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Quantity Takeoff Services

Accurate Quantity Takeoff Services for architectural, structural, MEP, and construction projects. Improve cost estimation, bidding accuracy, and project planning.

3D BIM building model with color-coded material quantity breakdown, automated material takeoff table, cost estimation charts, and 5D BIM workflow steps BIM service

About This Service

Quantity Takeoff Services

Quantity takeoff is the process of measuring and listing the materials, components and work items needed to build a project. It feeds directly into cost estimation, procurement schedules and BOQ preparation, so errors here create problems well before anything is built. At Eminent BIM Services, we carry out quantity takeoffs from BIM models and drawings, producing schedules that are organised by discipline, level, zone or trade - whatever format your estimating team or client actually needs.

Whether you are a contractor pricing a bid, a developer comparing design options, or a cost consultant preparing a bill of quantities, the output is only useful if the input is measured correctly. That is where our team focuses.

What Are Quantity Takeoff Services?

A quantity takeoff involves going through the design - either a BIM model or 2D drawings - and recording quantities for every element: how many cubic metres of concrete, how many metres of steel reinforcement, how many linear metres of ductwork, how many square metres of blockwork, and so on. From those measurements, the estimator or quantity surveyor can apply rates and build a cost plan or BOQ.

When done from a well-developed BIM model, the process is faster and more consistent than manual drawing take-off. Revit schedules can pull geometry-based quantities directly from the model. But the accuracy is tied to model quality and LOD - a LOD 200 model gives approximate quantities; LOD 300 gives construction-level quantities that can be used for documentation and procurement.

We work from both: federated BIM models where they exist, and from CAD drawings or PDFs where they don't. We are clear about which source we're working from and what that means for the reliability of the output.

Our Quantity Takeoff Services Scope


Architectural Quantity Takeoff

We measure walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, finishes and roof elements. Schedules can be broken down by level, room type or finish category. We also cover external works, pavings and site elements where drawings are available.

Structural Quantity Takeoff

Concrete volumes, formwork areas, reinforcement weights, structural steelwork tonnage, piles and foundations. We organise these by structural element type and, where the model allows, by pour or construction sequence.

MEP Quantity Takeoff

Ductwork by size and type, pipework by diameter and system, cable trays, conduits, equipment counts, fixtures, valves and accessories. MEP takeoffs are some of the most time-consuming to do from drawings alone; a coordinated MEP model reduces that effort considerably.

HVAC Quantity Takeoff

Duct lengths and areas, fittings, equipment schedules, insulation quantities, dampers, grilles and diffusers. We work alongside or from coordinated HVAC models or system drawings.

BOQ Preparation

Where the project requires a formal Bill of Quantities, we structure the takeoff output to match the required format — NRM2, POMI, CSI MasterFormat, or a client-specific template. Each work item is described, measured and referenced against the drawing or model.


What We Deliver

  • Quantity schedules in Excel, organised by discipline, trade, level or zone
  • Bill of Quantities (BOQ) in the required format
  • Revit model schedules exported from the BIM model
  • Material takeoff lists with descriptions, units and quantities
  • Concrete, reinforcement and formwork schedules
  • Structural steel and rebar takeoffs
  • MEP system schedules: ductwork, pipework, cable management
  • Door, window, room and finish schedules
  • Summary sheets and element-by-element breakdowns
Files are delivered in Excel or as Revit schedule exports. If a specific template or breakdown structure is required, we work to that. We do not provide cost rates or estimates unless the scope explicitly includes cost planning.

Our Workflow

  1. Receive project information: We review what you send - Revit models, CAD drawings, PDFs, or a combination. If the model exists, we check its LOD and whether schedules have been set up correctly.
  2. Agree scope and format: We confirm which disciplines are in scope, the breakdown structure you need (by level, zone, trade), the units required, and the output format or template.
  3. Extract or measure quantities: For BIM models, we set up or refine Revit schedules, check that elements are correctly categorised, and export. For drawing-based projects, we measure manually against the relevant drawing set.
  4. Check and cross-reference: We review schedules for consistency - checking that element counts match between views, that areas reconcile, and that anything unusual is flagged rather than silently included.
  5. Compile the output: Schedules are organised into the agreed format. BOQ items are described and referenced.
  6. Client review: We send the draft schedules for your review. If queries arise - a discrepancy with your own count, a scope item you want broken out differently - we address them before final delivery.
  7. Final delivery: Clean, checked files in the agreed format.

Level of Development (LOD) and Quantity Accuracy


The LOD of the BIM model has a direct effect on what quantities can be extracted and how reliable they are.

At LOD 200, elements have approximate size and location. Quantities extracted at this level are useful for early-stage budgeting and feasibility, but not for procurement or BOQ preparation.

At LOD 300, geometry is accurate and located correctly. This is the standard for construction documentation and is where quantity schedules become reliable enough for trade packages and cost planning. Most of the quantity takeoff work we do is from LOD 300 models.

At LOD 350, connections, supports and interfaces between systems are modelled. This matters particularly for MEP takeoffs, where fittings, hangers and sleeves add meaningfully to material quantities.

At LOD 400, elements are modelled to fabrication level. Quantities at this stage are suitable for procurement and manufacturing.

When working from 2D drawings rather than a BIM model, accuracy depends on drawing completeness and revision status. We note where we have measured from and flag anything that was unclear or missing.

Software We Use

  1. Autodesk Revit - primary tool for model-based quantity extraction; schedule setup, parameter checking and export
  2. Navisworks Quantification - for takeoffs across federated models and for projects where discipline models come from multiple sources
  3. AutoCAD - for drawing-based takeoffs where the design is in CAD format
  4. Microsoft Excel - for compiling, structuring and formatting all output schedules and BOQ documents

Why Clients Use This Service

Quantity takeoff is detailed, time-consuming work. A missed revision, a misread drawing, or an element counted twice can alter a cost estimate significantly. Outsourcing the takeoff to a BIM-experienced team lets your in-house estimators or quantity surveyors focus on rates, market conditions and procurement - rather than spending days measuring ductwork or reconciling floor areas.

Working from a BIM model rather than drawings also reduces measurement error. Revit reports what is modelled; if the model is right, the schedule is consistent with it. That doesn't mean the quantities are always complete - things not modelled won't appear - but it does reduce the risk of arithmetic errors and inconsistent line items that manual takeoffs carry.

We also handle cross-discipline coordination in the takeoff: if the structural and architectural models don't agree on floor-to-floor heights, we flag it rather than guess. Small discrepancies at takeoff stage are much cheaper to resolve than at procurement.


Projects We Support

  • Commercial buildings - offices, retail centres and mixed-use developments where MEP and fit-out quantities are often as significant as the structure.
  • Residential and housing - repetitive unit types benefit particularly from BIM-based takeoffs, where schedules can be filtered by unit type, level or building.
  • Hospitals and healthcare - complex MEP systems, high fit-out specification and strict documentation requirements make accurate takeoffs essential.
  • Industrial and data centres - mechanical and electrical quantities are substantial; takeoffs from coordinated models reduce the risk of procurement gaps.
  • Hotels - high room counts with consistent fit-out specs across floors; schedule-based quantity extraction from Revit works well here.
Educational and institutional buildings - often publicly procured and require formal BOQ in a specified format.

Why Work With Eminent BIM Services?

Our team works across architectural, structural and MEP disciplines, which means a quantity takeoff from us covers the full model rather than just one trade. We understand how Revit is structured, what affects schedule accuracy, and how to set up or repair schedules that have been built inconsistently.

We work to client templates and preferred formats. If you have an existing BOQ structure or Excel template, we populate it. If you need quantities in a format compatible with your estimating software, we discuss that at the outset.

We also work on international projects - projects in the UK, US, Middle East, Australia and Southeast Asia - and can align with local measurement standards where required. Communication is in plain English, and we are available for queries during the project rather than just at final delivery.

Start Your Quantity Takeoff

If you have a BIM model, a drawing set, or a specific scope in mind, send us the available information. Our team can review what you have, confirm what is feasible to extract, and discuss how best to structure the output for your estimating or procurement process.
Software Used
Autodesk Revit Navisworks AutoCAD Bluebeam Excel
FAQ
Quantity Takeoff is the process of calculating and measuring construction materials, quantities, and project components from drawings, BIM models, and construction documents for estimating purposes.
Ideally a current Revit model or a set of CAD/PDF drawings with the latest revision. We also need to know the disciplines in scope, the output format you need, and any specific breakdown requirements- by level, zone or trade. If you have a BOQ template, send that too.
Yes. We measure from PDFs and CAD drawings where a model isn't available. We scale from drawing information and measure manually. Output is still structured in Excel in your preferred format. We are clear about what we measured from so you can assess the reliability of the quantities.
Quantities extracted from a BIM model are as accurate as the model itself. A well-built LOD 300 model gives reliable quantities for construction documentation and procurement. If the model has modelling errors or missing elements, those gaps show up in the schedules which is itself useful to know early. We flag anything that looks incomplete.
Yes. We cover architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical and fire protection. We can deliver a combined package or separate discipline schedules, depending on what your estimating team needs.
Yes. We prepare BOQs in standard formats including NRM2, CSI MasterFormat and client-specific templates. Each item is described, measured and referenced. We do not apply cost rates unless that is separately in scope.
Yes. We work with projects in the UK, US, Middle East, Australia and other markets. Where a specific standard applies NRM2 in the UK, for instance we structure the BOQ accordingly.
Yes. Revisions are a normal part of the process. We update schedules to reflect the revised model or drawings and can issue delta reports showing what changed between revisions if that is useful.
Schedules are delivered in Excel. Where Revit schedule exports are part of the scope, we provide those as well. We can also work to your file transfer process - shared drive, email, or project collaboration platform.
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