Bolster Takeoff Tool Explained

TL;DR:

A construction takeoff takes plans or site images and turns them into actual numbers – areas, lengths, and counts – so you can give people a pretty good idea of what that job is going to cost without trying to wing it. Bolster's Takeoff tool lets you measure on a computer from plans you upload, from satellite images of the site, or from scratch, and then link those measurements right to the items and assemblies in your estimate so anything that changes doesn't require going back to the drawing board.

What You Need to Know and How Bolster Helps You Get There Fast

If you want to get done with your estimates quickly and without second-guessing yourself, you need your takeoff process to be real simple, easy to follow, and directly connected to how you actually price a job. Bolster's Construction Takeoff tool is all about that: measure digitally (from your plans, from a satellite image of the site, or just from scratch) and then connect those measurements to the items and assemblies that are going to make up your budget.

Quick answer: A construction takeoff is the step where you take your drawings and turn them into actual numbers (areas, lengths, and counts) so you can go ahead and price the job right.

What is a construction takeoff?

A construction takeoff (also called “material takeoff” or “quantity takeoff”) is the process of taking a project and pulling out actual numbers so you can go ahead and estimate the cost and scope with some real confidence.

Typical takeoff outputs include the following:

• Area (sq ft / m²): flooring, drywall, roofing sections, deck footprints - you know, the whole shebang
• Length (linear ft / m): fencing, trim, walls, piping runs - all the long, wiggly bits
• Counts / tallies: doors, windows, light fixtures, posts, footings - all the rest of the items that need to be added up

The more accurate your takeoff, the fewer headaches you'll get down the line (change orders, missed materials, or your margin getting eaten away).

What makes a digital takeoff “good”?

A good digital takeoff tool should do three things well:

1. Measure up quick without having to print out your plans or rewrite notes by hand
2. Stay organized (layers, different versions, and scope categories)
3. Turn measurements into a price without making you re-enter all the data

Bolster focuses a lot on that third point: measurements aren't just numbers on a piece of paper - they're inputs you can connect to the assemblies, items, and calculations that make up your estimate.

How Bolster’s takeoff tool works

Bolster lets you do a takeoff in three ways, depending on how the job shows up:

• Upload your plans and measure directly on your screen
• Use satellite imagery to measure from a street address
• Draw it yourself when you don't have any formal plans to work from

Then you can measure the following:

• Area
• Length
• Count / tally

Bolster also includes a joist & beam tool for framing layouts that takes into account custom material thickness and spacing - super useful for deck and framing-heavy estimates.

How to do a takeoff in Bolster (step-by-step)

Here's a clean, easy workflow you can follow for most residential projects:

1. First, choose (or make) the right assembly structure - start with assemblies that match how you actually price: “Custom Home,” “Kitchen,” “Bathroom,” “Deck,” “Fence,” etc. - the goal is to price consistently and reuse the same scope blocks.
   
   
2. Add your plan or image layer - upload that PDF/image plan, pull up satellite imagery by address, or just sketch what you're working with.
   
   
3. Set the scale one time - use a known measurement on the plan (like a labeled dimension) to calibrate the drawing. Once scaled, your measurements will be good across the whole page.
   
   
4. Create measurement layers by scope - use separate layers for what you're measuring (floor area, wall lengths, counts, exterior perimeter, etc.) - this keeps the takeoff readable and easy to review later.
   
   
5. Draw and capture quantities:

• Use closed shapes for areas (flooring, deck footprint, sod/lawn)
• Use open lines for lengths (fence runs, linear framing, trim)
• Use count/tally for items (doors, windows, fixtures)

1. Link measurements to estimate dimensions - this is the biggest time-saver: draw once and link that result to the dimensions your assemblies need so when something changes they don't require reworking.
2. Use the joist & beam tool when framing matters - for decks (and similar framing scopes), set the parameters, draw the footprint, and let the tool calculate framing quantities based on your inputs.
3. Save for reuse - if you are repeatedly estimating the same jobs, you can save your takeoff and assemblies to make estimating easier next time round.

What contractors use Bolster takeoff for most often

Bolster’s takeoff workflow is especially useful for residential work where scope repeats but dimensions change.

• Decks: all about footprint area + joist framing* Fencing: working up the length of runs, the number of gates, and the post count
• Kitchens: the size of the floor space, the total length of the cabinets, backsplash lengths and the run of the countertops
• Bathrooms: measuring the run of the vanity, laying out tile areas, and the number of fixtures
• Custom homes: the floor dimensions at the main level and then breaking those down into smaller components

FAQs

What on earth does “takeoff” mean in construction?

Takeoff is what you do when you go through a project (from drawings or snapshots) and actually measure things up to figure out what the work will involve - be it square footage, lengths of material, or the sheer number of things you need to count - so you can start to get a handle on how much labor and materials are going to cost.

What exactly can you measure in Bolster takeoff?

Bolster lets you measure spaces, lengths and the number of things or products, and then link all those measurements to bits of your estimate - like assemblies, items, or all sorts of calculations

Can I do takeoff even if I haven’t uploaded the plans?

Yes. Bolster actually lets you use satellite images to do a takeoff and draw from scratch, even if the formal plans aren’t available.

What is the joist & beam tool all about?

Its a framing tool that actually lets you come up with a plan for joists and beams based on the design of your deck or area, so you can take into account the thickness of the joist and the spacing

How does takeoff actually feed into pricing?

In Bolster, the measurements you take get linked directly to the estimate’s items/assemblies or calculations - so your measurements get turned into actual pricing inputs rather than being something you have to retype later on.

Need a look at the product page?

You can have a closer look at how Bolster’s takeoff works here.
And then check out the tutorials on Bolster’s takeoff too.