How to do a material takeoff

Before a vendor can bid for or begin a construction project, they have to know the types and quantities of the various materials required to complete it. This is to ensure a proper estimate of the costs and material requirements, and also to provide an indication of the labor costs associated with the installation or construction of the materials. This process is known as material take off (MTO), construction takeoff, or simply as takeoff. It’s an essential part of a project estimation process.

What to Include on a Takeoff Document

The material takeoff document must have a list of all the materials required to complete the project, no matter what it is. This does not include any assets, such as equipment and tools that will also be required to complete the job but should include any and all raw and prefabricated tools, such as timber, sand, concrete, bricks, electrical cables, light fixtures, and plumbing pipes.

After listing the building materials, the MTO needs to specify the type of material, such as the type of electrical cable or specific grades of steel.

Key Types of Measurement Required in Takeoffs

Count

You must count everything required for individual items from the studs required to complete the project to the number of light fixtures and faucets.
Length

Certain items, such as pipes and cables, are measured by length. You’ll also need to know other dimensions, like diameter, but the information will be with the type of material that’s required. You’ll need to know how many of each length you’ll require, and you’ll need to allot extra length for elements such as switches, panels, and receptacles when it comes to electrical cable.
Area

Certain elements, such as flooring or the amount of paint you need will require the surface area measurement.
Volume

Measurements of volume will be required for certain materials, such as the amount of concrete required to lay the foundation, or the asphalt per yard to pour the parking lot outside the building.

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Material take off list template

Quantity takeoffs can be prepared manually as well as electronically on computer softwares. Manual work requires more effort and has more room for mistakes but it is the traditional way. You have to use different colored pens and markers for different types of materials. This will help you identify the different materials easily.
You can also get construction material take off done through the templates designed by the software.