Plumbing takeoff with per-size pipe linear footage in Excel.
Count fixtures with BidScreen XL's Count tool. Trace pipe runs by size with Continuous Length. Every quantity drops into your Excel plumbing bid as a live cell — per-size unit costs and labor hours roll through as formulas.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ITEM | QTY | UNIT | $/UNIT | LABOR HR |
| 2 | Water closet — flushometer | 32 | ea | $485 | 76.8 |
| 3 | Lavatory — wall hung | 28 | ea | $320 | 39.2 |
| 4 | Copper supply 3/4" | 1,420 | LF | $8.40 | 85.2 |
| 5 | PVC DWV 3" | 640 | LF | $12.80 | 44.8 |
| 6 | Ball valve 3/4" shutoff | 64 | ea | $18.50 | 12.8 |
| 7 | TOTAL LABOR HOURS | 258.8 |
Illustrative plumbing estimating workbook. Fixture counts and per-size pipe LF populate live from BidScreen XL.
The bottlenecks every plumbing estimator knows.
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Counting fixtures across a multi-story residential or commercial plan is tedious by hand.
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Pipe linear footage by size matters for both material and labor; mixing sizes in a single quantity loses accuracy.
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DWV piping, supply piping, and storm piping all have different routing and different cost structures.
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Fittings, valves, cleanouts, and floor drains have their own counts that need to match the connected pipe runs.
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Plan revisions for relocated fixtures or rerouted piping send you back to recount and re-measure.
The plumbing quantities every bid needs.
Fixture counts
Water closets, urinals, lavatories, sinks, showers, floor drains, hose bibs. Per-type counts with running Excel totals.
Supply pipe LF by size
Cold and hot water supply linear footage by pipe size and material (copper, PEX, CPVC). Trace each run on the plumbing plan.
DWV pipe LF by size
Drain, waste, and vent piping linear footage by size (1.5", 2", 3", 4", 6"). Per-size cost rolls into Excel formulas.
Valve and fitting counts
Shutoffs, ball valves, check valves, backflow preventers, cleanouts. Each type counted separately with its own unit cost.
Equipment counts
Water heaters, expansion tanks, recirculation pumps, water softeners. Per-unit counts and connected accessory pricing.
Storm and site utilities
Storm drainage piping, manholes, catch basins, area drains for the sitework portion of the plumbing scope.
Built for how this trade actually estimates.
Count tool with running Excel totals — count fixtures, valves, and fittings directly on the plumbing plan.
Continuous Length traces each pipe run; per-size LF lands in separate Excel cells for accurate cost rollup.
Plan revisions trigger one-click re-measure; bid updates automatically.
Excel-template-based estimating works alongside any downstream system (FastEST, Wendes, accounting platforms).
Same toolchain handles fixtures, pipe, valves, fittings, equipment, and site utilities in one workbook.
BidScreen XL
PDF and CAD measurement directly inside Microsoft Excel. Trace the drawing, the quantity lands in your estimating cell as a live formula.
$400/yr rental · $799 perpetual
Considering BidScreen XL against another plumbing takeoff product?
Honest side-by-side comparisons — feature matrix, 5-year cost, and a fair note on when the competitor is actually the right choice.
- Switching from
Bluebeam Revu
PDF tool with measurement features. BidScreen XL adds the same measurement inside Microsoft Excel — quantities land as cells, not exports.
See comparison - Switching from
PlanSwift
Standalone takeoff at $1,749/yr (perpetual retired). BidScreen XL is $400/yr or $799 perpetual and feeds Excel directly.
See comparison - Switching from
STACK
Cloud-only at $2,988/yr Premium or $3,588/yr Pro. BidScreen XL is a desktop Excel add-in at $400/yr.
See comparison - Switching from
On-Screen Takeoff
ConstructConnect bundle-only (~$1,850/yr+). BidScreen XL is sold standalone at $400/yr, lives in Excel.
See comparison
Frequently asked
Can BidScreen XL handle large multi-story commercial plumbing bids?
Yes. Trace each floor's plumbing plan as a separate Excel sheet, calibrated to that sheet's scale. Aggregate per-floor totals on a master sheet. Many users build a template workbook with sheets for each floor plus a summary tab that totals across the building.
How does BidScreen XL handle different pipe sizes and materials?
Run a separate Continuous Length trace for each pipe size and material. Build a template with rows per size/material combination (1/2" copper, 3/4" copper, 1" PEX, 3" PVC DWV, etc.) and per-row unit costs. Counts and linear footage flow into matching cells; subtotals roll up by trade.
What about plumbing fixtures with required accessories?
Build a fixture-cost table in Excel that includes the fixture itself plus its standard accessories (flush valves, supply lines, P-traps, mounting hardware). Per-fixture count from BidScreen XL multiplies the package cost. For specialty fixtures with custom accessories, override per-fixture in the workbook.
Does this work for residential plumbing or only commercial?
Both. Residential plans have fewer fixtures and shorter runs; commercial plans have more of both. The workflow is identical — count fixtures, trace pipe runs by size, feed Excel. Residential bids run faster per project; commercial bids take longer but the marginal cost stays flat at $400 per year.
Can I tie quantities to a mechanical estimating package like FastEST?
Yes, via Excel export. BidScreen XL drops measurements into Excel; from Excel you can paste, link, or export to FastEST, Wendes, Trimble Estimation MEP, or any other estimating system. Many smaller plumbing contractors run the whole bid in Excel with BidScreen XL as the measurement front-end.
Try BidScreen XL on a real bid for 14 days, no card.
The fastest way to know if Vertigraph fits your workflow is to install it and run one bid. The honest answer for your bid mix shows up after two or three real estimates.