Why AI Takeoff Software Beats Manual Calculations

In construction, accuracy and efficiency are essential to winning bids and maintaining profitable margins. For decades, estimators have spent long nights marking up plans, counting doors, and double-checking numbers by hand. Today, AI-backed takeoff software is changing all that.

AI takeoff software tools like Togal.AI are helping teams move faster, bid smarter, and reduce the kind of costly errors that can throw an entire project off track. Let’s break down the biggest advantages AI-backed takeoff software brings to the table and why forward-thinking builders are already making the switch.

AI Takeoffs Deliver Precision That Scales

Manual takeoffs leave a lot of room for human error. A missed window here, an extra slab there, and all those small mistakes add up fast. With AI-backed takeoff software, measurements and quantities are calculated directly from digital plans. That means consistent, reliable estimates.

Togal.AI’s machine learning tools can even detect, classify, and measure project areas automatically, so teams spend less time clicking and more time analyzing results.

Even when estimators need to make manual corrections to the takeoffs performed by the AI, it’s still much faster and more precise to use a combination of human knowledge and automation.

An independent study conducted by the University of Kansas found that an AI-automated takeoff took about one minute, with manual corrections taking roughly half an hour. This was 76% faster than the two and a half hours spent on the manual takeoff performance. 

But what about the accuracy? Most adjustments performed on Togal.AI in under 5 minutes, and most adjusted quantities were within 5% error margin. All of this is to say that AI takeoffs deliver precision at scale.

Togal.AI Puts Hours Back in Your Day

Every estimator knows how much time a manual takeoff eats up. Measuring, tallying, and inputting data line by line can take hours—if not days or weeks—for a single project. 

With takeoff software, what used to take hours can now take minutes. For instance, Togal.AI’s auto-classify features automatically identify elements across an entire set of drawings, saving valuable time without sacrificing accuracy.

That reclaimed time can be reinvested into higher-value work. After all, wouldn’t you prefer focusing on cost analysis, bid strategy, or refining project logistics rather than repetitive clicking?

Coastal Construction, a top 100 ENR construction firm and one of the largest GCs in Florida, used to spend an average of 20-plus hours per week on their old takeoff software. And, you guessed it, most of that time was spent manually clicking, counting, and coloring takeoffs.

By switching to Togal.AI, Coastal Construction saved an average of 14.5 hrs per plan set. All those hours saved compounded. And within their first year using Togal.AI, Coastal Construction saved nearly 14,000 hours and $1 million.

Preconstruction Productivity Compounds Thanks to Takeoff Software

When you streamline your takeoff workflow, productivity naturally follows. Faster takeoffs mean more bids submitted, more projects pursued, and ultimately, more revenue potential.

For example, NC Painting used Togal.AI’s time-saving capabilities to increase their bid rate by 215% in just two months. “Our productivity is off the charts,” says Andrew Poling, owner of ASP design.

And Togal.AI doesn’t just speed up measurement, it centralizes everything in one platform, reducing file clutter and improving team visibility.

Takeoff Software Cloud-Based Collaboration

Paper plans and Excel spreadsheets make it easy for details to get lost in the shuffle. Revisions get lost in silos, version control becomes a nightmare, and miscommunications slow everything down. Modern takeoff software brings your team onto the same page, literally.

With digital markups, shared plans, and cloud-based collaboration, every stakeholder has access to the most current data. Togal.AI even integrates with leading project management and estimating tools, so your data flows seamlessly from takeoff to bid.

When everyone can see updates in real time, coordination improves and miscommunication drops. It’s a win-win for productivity and accuracy.

Confidence in Every Estimate

The accuracy of a takeoff doesn’t just depend on the software; it depends on the estimator behind it. The best takeoff software, like Togal.AI, amplifies your expertise rather than replacing it.

By combining human judgment with AI precision, estimators can quickly verify quantities, adjust assumptions, and fine-tune bids with confidence. Integrated reporting and analytics turn raw measurements into clear, actionable insights.

The result? More accurate estimates, fewer surprises, and stronger profit margins.

Circling back to that University of Kansas study we mentioned earlier, the author concludes that, “Togal.AI offers substantial time savings as it allows the integration of AI features, combined with manual review. AI tools and features must be accompanied by professional expertise and human oversight, which is critical. A combination of both leads to optimal efficiency and accuracy.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Togal.AI Is the Leader in AI Takeoff Software

Manual takeoffs had their place. But the construction industry is facing challenges from every direction. Rather than letting processes bottleneck, it’s time to investigate new opportunities.

AI-backed takeoff software like Togal.AI gives estimators the speed, accuracy, and insight they need to stay ahead.

If you’re ready to streamline your process and take preconstruction to the next level, request a custom demo of Togal.AI today.