Material Takeoff · Metric

Material Takeoff

Material lists item by item in metric, with wastage, ready to send to suppliers for quotes

A material takeoff is a shopping list: how much, what size, what grade. It has to be right to order from, which means every quantity in the units your supplier uses, with a wastage allowance you can see and change.

We read the drawings and specification, measure every material, convert to supplier units (lengths, sheets, packs, tonnes, m³), and return a list that suppliers can quote from without asking you questions.

Material takeoff from construction plans
24 to 48 hoursStandard scope turnaround
Supplier unitsSheets, packs, tonnes
Wastage visibleChangeable
By tradeASMM / ANZSMM sections
Metricm, m², m³, kg, t
Deliverables

What You Actually Receive

DeliverableFormatDetail level
Material list by tradeExcelAll materials in supplier units
Wastage scheduleExcelAllowances by material
Ordering scheduleExcelBy stage and delivery
Marked-up drawingsPDFAudit overlay
Supplier requestPDFReady to send for quotes
Scope Coverage

Material Takeoff Scopes

Structure

  • Concrete and reinforcement
  • Structural steel
  • Timber and engineered timber
  • Masonry

Envelope

  • Roofing and cladding
  • Insulation
  • Windows and doors
  • Membranes

Finishes

  • Plasterboard and ceilings
  • Tiles and flooring
  • Paint
  • Joinery

Services

  • Pipework and fittings
  • Cable and containment
  • Ductwork
  • Fixtures

External

  • Paving and kerbs
  • Fencing
  • Landscaping
  • Drainage
Our Process

How We Prepare Your Estimate

Five steps take you from drawings to a materials price you can defend in a scope review.

Start a Project →
  1. 01

    Scope review

    An estimator reads the architectural and engineering drawings and specification before touching a takeoff tool, and lists every assumption, exclusion and missing item as a query for you to confirm. Nothing is priced on a guess.

  2. 02

    Digital measurement

    Quantities are measured digitally in Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff, in metric: metric quantities. Each measurement sits on a named layer, so the marked-up PDF you receive is a visual audit trail.

  3. 03

    Pricing

    We price the quantities using current Australian supplier quotes, subcontract rates and published benchmarks such as Rawlinsons, adjusted for your postcode and state. If you give us your own rates or a preferred supplier schedule, we use those.

  4. 04

    Senior QA review

    Before anything is sent, a second estimator compares the takeoff with the drawings and verifies the measuring rules, deductions, wastage allowances and productivity assumptions.

  5. 05

    Delivery

    Excel and PDF files reach your inbox within one to two days for standard jobs. One round of changes is included, and we remain available for tender queries and scope questions after the tender.

Tooling

Software We Work In

You do not have to hold a licence for these tools. We do the measuring with them and hand over the results.

Bluebeam Revu

Measuring, marking and comparing drawings on screen.

PlanSwift

Takeoffs made from ready-built assemblies, with quantities you can export.

On-Screen Takeoff

Layer-based measuring on big commercial drawing sets.

Rawlinsons-benchmarked rates

Up-to-date Australian unit rates, compared with supplier and subcontractor quotes.

Microsoft Excel

The final file, set out to match your cost codes and trade sections.

If you use Buildsoft, CostX, Estimate One, Procore or your own template, let us know and we will prepare the file so it imports straight in.

Turnaround & Pricing

Cost and Delivery Time

We quote a fee for each project before starting, in AUD excluding GST. We never bill by the hour, and you are never charged more than the quote.

Small / residential scope

24 hours

Small projects.

Typical fee A$350 to A$850

Mid-size commercial

24 to 48 hours

Mid-size projects.

Typical fee A$850 to A$1,800

Large / complex

48 to 72 hours

Large developments.

Typical fee A$1,800 to A$3,600

Monthly takeoff package

Ongoing

A set number of estimates every month, with your jobs placed first in the queue.

Flat monthly rate from A$2,200/mo

Estimators reviewing project drawings
Cost vs. Capacity

Why Builders Hand Material Estimating to Us

A full-time estimator is a salary, super, software seats and training. A material takeoff from us is a per-project cost that only appears when you are actually tendering.

  • No software licences. Takeoff and cost-data subscriptions cost thousands of dollars per user each year. With us, you use ours.
  • Tender more, more selectively. Most builders do not lose jobs through bad pricing. They lose them because they run out of time to reach enough tenders before closing.
  • Site time stays site time. Items get overlooked when estimating at 9pm after a long day on site.
  • Independent accuracy check. Even builders with in-house estimators use us to sanity-check large or unfamiliar material scopes before they submit.
  • Moves up and down with how busy you are. Five takeoffs in a busy month and none in a slow one. You never carry a fixed cost.
Who We Work With

Who We Work With

Builders

Ordering lists.

Suppliers

Quote support.

Subcontractors

Trade materials.

Owner-builders

Materials lists.

Developers

Procurement planning.

Project managers

Budget tracking.

Sample Output

Sample Line Items

Every estimate has this much detail: quantities tied to elements and measured in metric, never lump sums.

ItemUnitQtyMaterialLabourTotal
Concrete, N32m³86.4$$$
Reinforcement, N16t4.62$$$
Plasterboard 13 mm, 1200 x 2400sheets420$$$
Timber studs 90 x 45m3,420$$$
Roof sheetingm²486.0$$$

These example items show only the layout and units. They do not come from a client project.

FAQ

Common Questions

Do you convert to supplier units?

Yes, sheets, packs, lengths, tonnes and m³.

Do you include wastage?

Yes, as a visible allowance.

Can you split by delivery?

Yes.

Do you price the takeoff?

Yes, on request.

Which states and territories do you cover?

Every one. Prices are set for your project postcode and state, so a job in Darwin and a job in Melbourne get their own unit costs instead of one national average.

What does it cost?

A fee is quoted per project, in AUD excluding GST, before any work starts. You approve it in writing first. There is no hourly billing and no invoice larger than the quote.

How fast is turnaround?

Standard scopes ship in 24 to 48 hours. Large packages take 48 to 72 hours. If you are against a closing time, say so when you upload and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.

Are my project details kept confidential?

Yes. We keep drawings, specifications and tender figures private, and if you prefer we will sign your NDA before we receive any documents.

Ready to Get Started?

Ready for Your Next Material Tender?

Send your drawings along with a short note on what the job covers. A fee and delivery date come back the same working day, and the finished estimate follows within one to two days of your approval.

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