· 6 min read · TradeBid editorial team
Plumbing Takeoff Software for Subcontractors
A practical guide to plumbing takeoffs: fixtures, pipe by size and system, fittings, equipment and labor, turned into a clear line-item bid.
The short answer: Plumbing takeoff software helps you count fixtures and equipment and measure pipe by system and size from a plan set, so your bid starts from complete quantities instead of a rough guess. The best setup for a small plumbing shop keeps the takeoff, the pricing and the proposal connected, so you're not re-typing numbers.
What a plumbing takeoff has to capture
- Fixtures: water closets, lavatories, sinks, showers, tubs, floor drains, hose bibbs and drinking fountains, counted from the fixture schedule and plans.
- Equipment: water heaters, boilers, pumps, backflow preventers, grease interceptors, expansion tanks and mixing valves.
- Piping by system: domestic cold, hot and recirculation; sanitary waste and vent; storm; gas; and any process piping, each broken out by size and material.
- Fittings and valves: isolation valves, check valves, cleanouts, hangers and supports, and insulation if it's in your scope.
- Underground vs. above ground: trenching, bedding, backfill and testing differ a lot from overhead work.
- Rough-in and trim: most plumbing labor happens in phases. Price rough-in, top-out and trim separately when the schedule spreads them out.
How to approach a plumbing takeoff
- Confirm the drawing set. Check the sheet index and addenda, and make sure you have the P-sheets, riser diagrams and fixture schedule.
- Read the specs. Pipe materials (copper, PEX, CPVC, cast iron, PVC), insulation, testing and who furnishes fixtures all change the price.
- Count fixtures first. They drive the rest of the takeoff, and they're the easiest thing for a GC to check.
- Measure pipe by system and size. Use the riser diagrams for vertical runs. Don't forget vents through the roof.
- Add fittings. Count them, or use your own fitting allowance per foot of pipe based on past jobs. Know which method you used.
- Separate underground work. It has different labor, equipment and risk.
- Apply labor units for each fixture, foot of pipe and piece of equipment, adjusted for height, access and phasing.
Where takeoff software saves time
- Counting fixtures and measuring pipe right on the PDF, at scale.
- Keeping each quantity tied to a line item so updates carry through to the price.
- Producing a proposal with scope, alternates and exclusions without rebuilding it in a word processor.
With TradeBid, you upload the plans and scope documents, choose Plumbing, and get a draft line-item bid covering quantities, labor, materials, markup and exclusions. It's fully editable: you review it, apply your own rates, and export a branded PDF proposal.
What to check before you submit
- Fixture counts match the schedule, and you know who supplies fixtures and trim.
- Every system is included: domestic, waste, vent, storm and gas.
- Equipment connections are clearly in or out (water heaters, kitchen equipment, mechanical makeup water).
- Underground scope is defined: trenching, saw-cutting, backfill and concrete patch.
- Testing, permits, fees and inspections are priced or excluded.
- Utility connections and work outside the building line are clearly stated.
Common mistakes on plumbing bids
- Missing roof drains and overflow drains that appear only on the roof plan.
- Not pricing insulation when the spec puts it in plumbing scope.
- Forgetting gas piping to equipment shown on mechanical sheets.
- One lump labor number that hides how much is rough-in vs. trim. That makes change orders harder to defend.
Turning the takeoff into a proposal
A strong plumbing proposal lists the base price, systems included, fixture count by type, alternates, exclusions, schedule assumptions and how long the price is valid. Our sample bid shows a line-item format that's easy for a GC to compare.
Worked example: one restroom group
Example inputs to show the method, not prices:
- Group: 3 water closets, 2 lavatories, 1 urinal and 1 floor drain, all from the fixture schedule.
- Waste and vent: 3 in. and 4 in. PVC under the slab, measured at about 60 LF, plus 2 in. vents to the main stack.
- Water: 3/4 in. and 1/2 in. PEX, about 90 LF hot and cold combined, plus stops and supply lines.
- Line items: fixtures (each, or install only if owner-furnished), carriers (each), underground waste (LF), above-ground waste and vent (LF), water piping (LF), valves (each), rough-in labor (per fixture), trim labor (per fixture), testing.
Splitting rough-in and trim labor makes it easy to bill by phase and to price changes.
Setting labor that matches your crew
Quantities are only half the bid. The other half is how long your crew takes to install them. The most reliable plumbing estimators keep their own production rates for fixtures, feet of pipe and pieces of equipment, built from past jobs, and adjust them for underground vs. overhead work, ceiling space and phased rough-in.
A simple way to start:
- Pick three or four recent jobs where you know the hours.
- Divide the hours by the quantities installed to get hours per unit.
- Write down the conditions on each job, so you know when to adjust up or down.
- Update the rates after every job you finish.
Then multiply by your loaded labor rate, meaning wages plus taxes, insurance and benefits, not just the hourly wage. That's what turns a takeoff into a number you can trust. Add overhead and profit as a separate, intentional markup, so you can see exactly what you're charging for and adjust it job by job.
Presenting the bid so GCs can compare it
Most GCs line up several plumbing bids side by side. Make yours easy to read: one base price, scope grouped by system or area, alternates priced separately, a short list of named exclusions, your schedule assumptions, and how many days the price is valid. A clean, branded PDF that answers their questions up front saves a round of phone calls and makes your number look more reliable.
FAQ
What is plumbing takeoff software? It's software for counting plumbing fixtures and equipment and measuring piping from digital plans, organized so you can price it.
Can I take off plumbing from PDF plans? Yes. You can count and measure on the PDF at the drawing scale, sheet by sheet.
Should I price fittings separately? Either count them or use a consistent allowance based on your own past jobs. What matters is using the same method every time so your bids stay comparable.
How does TradeBid work for plumbers? Upload plans, pick Plumbing, and review a draft line-item bid you can edit and export as a branded PDF proposal.
What does it cost? Apprentice is $149/month for up to 5 bids, Journeyman is $300/month and Master is $850/month. A single bid is $100. Every plan starts with a 7-day trial. See pricing.
Have a plumbing job to bid this week? Start for $0.00. More on the plumbing trade page.