What You Receive
A completed material takeoff typically includes:
- A structured material quantity schedule
- Materials organised by category or specification
- Trade or package-based breakdown
- Reference back to the drawings and documentation used
- Quantities presented in a format suitable for pricing, procurement planning, or further estimating work
The exact layout and file format are agreed with you as part of scope review.
How It Works
- 1
Drawings & Documents
You share the drawings, specifications, and any material schedules or project documentation available.
- 2
Scope Review
We review what's been provided and confirm the scope of the material takeoff with you before work begins.
- 3
Material Identification
Materials are identified and quantified from the drawings, category by category.
- 4
Organisation & Checking
Identified materials are organised into a structured schedule and checked for consistency.
- 5
Material Takeoff Delivery
The completed material takeoff is delivered to you in the agreed format.
- 6
Next Estimating Step
From there, the material takeoff can support pricing, procurement planning, or further estimating work — whichever your project needs next.
Documents & Information Required
Material takeoff can work from available project documentation such as:
- Construction drawings and specifications
- Material schedules, where available
- Any scope notes, or materials to include or exclude
- Project or drawing revision details
The exact documents needed depend on your project and the materials involved — we'll confirm this with you during scope review.
Quality & Technical Review
Every material takeoff is reviewed against the source drawings and documentation before it's delivered, checking identified materials and quantities for accuracy and consistency. This technical review is carried out by our estimating team as a standard part of the service.