Start with the decision
Start a plumbing takeoff by recording the document revision and measurement basis. Separate quantity measurement from pricing and clearly identify items that cannot yet be measured reliably. The worksheet below organizes the estimate; it does not supply design quantities, production rates or market prices.
This guide is for business-to-business project planning in the United States and Canada. For the wider trade context, visit the plumbing resource hub.
Record quantities with their basis
| Package | Measurement basis | Inclusion check |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures | fixture counts matched to room schedules | fixture supply, trim, accessories and installation |
| Distribution piping | lengths by system and stated measurement basis | supports, insulation and concealed access |
| Tie-ins | connection counts and known access conditions | isolation coordination and temporary service arrangements |
Download the plumbing takeoff checklist worksheet (CSV)
Fill in the response, owner or source, and date checked. Keep unresolved items visible. The file contains planning prompts only; it does not calculate quantities or make an approval decision.
Put the checklist to work
- List the drawings, schedules and addenda used. Keep units consistent and show where a dimension or quantity came from.
- Measure the defined packages separately. Flag excavation, coring, firestopping, equipment supply and restoration of walls or ceilings so quantities are not silently omitted or counted in multiple packages.
- Record allowances, waste assumptions and unresolved dimensions explicitly. Ask for missing information instead of labeling an estimate as a confirmed quantity.
- Check the takeoff against scope changes and fixture selection, access to connection points and agreed service-interruption windows. Have another qualified estimator review important assumptions when the package warrants it.
A scope gap worth discussing
Illustrative example — not a Build Accord client project
A washroom quotation assumes existing connection points can be reused. The site visit identifies a different layout. Reconcile the revised routes before comparing the price with another proposal.
Apply this to your decision: A traceable takeoff record with quantities, units, source references and open questions, ready for project-specific pricing.
Using this in the US and Canada
For a project in the United States
Record the state, local jurisdiction and actual service area. For federal notices, use SAM.gov Contract Opportunities and check the individual notice’s stage and instructions. A prime-contract notice is not automatically a subcontract invitation.
For a project in Canada
Record the province or territory, municipality and actual service area. Use CanadaBuys tender opportunities as one public-procurement source, then read the issuer’s documents and submission route. Do not assume it lists every private construction package.
For either market, state the currency, units and deadline time zone. This worksheet is general planning guidance, not a determination of licensing, procurement eligibility or technical compliance.
The next useful step
Continue with plumbing bid inclusions and exclusions checklist. For the other side of the conversation, see the plumbing project scope guide.
Build Accord coordinates introductions between construction project teams and trade contractors. An inquiry starts a discussion of fit and availability; it does not guarantee a contractor, an invitation to bid or an award. These guides are not a listing of currently available crews or projects.