11 Best Construction Takeoff Software Programs to Consider in 2024

Discover 2024's best construction takeoff software for heavy/civil contractors

As 2024 unfolds, the construction industry continues to evolve, with technology playing a key role in shaping project outcomes. One indispensable tool that has emerged is construction takeoff software, which is not just a convenience but a necessity for estimators and project managers. This software simplifies the complex processes of measuring and estimating materials—important factors in the success of large-scale heavy construction projects.

In civil construction involving large-scale projects such as roads, bridges, and land development, earthwork takeoff software is a specialized tool that calculates the volume of soil to be excavated or filled, streamlining the estimation process for earthmoving tasks. Earthwork takeoff software enhances accuracy and efficiency, which is beneficial for managing costs and resources in heavy construction projects.

As the market is flooded with software options, selecting the ideal program can be overwhelming. This is where our guide comes in, highlighting the best takeoff software to consider in 2024. We’ll cover each program’s unique features, pricing, and user reviews, providing a comprehensive overview to help you make an informed decision.

Our objective is to equip you with the knowledge needed to select the best construction takeoff software for earthwork, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the specific demands of your projects.

Autodesk Civil 3D

Autodesk Construction Cloud is one of the most well-known construction management programs, emphasizing real-time insights into project costs, schedules, and more. A key component of this platform is Autodesk Civil 3D, specifically designed for earthwork takeoff tasks.

Features

• Material and quantity calculations: Enables precise volume reports by comparing design to existing surfaces.
• Terrain modeling: Facilitates land use studies and infrastructure planning through digital topography models.

• Design automation: Offers scripting via visual programming to streamline complex tasks.

Price

Autodesk Civil 3D is priced at $350 a month, $2,780 a year, and $8,340 for three years per user.

Reviews

Feedback on Autodesk Civil 3D praises its feature-rich environment and supportive online resources. However, newcomers might face a steep initial learning curve.

PlanSwift

PlanSwift is a versatile cloud-based takeoff and estimating program. The Earthwork Pro plugin can be added to PlanSwift, providing several tools and templates that can assist in the earthwork takeoff process.

Features

• Point-and-click functionality: Allows users to quickly and easily measure areas, items, lengths, volumes, and perimeters.

• Drag-and-drop capabilities: Users can drag pre-configured or newly created assemblies onto takeoff items, streamlining the calculation of material, waste, and labor costs.

• Excel compatibility: Offers seamless export options to Excel, facilitating easy sharing of estimates with stakeholders.

Price

PlanSwift Professional, available at an annual subscription of $1,749, includes comprehensive support, regular software updates, and a two-hour training session. The Earthwork Pro plugin costs $899.99.

Reviews

PlanSwift has received praise for its user-friendly learning curve and efficiency in organizing construction takeoffs. However, users should be aware of potential performance issues, such as slower loading times when managing a large number of files, which may require periodic file removal for optimal operation.

Insite Elevation Pro

InSite Elevation Pro is specialized earthwork software aimed at enhancing the bidding process for earthwork projects. It is known for its integration with GPS machine control modeling, enhancing project accuracy and efficiency.

Features

• Data integration: Supports a wide range of file types and data from various sources.

• Construction layouts: Enables the export of surface models to GPS machine control systems and BIM software for accurate construction planning.

• Drone integration: Drone data can be imported, allowing for quick grade verifications and as-built calculations.

Price

InSite Elevation Pro is priced at $3,540 annually.

Reviews

InSite Elevation Pro is commended for its visual representation capabilities and fast subgrade information processing. However, users note a limitation in printing takeoff details directly from the program.

WinEx Grade and WinEx Master

Roctek’s WinEx Grade and WinEx Master specialize in on-screen excavation takeoff and earthwork calculations, delivering precise volumes for cut and fill, material estimates, and measurements for site work and utilities.

Features

• Fast takeoffs: Begin takeoffs quickly by loading drawings from PDFs or other image formats.

• Multiple sheet handling: Streamlines the takeoff and estimation process by allowing the import of multiple sheets.

• Site balancing: Provides tools for efficient material use and waste reduction.

Price

WinEx Grade is available at $5,470, including a perpetual license and a year of support. The advanced WinEx Master is priced at $8,550, also with a perpetual license and one year of support.

Reviews

Rocktek is highly regarded for its technical support and customer service. Some users suggest that the summary reports in WinEx could benefit from a more user-friendly layout to enhance readability.

Trimble Business Center

Trimble Business Center is a software tool for calculating earthwork and material quantities essential for bidding, preparing construction stakeout data, optimizing machine operations, and tracking productivity.

Features

• Construction site modeling: Boosts bidding process and enhances profit margins through advanced surface modeling, enabling easy takeoffs and customization.

• CAD modeling and data prep tools: Offers creation of CAD deliverables and ensures full data traceability with an extensive array of preparation tools.

• Survey and quantity estimating tools: Uses advanced analysis and calculation tools for precise quantity estimating, essential for creating integrated construction models.

Price

Pricing details for Trimble Business Center are not publicly listed; those interested are encouraged to contact Trimble directly for quotes.

Reviews

Online reviews are scarce, but an article from Geo Week News praises Trimble Business Center as an effective cloud-based tool for surveying.

Mudshark Earthworks Software

Buildsoft's Mudshark Earthworks Software is a specialized onscreen takeoff tool designed for precise earthwork estimating. It caters to the unique demands of civil and groundworks projects, especially in bulk earthworks calculations.

Features

• Fully interactive 3D visualization: Provides an immersive 3D of a construction site, enhancing terrain analysis and project planning.

• Solid modeling: Delivers accurate cut and fill volumes through solid modeling technology for precise estimations.

• Drone data importation: Streamlines site surveying by allowing easy import and analysis of drone-captured data.

Price

Mudshark is available for purchase at just under $2,000, or via a subscription model at around $125 per month.

Reviews

User testimonials on the Mudshark website praise the program for its efficiency in handling complex earthworks, noting significant time and cost savings.

AGTEK

AGTEK, a cloud-based software for estimation and material quantifying, is designed to streamline construction modeling and progress measurement. Its Gradework suite is specially designed for efficient earthwork takeoff.

Features

• Seamless data conversion: Transform data from drones, CAD, and PDFs into actionable material lengths, counts, areas, and volumes.

• Grade control models: Easily create GPS-compatible models for heavy equipment, enhancing operational efficiency.

• Efficient data management: Integrate data from various sources for thorough progress monitoring, with easy mobile app synchronization for teams in the field. 

Price

AGTEK encourages potential users to reach out directly for pricing information.

Reviews

Users commend AGTEK Gradework for its robust functionality and the technical support team's helpfulness in navigating the learning curve.

Trakware Earthworks

Trakware EarthWorks is a specialized excavation software tailored for construction professionals, enabling them to accurately conduct excavation planning and takeoffs.

Features

• Cloud-enabled: Allows users to perform takeoffs from various devices, providing accessibility and flexibility across platforms.

• Built-in training videos: Offers more than six hours of videos for in-depth training on EarthWork’s features, making it easier for users to understand and utilize the program to its full potential. 

• User-friendly interface: Features large icons for easy access to all common takeoff functions.

Price

Trakware EarthWorks can be purchased outright for $4,000, with network and cloud licenses each priced at $4,500.

Reviews

Users praise EarthWorks' simplicity, ease of use, valuable customer support, and educational resources, making it a preferred choice for efficient excavation takeoff and planning.

Carlson Takeoff

Carlson Takeoff, a comprehensive CAD-based program, specializes in calculating earthwork volumes and creating 3D models. It supports estimations through digitized paper plans, PDF imports, or CAD files, offering flexibility in transitioning from traditional to digital planning methods.

Features

• Paper plan digitizing: Eases the shift from traditional to digital with support for digitized paper plans.

• CAD advantage: Unique for being built on the AutoCAD or IntelliCAD engine.

• Tracing capability: Features automatic tracing in PDFs and the ability to merge raster files, simplifying the process of combining multiple sheets.

Price

Carlson Takeoff can be purchased for $7,500.

Reviews

Users praise the program for its effective technical support, aiding in the swift resolution of any issues. However, newcomers to CAD may find the interface challenging, highlighting a steep learning curve for those less experienced with CAD platforms.

Methvin

Methvin is an online construction bid and estimating suite designed to assist contractors in quickly generating accurate cost estimates and competitive bids. This comprehensive suite offers a range of user-friendly tools, including estimating, scheduling, collaboration, takeoff, and a tender portal. It also has specific functions for excavation and earthwork.

Features

• Easy communication: Integrates a notification system for seamless communication with suppliers and contractors.

• Project management tools: Includes tools like Gantt charts and Agile project management, enabling task creation, duration setting, resource assignment, and fostering a collaborative process.

• International capability: Supports real-time collaboration across different time zones and currencies.

Price

Methvin offers a free version, with more advanced features available in the business version at $27 per month and the enterprise version at $179 per month.

Reviews

Users commend Methvin for its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and comprehensive coverage of construction stages from tendering to execution and closeout. A noted challenge is occasional difficulties with logging into the program.

Vertigraph SiteWork/OS

Vertigraph SiteWorx/OS is a specialized tool for creating detailed surface models and accurately calculating excavation quantities, designed to make the excavation planning process more manageable, cost-effective, and efficient.

Features

• Surface modeling: Develops 3D models for existing and proposed site conditions using data from various file formats, aiding in project visualization and planning.

• Excavation quantity calculations: Provides precise calculations for cut and fill volumes, ensuring accurate estimations and budgeting.

• Extensive support: Offers a year of unlimited support,  training, and software updates, helping users fully utilize the software.

Price

The cost for a SiteWorx/OS license is $2,795, which includes unlimited support and training for the first year.

Reviews

Reviewers on Vertigraph’s website commend SiteWorx/OS for its efficiency in handling cut and fill volume calculations and its compatibility with multiple file formats, including DWG, PDF, and AutoCAD files.

Building Success with advanced solutions for modern constructors

As we wrap up our guide on the best construction takeoff software for 2024, it’s evident these technologies have become necessary for project planning and execution, especially for handling the earthwork takeoff process on complex heavy construction projects.

However, these tools are just the beginning. For those in search of all-encompassing construction management solutions, TCLI’s Estimating Link®, Field Link®, and Billing Link® offer advanced capabilities that go beyond what takeoff software can provide. Estimating Link® enhances the accuracy of estimates and bids, Field Link® bridges the gap between bidding and actual fieldwork by tracking production, and Billing Link® streamlines job progress tracking while facilitating timely billing.

Together, these programs create a robust ecosystem that complements the functionalities of top takeoff software, ensuring seamless project management from start to finish. By integrating these solutions into your workflow, you can achieve new levels of efficiency and accuracy in your construction projects.