Paper plans, a scale ruler, and a highlighter still work — but they're slow, error-prone, and impossible to revise. On-screen takeoffs replace all of it. Here's the workflow we recommend.
Step 1 — Upload the plan
Drop in the PDF or drawing. Set the scale once (or let BidPhi detect it from a known dimension) and every measurement after that is accurate.
Step 2 — Measure on the page
- Length for linear runs (trim, pipe, conduit)
- Area for surfaces (roofing, flooring, drywall)
- Count for fixtures and fittings
Each markup is colored and labeled, so the plan stays readable and reviewable.
Step 3 — Flow quantities into the estimate
This is the part that saves the most time: measured quantities drop straight into your line items. No re-keying, no transcription errors, and when the plan changes you just re-measure the affected area.
Teams that switch from paper report cutting takeoff time roughly in half — and catching scope they used to miss.
Step 4 — Keep an audit trail
Because the markups live on the plan, anyone can open the estimate and see exactly where each quantity came from. That's worth its weight when a number gets questioned.
Start with one trade, get comfortable, then roll it out. Within a week most estimators don't want to touch a printer again.