A takeoff (also called quantity takeoff or QTO) is the process of extracting measurable quantities from a drawing set so they can be priced into an estimate. Common takeoff outputs include square footage of floor by room, linear footage of partitions, door and window counts, plumbing fixture counts, electrical outlets, finish quantities, and mechanical equipment lists.
Traditional takeoff used paper drawings and a digitizer wheel. Digital takeoff (PlanSwift, Bluebeam, OST) uses click-to-measure on PDF drawings. Modern AI takeoff reads full PDF drawing sets and extracts measured quantities autonomously, with output ready to feed a pricing engine. Takeoff is typically the most time-consuming part of preparing a commercial bid; AI takeoff cuts that time from hours to minutes without sacrificing defensibility.