Quick answer: Download the Excel workbook to turn checked drawing quantities into a material order, or use the printable PDF to record the same fields by hand. The workbook includes a blank Takeoff sheet and a separate Example sheet with hypothetical calculations.
Download the Excel workbook or printable PDF
- Download the material takeoff Excel workbook (.xlsx) — enter your quantities, allowances, and pack sizes; calculated columns show adjusted quantity, whole packs, and ordered quantity.
- Download the printable material takeoff PDF (.pdf) — a paper worksheet for manual entry. It is not an interactive fillable PDF and does not calculate results.
Use the blank sheet for your project. Keep the example separate so its demonstration quantities do not enter an order. These files organize quantities; they do not include supplier prices, labor costs, tax, delivery, or a bid total.
What is in the Excel workbook?
Both sheets use the following column order. Headers are on row 9; the prepared input rows run from 10 through 29. Columns A–F are required for a calculation, and Notes is optional. Keep the formulas in G–I when entering a takeoff.
| Column | Field | What to enter or read |
|---|---|---|
| A | Item | Material description and the specification needed to identify it. |
| B | Drawing / location | Sheet reference and the part of the project measured. |
| C | Measured qty | Checked quantity before an allowance. |
| D | Unit | The measurement unit used for this row. |
| E | Allowance % | Your documented allowance, entered as a percentage such as 5% or 0%. |
| F | Pack size (same unit) | Quantity supplied in one pack, in the unit used in column D. |
| G | Adjusted qty | Measured quantity after the allowance. |
| H | Whole packs | Number of complete packs required by the calculation. |
| I | Ordered qty | Whole packs multiplied by pack size. |
| J | Notes | Drawing revision, supplier pack information, exclusions, and reasons for the allowance. |
Start with one checked takeoff row
- Identify the item, drawing, and location. Confirm that you are using the intended drawing revision.
- Enter the measured quantity and unit. Do not add the same allowance to the measurement and again in column E.
- Enter the allowance as a percentage. Use
0%when no allowance is intended; an empty cell is a missing input. - Check the supplier's pack quantity and convert it to the same unit as your measurement before entering it.
- Review all three calculated results and keep the assumptions in Notes before placing an order.
Read the Example sheet
The examples demonstrate arithmetic, not trade-specific waste recommendations or quantities for a real job.
| Measured quantity | Allowance | Pack size | Adjusted quantity | Whole packs | Ordered quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 m | 5% | 25 m | 126 m | 6 | 150 m |
| 12 each | 0% | 1 each | 12 each | 12 | 12 each |
| 7.5 m | 10% | 2.5 m | 8.25 m | 4 | 10 m |
For the calculation steps, input-error cases, and decimal-boundary limitation, see the Excel takeoff formulas and pack-rounding tutorial. Check orders close to an exact pack boundary manually: the workbook rounds the calculated pack ratio strictly upward, and spreadsheet arithmetic can sometimes produce an extra pack at an intended exact decimal boundary.
Review quantities before ordering
Keep rows separate when their specifications or purchasing requirements differ. If several locations can share the same material order, decide how to group them before rounding to packs and retain the location breakdown. Do not add lengths, areas, volumes, and counts into one quantity total. The workbook intentionally has no grand total across unlike units.
Frequently asked questions
Which file should I download?
Choose Excel to enter quantities and use the formulas. Choose the printable PDF to record a takeoff by hand. The PDF is not an interactive fillable form and does not calculate results.
Does the template measure a drawing for me?
No. Enter quantities that you have measured and checked against the drawings. The workbook applies your allowance and pack size; it does not read plans, choose specifications, or verify the measured quantity.
Are the Example sheet quantities and allowances recommendations?
No. They are hypothetical inputs chosen to demonstrate the calculations. Set quantities, allowances, and pack sizes from the project requirements, your takeoff, and the supplier information.
Why does a row show blank results or Check inputs?
A row with a missing required input stays blank unless a supplied numeric input is invalid. Invalid numeric inputs show Check inputs in the three result columns. Zero is valid for measured quantity and allowance, but pack size must be greater than zero.