Material takeoff · Procurement
Quantity and material takeoff built for the purchase order, not just the bid
A bid quantity and a buy quantity are not the same number. Lumber arrives in 16-foot sticks, drywall in 4x12 sheets, pipe in 20-foot lengths, and every cut leaves a remainder. Our material takeoffs convert measured net quantities into purchasable units with waste applied, grouped by supplier and delivery phase, so your buyer can request quotes the same afternoon the list arrives.
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Scope we take off
12 items- Structural lumber and engineered woodEA / LF / MBF
- Sheet goodsSHT / SF
- Concrete and reinforcing steelCY / TON
- Masonry units and mortarEA / PALLET / BAG
- Pipe, fittings and valvesLF / EA
- Conduit, wire and devicesLF / EA / REEL
Scope of takeoff
Material groups we convert to buy quantities
Each group is rounded to supplier stock sizes, with net quantity, waste and order quantity shown side by side.
Structural lumber and engineered wood
Studs, joists, LVL beams and I-joists rounded to stock lengths with cut-list optimization
Sheet goods
OSB, plywood and gypsum board in 4x8, 4x10 and 4x12 sheets with layout waste
Concrete and reinforcing steel
Ready-mix by mix design with over-excavation allowance, rebar by bar size and bundle
Masonry units and mortar
CMU and brick by pallet count, with mortar, grout and reinforcement bags
Pipe, fittings and valves
Pipe by nominal size and 10 or 20-foot stock lengths, with fitting counts by type
Conduit, wire and devices
Reels, boxes, devices and plates, rounded to spool and carton quantities
Roofing and insulation materials
Shingle squares, membrane rolls, insulation boards and batts by bundle and roll
Fasteners and accessories
Nails, screws, anchors, hangers, connectors and sealants by box and case
Doors, windows and hardware
Units by mark with frame, hardware set and finish, grouped for a single supplier quote
Finish materials
Tile, flooring, paint and trim by box, carton, gallon and stick
Delivery phasing and staging
Material list split by construction phase, lead time and laydown capacity
Supplier quote package
Request for quotation sheets by supplier trade with specs, sizes and quantities
Overview
From measured quantity to purchasable material list
Quantity takeoff measures what the drawings show. Material takeoff, often abbreviated MTO, translates those measurements into what a supplier will actually ship. A 1,200 linear foot wall becomes 900 studs at 16 inches on center, 150 plates, 38 sheets of drywall per side and the screws, tape and compound that go with them, each rounded to the stock length or package the supplier sells. Stock lengths are checked against what regional suppliers actually carry, so a list never calls for 18-foot lumber that the yard stocks only in 16.
We build the bill of quantities in the order a buyer thinks: by material family, by supplier trade and by delivery phase, so footing steel is requested months before finish hardware. Waste factors are set per material and per condition, because cutting drywall in a rectangular room is nothing like cutting it around a stair, and the factors are visible so your purchasing team can adjust them. Rounding happens at the order level, not the line level, which prevents ten small round-ups from quietly adding a full unit of material to every category.
When requested, we package each material group into a clean request for quotation with specifications, sizes and quantities, ready to send to your suppliers. A location-adjusted pricing option attaches current unit prices for your zip code, giving you a benchmark to hold supplier quotes against. Quotes returned by suppliers can be dropped straight into the same sheet, producing a side-by-side comparison of price, lead time and delivery terms for each material group, so the cheapest compliant supplier is obvious to everyone reviewing the buyout.
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
What type of quantity & material takeoff can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Single-trade material list
Within 2-3% of final purchase12-24 hours
A purchasable material list for one trade, such as framing or drywall, with stock sizes and waste applied.
Best for: Subcontractors buying their own material
Whole-building bill of quantities
Within 3-4% of final purchase48-72 hours
Quantities grouped by material family across the entire building, formatted for a purchasing agent and project manager.
Best for: GCs and developers procuring direct
Supplier quote package
Matches material list24 hours after list
Material groups packaged as separate requests for quotation, each with specifications and quantities ready to email.
Best for: Buyers comparing supplier pricing
Priced material list
Typically +/-6% on material pricing48-72 hours
The material list with current unit prices for the project zip code, useful as a benchmark against supplier quotes.
Best for: Budget checks and quote validation
Phased procurement schedule
Tied to schedule baseline72 hours
The material list sorted by need-by date and lead time, so long-lead items are ordered first.
Best for: Projects with tight supply chains
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Quantities are converted to the units suppliers actually sell, such as 16-foot studs, 4x12 sheets, pallets and reels, not abstract square feet.
Waste factors are set material by material and condition by condition, and every factor is visible so your buyer can raise or lower it.
Material groups are sorted by supplier trade and delivery phase, which means requests for quotation can go out without reorganizing the file.
Cut-list optimization for lumber and rebar, reduces offcuts and keeps the order closer to what the crew will really use.
Our supplier quote packages carry full specifications, avoiding the back-and-forth that follows an incomplete material request.
The optional pricing layer is localized to the project zip code, giving procurement a defensible benchmark before quotes arrive.
Revisions after design changes are tracked, so the material list stays aligned with the latest drawing revision.
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Free quote
Get a fixed quote for this scope
Upload drawings or a plan link and tell us the bid date. A senior estimator confirms scope, price and delivery before any work starts.
- Scope confirmation and a fixed price within two business hours
- Most estimates delivered in 24–48 hours
- Unlimited revisions until bid day
- Plans stay confidential and are deleted on request
Prefer to talk? Call +1 (800) 555-0199 or email info@leedsestimating.com.
CSI divisions
CSI MasterFormat divisions we cover
Estimates are organized by division so they drop straight into your cost codes and schedule of values.
Highlighted divisions are the primary scope on this page.
FAQ
Quantity & Material Takeoff FAQs
What is the difference between quantity takeoff and material takeoff?
Quantity takeoff measures net amounts from the drawings, such as square feet of wall. Material takeoff converts those amounts into the products you must buy, with waste, stock lengths and package sizes applied. If your goal is purchasing, the material takeoff is the document your buyer actually needs.
How do you choose waste factors?
We start with industry norms by material, for example 5% for drywall, 7-10% for framing lumber and 10-15% for diagonal tile layouts, then adjust for the project's geometry, such as many small rooms or complex roof planes. Every factor appears in its own column so your team can override it.
Can you prepare quote requests for my suppliers?
Yes. We split the material list into supplier trade groups and produce a request for quotation for each, listing specifications, sizes and quantities. You add your suppliers and send them out, which shortens the time between receiving drawings and having comparable prices in hand. It also speeds up the supplier response considerably.
Is pricing included in a material takeoff?
Not by default. The standard deliverable is quantities only. As an option, we attach unit prices adjusted for the project location, which gives you a benchmark to compare against supplier quotes. Labor is not included unless you request a full estimate. That keeps the list aligned with how your buyer already works.
Do you create a bill of quantities for public bids?
Yes. We structure the bill of quantities in the format the bid documents require, with item numbers, descriptions, units and quantities. Many public owners ask for unit-priced bid forms, and we align our takeoff to those line items so your pricing maps cleanly. That lets bidders price against a shared reference.
How quickly can you deliver a material list?
Single-trade material lists are typically delivered within 12 to 24 hours. A whole-building bill of quantities takes 48 to 72 hours depending on size. We confirm the schedule before starting and offer rush options when a supplier deadline or purchasing window is closing. Rush schedules carry a premium that we confirm first.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Ready for a quantity & material takeoff quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.