---
title: How to Add Plans to the Takeoff Tool in Buildern
description: The Takeoff module in Buildern is designed to help you convert construction drawings into accurate and measurable data. In this article, you will learn how the Takeoff module works, how to set up your plans, and how to prepare them for measurements.
---

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# How to Add Plans to the Takeoff Tool in Buildern

### How to Add Plans to the Takeoff Tool in Buildern

The Takeoff module in Buildern is designed to help you convert construction drawings into accurate and measurable data. In this article, you will learn how the Takeoff module works, how to set up your plans, and how to prepare them for measurements.

 June 26, 2026

### **📋 Requirements**

Before working with takeoffs, make sure:

- You have access to a project
- You have permissions to use the Takeoff module
- Your plans (PDF files) are ready to upload

### **What Is the Takeoff Module?**

The Takeoff module in Buildern allows you to upload project plans and perform accurate measurements directly on them. Using built-in tools, you can measure areas, lengths, counts, and volumes, and organize these measurements into categories for better structure.

All measurements are automatically linked to your estimates, allowing you to use calculated quantities when creating estimate items.

In simple terms, the Takeoff module helps you convert project drawings into precise quantities for cost estimation.

### **Access the Takeoff Module**

To start working with takeoffs:

1. Open your project
2. Navigate to **Takeoff** from the left-side menu

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/608b5f5f-2c15-40b1-a5f4-5de6aca05818.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947097/7a9d4403e5025586c47c37f449b3/608b5f5f-2c15-40b1-a5f4-5de6aca05818?expires=1792671300&signature=253ae215831e23442b920dc3be5c9ee3cdd6d2583438047f709f6f2e16ecc959&req=diQnHsB6moFWXvMW1HO4zT4n5f9pWNfJPuztqdGuKuv%2FB5sXO8RfE9kun5GZ%0Ay39pRiaREoKS%2BxfxBVs%3D%0A)

You will see two main options:

- **Create Folder** – organize plans into folders/subfolders
- **Add Plan** – upload a new blueprint (PDF)

### **Create Folders**

Folders help you keep your plans organized, especially for larger projects.

To create a folder:

1. Click **Create Folder**
2. Enter a folder name
3. Click **Save**

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/df8c5f7b-0434-42ed-8f8e-5b8e767f2945.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947095/d86c30ebf184417c58cc95b08dac/df8c5f7b-0434-42ed-8f8e-5b8e767f2945?expires=1792671300&signature=ff2b17010a58be0abb695abfa9f5fd1a6a7dafebfd6f7513a8e7384a8fc9cb1b&req=diQnHsB6moFWXPMW1HO4zXQP0lc5cZBOP9c1%2BThorVvotGZlQDCJe%2BdzUypY%0AMvYEMfB7WGwbE16TULc%3D%0A)

Once a folder is created, it will appear in the Takeoff page.

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/8bbb40dc-d61b-4962-b63d-b1550f80a872.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947096/557f4de2984a07c52f80321276d8/8bbb40dc-d61b-4962-b63d-b1550f80a872?expires=1792671300&signature=1d0abf4952fa94e961b44e876ba90ad291308ebfe2202af4d0dda6bc31b74bc2&req=diQnHsB6moFWX%2FMW1HO4zYRCvjplpSpNFMlIrVZVavakL%2FrQ4SZHs1o%2F1CWz%0AHWoT5i9fqDftgwgBh%2FY%3D%0A)

Clicking on the folder will open it, where you can:

- Create additional subfolders
- Upload plans within that folder

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/9c3a626e-2237-42af-b654-7165f0573ec8.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947098/f58270f21484c372a38c7dff1eb6/9c3a626e-2237-42af-b654-7165f0573ec8?expires=1792671300&signature=b2dce7f82d356ea79ed155c9e4c9c0a90771958042e2f63ec792befed40d49ab&req=diQnHsB6moFWUfMW1HO4zbEiANrUEyXxrlNhU5RJSXP5il1NWcm3s0RB%2BLdm%0Ax9krW6c4NT%2B7EETX%2Fqc%3D%0A)

Each folder also includes a menu (three-dot icon) that allows you to:

- **Rename** the folder
- **Move to** another folder
- **Delete** the folder

### **Upload and Manage Plans**

You can add plans in two ways:

- Upload from your computer
- Select from Project Files

***ℹ️ Note*** *– Project Files act as a project-specific storage, similar to Google Drive or Dropbox.*

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/514f91b8-ac4e-466d-8970-bca8a22f2a09.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947112/bacdf78efa1f9c28311fe20b6f8f/514f91b8-ac4e-466d-8970-bca8a22f2a09?expires=1792671300&signature=cd39fb396eb36092f2bc6666e258229360b77c6c1b1dbe4cf59b6aa19d2b4940&req=diQnHsB6moBeW%2FMW1HO4zbOqRl2tZ%2B6IV81kMRNFgNKch3ByA%2BdpIKMWEZsC%0AvRvYVU3I9vz2NLudG%2FI%3D%0A)

After uploading, plans go through:

- **Uploading**
- **Processing** (Buildern reads pages and layers)

Once processed, your plans are ready for measurement.

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/3ffd5851-c4b9-4328-a093-7695d160fe6b.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947105/7c5430bf2727c48d444ad1ac6b48/3ffd5851-c4b9-4328-a093-7695d160fe6b?expires=1792671300&signature=1ff03b55ef3b91ef126076d46fc1b291ed7ccea0cd4ad897f0e808beb93aa477&req=diQnHsB6moBfXPMW1HO4zcH18F9TZB6ARsE8FKBLNZVJePG%2FtdLQx8nOT6sd%0ABJSzgkof%2Bfi0uC8U%2Bz8%3D%0A)

### **Open and Navigate Plans**

Once your plans are uploaded and processed, you can start working with them.

To open a plan:

1. Click on the plan from the list
2. The plan will open in the Takeoff workspace

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/7cdedf9c-ea44-43d4-8a6e-fbf3f29b2369.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947108/ecfde2cbefe5330a9ced12255fda/7cdedf9c-ea44-43d4-8a6e-fbf3f29b2369?expires=1792671300&signature=3bf735b81ca4fe3f1f4b8c28c6c1e34a18875c61ae41bc1d4d87ffb4779672ec&req=diQnHsB6moBfUfMW1HO4zd%2F9gfHPtq9kBA8TLXL3syP8pft0ikHxyWUmeaPS%0ASfGAkkZQv4sPss8fqV8%3D%0A)

You can also:

- Open multiple plans using **+ Open Plan**
- Switch between plans using tabs
- Zoom in/out and navigate across the drawing

[![](https://help.buildern.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/52f100fe-59fc-4236-ada2-dba0fffefc0b.png)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/suco1tn6/2408947103/c070d98c878db06df9a22a9a107b/52f100fe-59fc-4236-ada2-dba0fffefc0b?expires=1792671300&signature=7b72f8eaaf737f66d9a22daaa7cfa092ffa702b9da047f906ed90b025e100cfe&req=diQnHsB6moBfWvMW1HO4zQo9vyrHtGY8bYygd1D%2BZ3nI49KDz3jRYF%2BzPNby%0AQq5YSj6dUGWKQzwCxZ8%3D%0A)

***💡 Tip*** *– You can work with multiple plans at the same time by opening them in separate tabs.*

Thanks for following along - more Buildern tips, features, and workflows are coming in the next articles.

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