PlanDeskHow to do a takeoff from a PDF and export it to Excel
A takeoff is counts, lengths and areas off the drawings, priced and handed to someone in a spreadsheet. PlanDesk does all three on the PDF and writes an Excel workbook whose totals are live formulas, so you can change a price later and everything recalculates.
Set the scale
Tap No scale at the bottom and pick the sheet's scale, or calibrate against a known dimension.
Count items
Pick the Count tool and tap each door, window or fixture. For a symbol that repeats a lot, use Auto count: drag a box around one symbol and PlanDesk finds every match on the sheet or the whole set.
Measure lengths and areas
Use Length or Polylength for runs like base, conduit or curb, and Area for floors, ceilings and roofing.
Add costs
Pick Select, tap a count or measurement, and in Properties on the right type a material cost per item, per foot or per square foot.
Export to Excel
Choose File › Export takeoff to Excel. You get Summary, Detail and By Space tabs, with the totals as formulas.
Tips
- Use the Space tool to name rooms or units. The By Space tab breaks the takeoff down by them.
- File › Export markup list (CSV) gives every markup with its comment and status if you want a flat list instead.