PDF takeoff for Mac and Windows
Construction takeoff software for Mac and Windows.
Calibrate a sheet once, measure lengths, areas, perimeters, angles, radii, diameters, and counts, then keep the results beside the drawing and export them to CSV or PDF.
Built for estimators and contractors who receive PDFs—not perfect CAD files—and need a direct path from drawing to quantity record.
Free with no trial timer: markup, review, calibration, 3 hand-created measurements per document, and Revision Package viewing. Symbol Search, plugins, and Revision Package changes or publishing require Pro.
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Quick answer
Is there free construction takeoff software for Mac and Windows?
PolyPDF Free for Mac and Windows includes calibration, markup, review, and up to 3 hand-created measurements per document, with no trial timer. Personal Pro costs $74.95 USD once for PolyPDF 1.x on up to 3 computers. It removes the measurement cap and unlocks Symbol Search and other Pro workflows. Future major upgrades may be paid. Test your drawing and required handoff before buying.
Compare Free, Pro, and license terms →01 / WHY
Keep the quantity and its drawing context together.
A takeoff is easier to audit when every result still points back to the sheet it came from. PolyPDF places measurements on the drawing while the worksheet tracks subject, quantity, units, and totals in one desktop workspace.
Takeoff on a Mac
How do you do a construction takeoff on a Mac?
Install a Mac app, open the PDF plan, and calibrate it against a printed dimension. Check a second known dimension, then measure the lengths, areas, and counts you need. Review the worksheet and export it to CSV or PDF.
PolyPDF runs on macOS 14 or newer, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Read the publisher’s test of calibration, lengths, area, and export in public Mac 1.6.27 build 99 (English). Counts were not part of that test.
| Route | How it runs | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Native Mac app | Installed on the Mac and runs without Windows. PolyPDF takes this route. | Whether it supports your measurements and exports, and what it costs for the number of computers you use. |
| Browser tool | Runs in a web browser, so a Mac with a supported browser can reach it. | Where your drawings are stored, the subscription cost, and whether you can work offline. |
| iPad app on an Apple silicon Mac | Some iPad apps can run on Macs with Apple silicon. They do not run on Intel Macs. | Whether the developer offers it on Mac, and how it works with a mouse and keyboard. |
| Windows program in a virtual machine | Windows runs inside a virtual machine on the Mac, with the program installed in Windows. | The extra Windows and virtual machine costs, and whether the program’s maker supports this setup. |
Updated November 2026
Choose the edition for your work
Free takeoff or Pro: what do you need?
Start with Free to check a drawing, review markups, and create up to 3 hand-created measurements per document. There is no trial timer. Choose Pro when your takeoff needs more measurements, Symbol Search, or another Pro workflow.
- Personal Pro license
- $74.95 USD, one payment. No subscription. Applicable taxes are shown at checkout.
- Computers and updates
- Use PolyPDF 1.x forever on up to 3 Mac or Windows computers. Every PolyPDF 1.x update is included. Future major versions may be optional paid upgrades.
- Direct website purchases
- 14-day money-back guarantee. Refund policy.
Review Pro pricing and purchase →
A personal license's computer allowance is not a team seat allocation. Review licensing for organization-managed seats.
| Your workflow | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Markup, review & scale calibration | Included | Included |
| Hand-created measurements | 3 per document | Unlimited |
| PDF content editing & colored overlays | Pro required | Included |
| Preset & custom toolsets | Browse presets | Place and use tools |
| Symbol Search & installed plugins | Pro required | Included |
| Revision Packages | View and navigate | Create, update and publish |
Your existing drawings and markups stay in place when you activate Pro.
Check the workflow as well as the price. PolyPDF records drawing quantities for review and export. Material prices, labor, allowances, and project scope still need your estimating judgment. If a project requires Bluebeam Studio, PolyPDF cannot join it. Check your required handoff before switching.
Evaluate before buying
Measure the Willow Creek architectural plan
Use the Willow Creek A101 practice drawing on a Mac or Windows PC. The three measurements fit Free; no account is needed.
- Calibrate A101, Revision A, along the printed 20 ft reference.
- Check the independent 96 ft width and 60 ft depth. Stop if either reading disagrees with the drawing.
- Trace the outside boundary: 5,760 sq ft gross area. Review the worksheet, export it, save a copy, and reopen the PDF to check all three measurements.
Two length checks and one area use the three-measurement Free allowance. Gross area includes walls; it is not net flooring or a complete estimate.
Calibration guide · Check horizontal and vertical reference measurements →
Move checked quantities into the free Excel takeoff template →
Start with the drawing. Check the outputs.
Download the architectural practice PDFThese are drawing reference values. The saved example below comes from public Mac 1.6.27 build 99; check your own result on the version you install.
Public Mac check: 1.6.27 build 99
On November 4, 2026, the PolyPDF publisher verified 96 ft, 60 ft, and 5,760 sq ft using the public Mac build. The values and calibration were preserved after saving the PDF and restarting the app.
With the app switched to metric, the same measurements displayed as 29,260.80 mm, 18,288.00 mm, and 535.12 sq m. The drawing is drawn in feet.
Try the plan drawn in metres →
Read the test method and download the Mac CSV (English)
Windows, Pro workflows, and other PDF viewers were not verified in this check.
No account or email is required for these files.
Browse the complete drawing library →
Synthetic practice drawing; not for construction. Desktop installers do not run on phones or tablets.
Plans drawn in metres
Measure a metric plan at 1:100
Use this fictional A1 sheet if your drawings are in metres. It has a floor plan, a floor finish plan, a room schedule, and a 10 m scale bar.
- In Settings, under Measurements, set Unit system to Metric. PolyPDF starts on Imperial, and this choice applies to every PDF you open.
- Open the sheet and turn on View > Snap to Content. In the Measurements panel, under Formatting, set Length to Meters, so a plain 10 means 10 m.
- Click Calibrate by Drawing Line and drag along the printed 10 m scale bar. If the box says “between snapped endpoints”, enter 10. If it does not, cancel and drag again.
- With Linear Dimension, check the 40.00 m width from wall corner to wall corner. Stop if the reading disagrees with the drawing.
- Zoom in and trace the outside boundary with Area: 800.00 sq m gross area, including walls. On the finish plan, trace the two shaded F2 rooms the same way, taking the bottom edge to the outer face of the wall: 85.00 sq m.
Calibrating does not use up a measurement, so these three fit the Free allowance. The worksheet adds the two areas into one total, so read each on its own label. Neither area deducts walls or adds waste.
On November 6, 2026, the PolyPDF publisher followed these steps in public Mac 1.6.29 build 101 on this sheet. The readings were 40.00 m, 800.00 sq m, and 85.00 sq m. A saved copy of the German sheet kept its values after restarting the app with Unit system on Metric.
Download the metric sheet
Download the metric practice plan · PDFEach language version of this page offers its own plan, drawn for one market. The test record lists them all.
Read the test method and download the saved PDFs and CSVs (English)
- If Unit system stays on Imperial, PolyPDF reopens a saved metric PDF in feet and inches. The measurement is the same; only the display changes.
- In Apple Preview, the saved German PDF showed the area labels but not the dimension label. Windows and Adobe Acrobat were not checked.
- This plan is fictional and not for construction. It was not reviewed by a local construction professional or checked against any national drawing standard.
02 / WORKFLOW
From source PDF to a result you can review.
- 01
Confirm the page scale
Choose a common architectural or engineering preset, or calibrate against a known distance. Set the unit system in Settings to match the source sheet. New metric dimensions default to millimetres; a saved format is kept when the file matches that unit system.
- 02
Create measurement subjects
Organize results by the material, assembly, or scope you are quantifying so repeated measurements land in a consistent worksheet row.
- 03
Measure and count on the sheet
Place distance, area, perimeter, angle, and count annotations directly on the drawing while PolyPDF updates the worksheet.
- 04
Export for pricing or review
Send the worksheet to CSV for estimating calculations or PDF for a readable project record.
03 / FIT
Useful takeoff fundamentals without a recurring seat fee.
- Works with ordinary PDF plan sets from designers, owners, and general contractors.
- Supports architectural and engineering scale calibration in imperial or metric units.
- Keeps measurements visible on the sheet and organized in the takeoff worksheet.
- Exports results without requiring a CAD source file.
- Lets you verify the workflow free before unlocking unlimited hand-created measurements.
Start with the free app. Pay once to unlock every Pro workflow.
Use PolyPDF 1.x forever on up to 3 Mac or Windows computers. Every PolyPDF 1.x update is included. Future major versions may be optional paid upgrades.
14-day money-back guarantee. Try PolyPDF on your own drawings, risk-free.
04 / FAQ
Questions before you test it.
What measurements can PolyPDF create?
PolyPDF supports distance, area, perimeter, angle, radius, diameter, dimension, and count workflows on calibrated PDF drawings.
Can I export takeoff results?
Yes. The takeoff worksheet can be exported to CSV for downstream calculations or PDF for a readable record.
Do I need the original CAD file?
No. PolyPDF works from the PDF drawing. You calibrate the page using its stated scale or a known distance.
Can PolyPDF measure scanned drawings?
You can measure a raster or scanned drawing when it has a reliable scale or known reference distance. The source image quality and the accuracy of that reference still matter.
Which units does PolyPDF use?
Imperial or metric. Choose in Settings, under Measurements. PolyPDF starts on Imperial, and your choice applies to every PDF you open. New metric dimensions default to millimetres, and you can change Length to metres or centimetres. The publisher measured a plan drawn in metres in public Mac 1.6.29 build 101.
Does PolyPDF include labor and material prices?
No. PolyPDF measures, counts, and exports drawing quantities. It does not come with labor units, material prices, or assemblies, so any rates you use come from your own estimating process.
Is PolyPDF takeoff free?
PolyPDF Free has no trial timer and includes calibration, markup, review, and up to 3 hand-created measurements per document. Pro removes that measurement cap and unlocks Symbol Search and other Pro workflows.
How much does a PolyPDF Pro license cost?
The personal Pro license costs $74.95 USD in one payment, with applicable taxes shown at checkout. Use PolyPDF 1.x forever on up to 3 Mac or Windows computers. Every PolyPDF 1.x update is included. Future major versions may be optional paid upgrades. Direct website purchases have a 14-day money-back guarantee. Organization-managed seats have separate team licensing.