Construction Estimating Software That Isn’t $5,000/Year
Multi-trade material takeoffs, cost tracking, and bid-ready estimates for small contractors and subs. The same depth as RSMeans and PlanSwift — without the enterprise contract.
Free during early access
The problem
RSMeans is $3,000–5,000/year. PlanSwift is $1,600 for Windows-only desktop software designed in 2008. STACK wants $3,000–4,800/year. For a 5-person crew, that’s more than a truck payment — for software you use twice a week. So you estimate with a phone calculator and a yellow pad, the same way your father did.
- RSMeans sells cost data, not estimating — you still have to do your own material takeoffs and assemble the bid yourself
- PlanSwift is Windows-only desktop software with no mobile access — you can’t pull up an estimate on the jobsite or in your truck
- STACK and Buildxact charge $200–600/month for project management features you don’t need when all you want is an accurate material estimate
- None of them let you try a single estimate before paying — you commit $1,600+ before you know if it fits your workflow
- The “free” alternatives are basic L×W×D calculators that output cubic feet and expect you to convert to yards, sheets, and tons yourself
What it does
Multi-Trade Material Takeoffs
Concrete, drywall, flooring, rebar, retaining walls — all in one platform. Run trade-specific takeoffs with the inputs each trade actually uses: multi-shape concrete pours, drywall with opening deductions, rebar with ACI-standard lap splices, flooring with pattern-specific waste.
Project Estimates Across Trades
One project, all trades, one estimate. Combine a foundation pour, basement drywall, garage flooring, and retaining wall into a single project. See material totals per trade and combined cost — not five separate calculator sessions taped together.
Cost Tracking with Regional Pricing
Material quantities are half the estimate. Attach unit costs from your area — price per cubic yard from your batch plant, price per sheet from your supply house. Get a dollar estimate, not just a quantity list.
Bid-Ready PDF Reports
Generate professional estimate reports you can hand to a GC or homeowner. Material quantities, unit costs, line item totals, waste factor breakdown, and project total — formatted for the job, not the spreadsheet.
Supplier-Ready Material Lists
Output formatted for how you actually order: cubic yards and truck loads for the batch plant, sheets and ancillary materials for the drywall supply house, tons and bar sizes for the rebar supplier, boxes and underlayment for the flooring distributor.
Adjustable Waste Factors on Every Material
Trade-standard defaults for every material and shape complexity — 5% for simple slabs, 15% for stairs, 10% for rectangular drywall rooms. See raw and adjusted quantities side by side. Override with your numbers because you know your crew.
Show-the-Math Formula Display
Every result shows step-by-step calculations with your actual numbers plugged in. Volume, unit conversions, waste adjustment, and rounding — verify every step before you commit to a pour or sign a bid.
Mobile-First for Jobsite Use
Measure on site, estimate in your truck, send the bid from the parking lot. Large tap targets, numeric keyboards, and sticky results that work on spotty cell service. No desktop required.
Why switch
Built for 5-Person Crews, Not 500-Person Firms
RSMeans and PlanSwift are enterprise tools with enterprise pricing and enterprise complexity. TakeoffCalc is built for the contractor who estimates 2–3 jobs a week and needs accurate numbers fast — not procurement workflows and multi-seat admin panels.
Try It Before You Pay Anything
Every material calculator works right now, for free, no signup. Run a real estimate on a real project before you decide. No other estimating platform lets you do that — they all want $1,600+ before you see a single number.
Trade-Specific Depth, Not Generic Cost Data
RSMeans sells cost databases. We do the takeoff — multi-shape concrete pours, drywall with real opening deductions, rebar with ACI-standard lap splices, flooring with pattern-specific waste. The quantities come out in the units each trade actually orders.
Modern and Mobile, Not Desktop-Only
PlanSwift is Windows desktop software. STACK requires a browser on a laptop. TakeoffCalc works on your phone at the jobsite — measure, estimate, and send the bid without going back to the office.
Free tools
Try these tools right now — no signup required.
Concrete Volume Calculator
Calculate concrete for slabs, footings, columns, walls, stairs, and post holes. Multi-shape project mode with waste factors.
Drywall Material Calculator
Calculate drywall sheets, joint compound, tape, screws, corner bead, and primer for multi-room projects with real opening deductions.
Flooring Material Calculator
Calculate flooring materials for hardwood, laminate, tile, and carpet with pattern-specific waste factors, multi-room support, and ancillary material quantities.
Rebar Calculator
Calculate rebar quantities with bar size selection, ACI 318 cover, lap splices, and weight in pounds and tons. Grid, one-way, perimeter, and tie layouts.
Retaining Wall Block Calculator
Calculate retaining wall blocks, cap blocks, gravel base, drainage aggregate, geogrid reinforcement, adhesive, and drain pipe for segmental retaining walls.
Ready to try Construction Estimating Software?
Free during early access. Get early access.