Quick Answer: Choose electrical takeoff software by testing the work you need to review: device counts, traced routes, circuit schedules, and a clear record of units. This is a workflow guide, not a tested ranking. CyanBuild's automatic PDF takeoff returns detected-item counts; conduit and home-run lengths require separate measurement and estimator review.
Separate counts, measurements, and pricing
A receptacle symbol count is not a conduit length. Likewise, a line on a floor plan does not establish the complete installed route. Keep these quantities separate so an item count cannot silently become linear feet in a bid.
| Quantity | Review required | Record with the quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures, devices, and other detected items | Compare the detections with the legend and drawing; correct missed or duplicate items. | Sheet, revision, item type, count, and review notes |
| Conduit and cable route lengths | Set the drawing scale and trace the intended route; identify vertical runs and routing allowances separately. | Measured length, unit, route, scale, and assumptions |
| Conductors, fittings, and assemblies | Reconcile the circuit schedule and specification with the route and installation method. | Verified assembly contents and pricing source |
What CyanBuild's automatic PDF takeoff provides
The automatic PDF workflow groups detected items into count rows with confidence and specification-match information where available. Review that output against the drawing: a confidence value is not a guarantee that all electrical scope has been found. The count result does not automatically measure physical conduit length, cable length, or home-run length, and it does not by itself price a complete electrical installation.
Use manual calibrated measurement for a chosen route
CyanBuild also has a separate drawing workspace with manual linear and area measurement tools. Use Set Scale with a known drawing distance and the appropriate unit, then trace the geometry you intend to measure. A calibration for one page or view should not be assumed correct for another; check a second known dimension before using the result.
For electrical work, trace the proposed horizontal route and record vertical rises, drops, and other allowances separately. Read the circuit schedule to determine conductor and circuit requirements; the length of a drawn line alone does not determine them. This manual measurement workflow is distinct from the automatic count result.
A practical evaluation on one drawing
- Choose a current sheet with a legend, an identifiable circuit schedule, and a known dimension. Record the revision.
- Count a small group of devices independently, then compare with the software output. Investigate omissions and duplicates rather than relying only on confidence scores.
- Calibrate and trace a known route. Confirm the displayed unit and compare the result with the drawing dimension.
- List scope that the test did not establish: concealed routing, vertical travel, spare capacity, fittings, supports, or specification requirements.
- Apply your own current supplier quotes and installation assumptions only after the quantities have been reviewed.
Build a cost estimate without double-counting
Keep purchased quantities, labor person-hours, employer burden, job overhead, and company overhead identifiable. Use project-specific evidence for each allowance instead of an arbitrary percentage. If a cost is already in a burdened labor rate or an assembly, do not add the same cost again in a separate overhead line. Document the cost base before applying markup or calculating margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should electrical takeoff software let me verify?
Check the drawing revision, symbol legend, device counts, circuit schedule, and how each measured route was obtained. Test whether the tool distinguishes an item count from a length and lets you review the underlying drawing. No ranking or accuracy benchmark is established by this guide.
Does CyanBuild automatically measure conduit and home-run lengths?
The automatic PDF takeoff result provides detected-item counts and review information; it does not calculate conduit or home-run lengths in feet or meters. A separate manual drawing tool supports calibrated linear measurements. You still need to choose the route and account for vertical runs, routing assumptions, and specifications.
Can a calibrated drawing measurement become a complete electrical estimate?
A traced length is one input. Reconcile device and circuit schedules, conductor quantities, fittings, installation conditions, labor assumptions, and supplier prices separately. Check that overhead is not included in a labor rate and then added again from the same cost pool.
Review your takeoff with CyanBuild
Upload a drawing, review detected items, and confirm the measurements and specification before using quantities in an estimate.
Try CyanBuild