From drawing takeoff to a bid you can stand behind.
Measure areas and lengths, count items on your drawings, and price the quantities in an estimating workbook. Keep your takeoff, rates, and scope together from the first sheet to the final proposal.
Free to start. No card required.
Backed byCombinator
Mechanical. Ductwork. Concrete. General counting. Take off your scope and build the estimate in one workspace.
Takeoff for the work you do.
Mechanical, ductwork, concrete, and general counting. See how each workflow turns your drawings into quantities you can price.
Build the mechanical scope.
Count equipment and fixtures, trace piping, and keep the quantities organized by the systems you are pricing.
- Count air handlers, pumps, and air devices on the plans.
- Trace pipe runs and record diameter and service.
- Bring reviewed quantities into your estimate with your own rates.
Mechanical equipment & devices
Item countsQuantities
- Air handlersAHU-01 to AHU-02
- 2 EAReviewed
- PumpsP-01 to P-03
- 3 EAReviewed
- DiffusersSD-01 to SD-06
- 6 EAReviewed
Illustrative takeoff example. Quantities shown for review.
Your quantities. Your rates.
Your estimate.
Build the bid in the same workspace as your takeoff. Keep control of the pricing, formulas, and assumptions that make the number yours.
Work through quantities, unit costs, labor, and markup in an editable workbook. Use formulas and multiple sheets, and refresh linked takeoff quantities when the drawing changes.
Mechanical estimate
Cedar Ridge / Level 1
| Description | Qty | Mat/unit | Labor/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply duct M-102 | 126 LF | $42.00 | $18.00 | $7,560.00 |
| Diffusers M-102 | 12 EA | $115.00 | $35.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Duct insulation M-102 | 640 SF | $2.80 | $1.60 | $2,816.00 |
Illustrative project and pricing
Scope review
Check specs and contracts for requirements and exclusions while you build the number.
Drawing revisions
Compare drawing versions and review changed regions before updating your takeoff.
Bid leveling
Compare subcontractor proposals by scope and carry your selections into the estimate.
Less re-keying. More estimating.
Keep the drawing and the estimate connected, from the first quantity to the final bid review.
Measure in the PDF, tally the counts, then type the same quantities into a separate spreadsheet.
A quantity changes. You hunt through the estimate to find every row that needs updating.
Rates, scope notes, and bid totals live in separate files. Checking a number means retracing the work.
Measure and count on the drawing, then bring those quantities into the project's estimating workbook.
Refresh linked takeoff quantities when your work changes, with manual edits protected for your review.
Work through quantities, material costs, labor, and markup in one project, with the source documents close at hand.
Your drawings. Your pricing. Your control.
Keep drawings, estimates, and supporting documents in your company's hosted workspace, with access controls for the people on your projects.
Full security details- AES-256 encryption at rest, isolated per company.
- SSO, MFA, and audit logging.
- FlowManual trains on your documents and pricing only with your opt-in.
- Export your work and delete your project data.
Deployment options available for enterprise.
Before your first takeoff.
How drawings, quantities, and pricing work together in FlowManual.
What is FlowManual?
FlowManual is construction takeoff and estimating software for general contractors and trade subcontractors. Count and measure from PDF drawings, build an estimate with your own pricing, and keep the supporting specs, quotes, and contract review in the same project.
What types of takeoff can I do?
FlowManual supports mechanical equipment counts and piping measurements, ductwork lengths by size, concrete areas and volumes, and general counting for custom items such as doors, lights, and fixtures. Review the quantities on your drawings, supply the dimensions each calculation needs, and bring the results into your estimate.
How does drawing takeoff work?
Upload your PDF drawings, choose the sheets, and count items or trace lengths and areas. Set and verify the drawing scale for measurements, then review the quantities against the sheet before using them in your estimate. You can add, edit, accept, or reject counts as you go.
How do takeoff quantities become a priced estimate?
Bring accepted counts and measured quantities into an estimate workbook. Add your material costs, labor rates, and markup, then use formulas and reusable assemblies to build the bid. Linked rows let you return to the source drawing to check a quantity.
Can I use my existing spreadsheets and pricing?
Yes. Import an Excel workbook, use your own rate library, and edit quantities, rates, and formulas in FlowManual. Export estimates to Excel or CSV, or download a proposal PDF. Your team supplies and reviews the pricing used in the bid.
What happens when the drawings change?
Compare drawing revisions and review changes in accepted takeoff quantities. Linked estimate rows can refresh from the takeoff while keeping manually edited or locked quantities under your control. Check the changed scope and pricing before updating your bid.
Does FlowManual also review specs, quotes, and contracts?
Yes. Document review supports your estimate by highlighting scope, costs, deadlines, and exclusions in PDFs. Compare related documents to check for scope and price changes. Your team reviews the findings and decides what belongs in the bid.
Can I try FlowManual for free?
Yes. Create a free account with no credit card and use every feature with a daily usage allowance. FlowManual runs in your browser, so there is no software to install. Pro adds unlimited usage and priority support.
Where does my data live?
In our hosted cloud. Every file and its extracted text is encrypted at rest, your workspace is isolated from every other customer's, and you can export or delete your data at any time. The full security model is at flowmanual.com/security.
Bring the drawings for your next bid.
Start a takeoff, build your estimate, and prepare your proposal in FlowManual. Try it with your own project or walk through the workflow with us. Free to start, no card required.
Questions? Email the founders: founders@flowmanual.com