Overview
Takeoff is where quantities come from. Instead of measuring drawings by hand, typing numbers into a spreadsheet, and then re-typing them into your estimate, you can upload your plans, measure them directly in Structur, and push those quantities straight into a draft estimate.
The Takeoff feature lives inside each lead or project, so every measurement stays tied to the work it belongs to. You can organize measurements by area using groups, set the scale once per drawing, and choose from a full set of tools for lengths, areas, counts, angles, and curves.
Once your measurements are done, the Inventory tab lets you assign cost codes and unit costs, then send the whole set of items into an estimate that's still in draft. This guide walks you through the full workflow, from opening the module to pushing items into an estimate.
Understanding Takeoff
What It Does
The Takeoff tool allows you and your team to:
Upload drawings – Load PDFs or sheets into a takeoff package tied to a lead or project
Organize by group – Create a group for each area, trade, or scope you want to measure
Set the scale – Use a preloaded scale or manually calibrate against a known length
Measure anything – Lines, rectangles, polygons, paths, counts, Bezier curves, and angles
Switch units – Display measurements in imperial or metric
Build an inventory – Assign cost codes and unit costs to every measured item
Send to estimate – Push selected items into a draft estimate in one click
When to Use It
Takeoff is most valuable when you want to:
Price a project directly from the drawings rather than a rough spreadsheet
Capture accurate lengths and areas before building out an estimate
Count fixtures, outlets, doors, or any repeating item on a sheet
Keep all measurements and drawings tied to a single lead or project
Hand clean, cost-coded quantities to whoever is building the estimate
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Open the Takeoff Module
Open a lead or project
In the top bar, open the Takeoff module
This is the home for all takeoff packages on this lead or project.
2. Create a Takeoff Package
Click Create
Fill in the package details and confirm
Click the new package record to open the takeoff details view
Inside the package, the left sidebar gives you three tabs:
Sheets – Where your drawings live
Groups – Where you organize measurements by area or scope
Inventory – Where you assign cost codes and push items to an estimate
3. Upload Your Drawings
Click the Sheets icon in the left sidebar
Click Add Drawings
Upload the drawings for this takeoff package
Click a file to open it and start taking measurements
Note: Every drawing you upload lives inside the takeoff package, so it stays attached to the lead or project. You can upload multiple sheets to the same package.
4. Create Groups for Each Area
Before you start measuring, you need at least one group. Groups are how Takeoff organizes measurements by area, trade, or scope.
Click Groups in the left sidebar
Click the + button to create a new group
Create one group for each area you want to measure separately
You can always come back and add more groups later as your takeoff grows.
5. Set the Scale
Before measuring, always set the scale so your lengths and areas come out correct.
Option A – Use a Preloaded Scale:
Click Scale Not Set
Select one of the preloaded scales from the list
Option B – Manually Calibrate:
Click the ruler icon
Click the first point on a known length in the drawing
Click the second point
In the popup, enter the real length between the two points
Choose whether to apply the scale to all pages or the current page only
Tip: You can toggle units between imperial and metric at any time. The scale stays the same, only the display unit changes.
6. Take Measurements with the Tools
Once the scale is set, select the group you want to measure into and pick a tool. Each tool is designed for a specific kind of measurement:
Select – The mouse pointer for selecting existing measurements
Line – Measure lengths
Rectangle – Measure rectangular areas
Polygon – Measure irregular areas
Path – Measure areas along a drawn path
Count – Count how many of an item appear on the drawing
Bezier curve – Measure curved lines or areas
Compass – Measure angles and curves
Every measurement you take is added to the group you have selected, so always confirm you're in the right group before drawing.
7. Review and Price Items in Inventory
Click Inventory in the left sidebar
For each measured item, set the cost code
Enter the unit cost
Review the full list before pushing anything to an estimate
The inventory is your chance to clean up the takeoff, assign the right codes, and make sure costs match what the estimate expects.
8. Send to Estimate
In the Inventory tab, select the items you want to push
Click Send to Estimate
Select an estimate that is in draft
Click Add to Estimate
Note: You can only send items into an estimate that is still in draft. If the estimate has already been moved to a proposal or approved, create a new revision or a new estimate first.
Best Practices
Set the scale first – Never start measuring before scale is set, or you'll have to redo the whole group
One group per area – Use a group for each room, floor, or scope so quantities stay easy to review
Calibrate against a known dimension – When manually calibrating, pick a length you trust from the drawing, not a rough guess
Pick the right tool for the job – Use Line for lengths, Polygon or Path for irregular areas, and Count for repeating items
Assign cost codes in Inventory – Price every item and confirm cost codes before sending to estimate, so the estimate comes out clean
Keep the estimate in draft – Only draft estimates accept takeoff items, so push your quantities in before moving the estimate forward
Common Questions
Q: Where does the Takeoff module live?
Inside each lead or project. Open the lead or project, then open the Takeoff module from the top bar.
Q: Can I have multiple takeoff packages on the same project?
Yes. You can create as many takeoff packages as you need — for example, one per building, one per phase, or one per trade.
Q: What happens if I don't set the scale before measuring?
Your lengths and areas won't reflect real-world dimensions. Always set the scale first. If you measured without scale, set it afterward and review the measurements to confirm they updated correctly.
Q: Can I display measurements in both imperial and metric?
You can switch the display between imperial and metric at any time. The underlying scale stays the same — only the units change.
Q: Can I send items to an estimate that's already been approved?
Currently, items can only be sent to an estimate in draft. If the estimate is already in a proposal or approved, create a new estimate revision and send the items there.
Q: Do I have to use all the tools?
No. Use whichever tools match your measurements. A simple takeoff might only need Line and Count, while a more complex one might use Polygon, Bezier, and Compass together.
Q: Can I edit items in Inventory after sending them to an estimate?
Yes — you can keep editing the takeoff, but changes won't automatically flow into the estimate. To update the estimate, send the updated items again while the estimate is still in draft.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don't | ✅ Do |
Start measuring before setting the scale | Set the scale first, then measure |
Dump every measurement into one group | Create a group per area, trade, or scope |
Calibrate against an unknown or guessed length | Calibrate against a dimension you trust from the drawing |
Send items to estimate before assigning cost codes | Assign cost codes and unit costs in Inventory first |
Try to push items into an approved estimate | Keep the estimate in draft until takeoff items are in |
Use the wrong tool (e.g. Line for an area) | Match the tool to the measurement type |