Accurate digital material takeoffs and quantity surveys for every construction trade, delivered in colour-coded Excel format within 24 to 48 hours nationwide.
DFE’s certified quantity surveyors perform precise digital material takeoffs from your construction drawings using PlanSwift and Bluebeam, measuring every quantity for every trade, across all applicable CSI divisions. Every quantity takeoff we deliver is formatted in a colour-coded Excel spreadsheet organised to master CSI format. Each line item clearly shows the material description, unit of measure, quantity, and item reference number, making it easy for GCs and subcontractors to review, cross-check, and price directly with their suppliers. Most takeoffs are delivered within 24 to 48 hours. No manual counting. No estimation errors. Just precise, digital quantities ready for immediate pricing.
These are the four takeoff problems that cost contractors time, money, and bids every week.
Hand-counting quantities from paper plans leads to missed items, wrong counts, and costly under-bids.
Inaccurate takeoffs mean you order too much wasting money on materials you paid for but never used.
Digital takeoffs on complex drawings take days in-house. By then, the bid window is already closing.
Estimating time is expensive time. Every hour your team spends counting materials is an hour off-site.
DFE Estimating eliminates all four — precise digital takeoffs, colour-coded and ready for pricing, delivered before your deadline every time.
A precise, four-step digital process, from your drawings to a complete, colour-coded material list.
Upload your construction plans, bid set, or schematics through our portal. PDF, CAD, and Revit files accepted for all trades.
Your assigned takeoff specialist reviews your drawings, confirms which trades to cover, and sends a confirmed flat-fee quote within 2 hours.
Using PlanSwift and Bluebeam for structural and finishes, and FastPIPE and FastDUCT for MEP — we measure every quantity on-screen with precision.
You receive a complete takeoff spreadsheet in master CSI format, every item colour-coded by trade, with quantities, units, and item descriptions, in 24 to 48 hours.
Nine reasons construction professionals across the USA trust DFE with their takeoffs.
We cover every construction trade, delivering precise digital takeoffs from your drawings for immediate material pricing.
Precise cubic yard calculations for footings, slabs, walls, and elevated concrete, plus masonry unit counts and mortar quantities, all taken off digitally from your structural drawings.
Exact board-foot and linear-foot quantities for studs, joists, rafters, headers, and engineered lumber, formatted for immediate supplier pricing for residential and light commercial framing projects.
Complete trade takeoffs for all MEP systems using FastPIPE, FastDUCT, and PlanSwift, piping lengths, duct areas, fixture counts, conduit runs, and panel schedules for commercial and industrial projects.
Board counts, metal stud quantities, insulation volumes, flooring areas, paint quantities, and all ceiling system measurements, complete interior finish takeoffs for residential and commercial projects.
Square footage calculations for all roof types, plus linear measurements for flashing, trim, and fascia, and wall area measurements for cladding, curtain wall, and exterior insulation systems.
Cut and fill volume calculations, grading quantities, utility trench lengths, curb and gutter measurements, and site concrete areas, all quantified from your civil site plans for accurate sitework bids.
From residential framing to large-scale commercial and industrial projects – DFE takeoffs cover every sector and every trade.
Accurate digital takeoffs backed by 12 years of experience, certified professionals, and industry-leading software.
Takeoff experience
Projects completed
Digital takeoff tools
Standard delivery
Every line item
Nationwide
CSI master format
Always available
Services contractors frequently combine with quantity takeoffs.
A quantity takeoff (QTO) is the process of measuring and listing every material required to complete a construction project — before any pricing is applied. It includes counting and measuring all items from the construction drawings: cubic yards of concrete, board feet of lumber, linear feet of pipe, square feet of drywall, and so on. The result is a complete material quantity list that contractors and suppliers use to price the project and prepare a competitive bid.
A quantity takeoff measures and lists the materials needed for a project — it tells you what and how much. A cost estimate takes that material list and adds pricing — current material costs, local labor rates, equipment, overhead, and profit — to produce a total project cost. A quantity takeoff is the foundation that a cost estimate is built on. DFE provides both services, and most clients order them together as a complete bid package delivered in one Excel file.
Quantity takeoff service fees typically range from $100 to $1,500 depending on project size, number of trades, and complexity. A single-trade residential takeoff (lumber, concrete, or drywall) generally starts at $100 to $300. Full commercial multi-trade takeoffs range from $400 to $1,500. DFE charges flat fees based on your project scope with no hidden charges. Contact us for a free quote — we respond within 2 hours of receiving your drawings.
Most quantity takeoffs from DFE are delivered within 24 to 48 hours of receiving your plans. Single-trade residential takeoffs are often completed in under 24 hours. Multi-trade commercial or industrial takeoffs typically take 24 to 48 hours. Large-scale or complex projects may take 2 to 3 business days. Rush delivery within 8 to 12 hours is available for urgent bid deadlines. DFE has never missed a client’s takeoff delivery deadline.
DFE Estimating uses PlanSwift and Bluebeam for digital quantity takeoffs from construction drawings — measuring all structural, architectural, and finish quantities on-screen with precision. For MEP trades, we use FastPIPE for piping and plumbing takeoffs, and FastDUCT for mechanical HVAC ductwork takeoffs. For quantity surveying, we use Trimble. All takeoffs are delivered in Excel format, colour-coded by trade and organised to master CSI format.
A colour-coded quantity takeoff is a digital takeoff where each trade or material type is highlighted in a distinct colour on your construction drawings — showing exactly which areas have been measured and which trade each measurement belongs to. This is important because it allows GCs and subcontractors to visually verify the takeoff coverage, check for missed areas, and confirm that every item in the quantity list corresponds to a specific location on the drawings. DFE includes colour-coded marked-up plans with every takeoff at no extra charge.
Yes. DFE Estimating regularly performs preliminary quantity takeoffs from schematic drawings, design development documents, or incomplete construction sets. We clearly document all assumptions and note which items require confirmation as design progresses. Preliminary takeoffs from early-stage drawings are one of our most frequently requested services, particularly from developers and owners who need material quantity estimates before finalising their construction documents for budgeting or financing purposes.
DFE Estimating covers all 49 CSI divisions in our quantity takeoff services, including Division 03 (Concrete), Division 04 (Masonry), Division 05 (Metals and Structural Steel), Division 06 (Wood and Plastics — Lumber and Framing), Division 07 (Thermal and Moisture Protection — Roofing and Insulation), Division 08 (Openings — Doors and Windows), Division 09 (Finishes — Drywall, Flooring, Painting), Division 22 (Plumbing), Division 23 (Mechanical HVAC), Division 26 (Electrical), and Division 31 (Earthwork and Sitework).
DFE Estimating is a trusted provider of construction estimating services, delivering accurate quantity takeoffs, material takeoffs, labor pricing, and bid-ready construction estimates for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. We help contractors save time, reduce estimating errors, and bid with confidence.
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