The best takeoff software is the one that lives where your estimate already does.
BidScreen XL is the only construction takeoff software that runs inside Microsoft Excel. Measure from PDF, DWG, or DXF and every quantity writes straight into the cell next to your unit cost. One workbook, one source of truth — cut out the middleman.
- No credit card
- Excel 2016 +
- Cancel any time
Trusted as the best Excel-based takeoff software by commercial estimators and contractors across 22 states and provinces. BidScreen XL has shipped since the early 2000s; SiteWorx/OS since 2009.
Read 30 customer reviewsQuantity takeoff and earthwork — covered.
BidScreen XL
Quantity takeoff in Microsoft Excel.
Excel add in for measuring areas, lengths, and counts directly from PDF, DWG, DXF, or TIF drawings. Every quantity lands as a formula in your estimating workbook.
- The only Excel-native takeoff add-in on the market
- Areas, linear, count, and cross-section measurement
- PDF, DWG, DXF, and TIF drawing support
Perpetual from$799Learn moreSiteWorx/OS
Cut and fill from a PDF.
Triangulated ground and design surfaces from drawing contours. Calculate earthwork, balance cuts, export grader ready files.
- Triangulated ground & design surfaces from a PDF
- Cut / fill with topsoil & subgrade adjustments
- Grader-ready file export
Perpetual from$2,999Learn more
Do your takeoff where your estimate lives.
Cut the middleman
Other takeoff software exports a CSV that you paste into Excel. BidScreen XL skips that step — every measurement lands directly as a formula in the cell next to your unit cost. One workbook. No copy/paste. No reconciliation.
Buy it once
Perpetual licenses available on every product. Rent annually if you'd rather. No mandatory subscription, no per-takeoff metering, no lock-in. Own the software the way you own your truck.
Real estimators answer the phone
Phone and email support is staffed in Dallas, Texas, by people who do construction takeoff for a living. When you call, you talk to someone who understands cut and fill, not a chat-bot triage queue.
I have used Agtek, Quest and ViewPoint in the past and SiteWorx/OS is easier, just as powerful and a fraction of the cost. Support is good and you guys always answer the phone.
Two ways to license.
Buy outright or rent year-to-year. Full Serve maintenance is included with every new license for the first year.
| Product | Perpetual | Annual rental | |
|---|---|---|---|
BidScreen XL Quantity takeoff in Microsoft Excel. | $799 | $400 / yr | Details |
SiteWorx/OS Cut and fill from a PDF. | $2,999 | $1,499 / yr | Details |
Quick answers.
What is the best takeoff software for estimators who already use Excel?
BidScreen XL. It's the only construction takeoff software that runs as a Microsoft Excel add-in, so your measurements drop straight into the cells of the workbook you already use to build your bid. There's no export step, no second source of truth, and no licensing tax for the privilege of staying in Excel.Is BidScreen XL really the only Excel-based takeoff software?
Yes. Competing takeoff tools — Stack, ProEst, PlanSwift, Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff — all export quantities to a CSV or a separate database that you then import into Excel. BidScreen XL installs as a native Excel add-in and writes measurements directly to spreadsheet cells as formulas.Is there a monthly subscription?
No. Vertigraph sells perpetual licenses (you own the software) and optional annual rentals. There is no monthly subscription, no per-takeoff metering, and no auto-renew lock-in. BidScreen XL starts at $799 perpetual; SiteWorx/OS starts at $2,999 perpetual.How long is the free trial?
14 days, full feature set, no credit card required. Download the trial from /download and a serial number is emailed automatically.What file formats can BidScreen XL take off from?
PDF (vector and raster), DWG, DXF, and TIF drawings. SiteWorx/OS additionally imports LandXML existing-surface files for earthwork analysis.Do I need to learn a new program?
No. If you already estimate in Excel, BidScreen XL adds a ribbon tab — that's the entire learning curve for the takeoff side. SiteWorx/OS is a standalone application for cut and fill and is roughly an afternoon to learn end-to-end.Where is Vertigraph based?
Dallas, Texas. Phone and email support is US-based and staffed by people who do construction takeoff for a living.
Try the full software for 14 days.
Download today. No credit card. Talk to a real estimator if you need a hand getting set up.