The Difference Between Quantity Takeoff and Material Takeoff: What You Need to Know

September 2, 2024

Takeoff Software

min read

Blog Takeoff Software The Difference Between Quantity Takeoff and Material Takeoff: What You Need to Know

Key takeaways:

QTO measures everything the project needs and anchors budgets and resources.
MTO lists exact products, grades, and sizes so procurement is right the first time.
Beam AI automates plan reading so teams validate, price, and order with confidence.

The Difference Between Quantity Takeoff and Material Takeoff: What You Need to Know

Summary: Quantity vs material takeoff is essential in construction estimating. QTO defines project quantities, while MTO details exact materials to order. Learn their differences, types of takeoffs, and how AI takeoff software like Beam AI improves accuracy and speeds up estimating.

You open a plan set, and the clock starts ticking. The question is simple: what do you count, and what do you buy? That’s the heart of quantity vs material takeoff.

Get it right, and your bid stays tight. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend the week fixing mistakes. This guide breaks down both terms, explains how they work together, and shows the takeoff methods teams use today.

Understanding Quantity Takeoff (QTO)

What is Quantity Takeoff?

Quantity Takeoff (QTO) definition: It is the process of measuring and listing all materials required for a project, expressed in counts, lengths, areas, and volumes.
This isn’t just counting items. It’s a careful review of plans and specs to calculate every quantity.
For example:

How much concrete is needed for the foundation
How many bricks for the walls

The goal is to list everything clearly so you can build an accurate budget and plan your resources.

Key Elements:

Material Quantities: This involves determining the exact quantity of each material needed, from the cubic yards of concrete to the total number of electrical outlets.
Detailed Project Analysis: A comprehensive review of plan sets and specifications to ensure every aspect of the project is accounted for, leaving no room for guesswork.
Resource Allocation: Estimating the materials required and ensuring they align with the project’s dimensions and specifications for accurate budgeting and planning.

Importance of Quantity Takeoffs:

Cost Estimation: QTO is crucial for creating accurate cost estimates to help you avoid budget surprises down the line. This ensures that bids are competitive and reflective of actual project needs.
Effective Resource Allocation: With a solid QTO, you can plan your resources better, making sure that materials are on hand when you need them. This helps prevent costly delays and keeps your project on track.‍
Identifying Cost-Saving Opportunities: By knowing exactly what and how much you need, QTO can uncover potential areas or cost savings, such as bulk purchasing discounts or more cost-effective material alternatives.

Understanding Material Takeoff (MTO)

What is Material Takeoff?

Material Takeoff (MTO) involves compiling a detailed list of all materials required for a construction project, including their types, quantities, and specifications.

While QTO measures quantities, MTO focuses on what exactly to order.

Key Elements:

Exact Material Counts: MTO specifies the exact number and types of materials needed, from the largest structural components to the smallest items like screws and paint.
Material Specifications: Beyond quantities, MTO focuses on ensuring the correct grade, size, and type of materials, aligning with quality standards and project specifications.
Project Drawing Analysis: Thorough review of project drawings and specifications to accurately capture all material requirements, ensuring no detail is overlooked.

Importance of Material Takeoffs:

Effective Procurement Planning: A detailed MTO ensures that all materials are accurately specified, ordered, and delivered on time. This helps avoid delays and cost overruns associated with material shortages or excesses.
Optimizing Material Costs: Optimizing Costs: MTO allows for bulk purchasing and better negotiation with suppliers, enabling opportunities for cost optimization in material costs.
Boosting Project Efficiency: By ensuring that materials are available when needed and correctly specified, MTO contributes to smoother project execution and minimizes the risk of project delays.

Quantity vs Material Takeoff at a glance

Side by side, quantity vs material takeoff is simple. QTO is the full picture of how much work and material the project requires. MTO is the exact specification and count of what to order. You build the budget and the plan from QTO. You place the orders and stage the job from MTO. When both are tight, your bid lands where it should and your project runs without the scramble.

Aspect	Quantity Takeoff (QTO)	Material Takeoff (MTO)
Scope & Focus	QTO provides a high-level overview of the quantities of materials based on project requirements. It focuses on estimating the total volume, area, or count of materials such as concrete, steel, and wood.	MTO focuses into the finer details, specifying the types, grades, and specifications of materials required.
Usage	QTO is used primarily for creating preliminary cost estimates and project budgets. It provides a macro view of the materials needed, which helps in financial planning and bidding processes.	MTO is essentially for generating detailed material lists, which facilitate precise procurement and inventory control. MTO ensures that every material is ordered according to its specifications, helping maintain the project's workflow and avoid supply chain disruptions.
Impact on Project Management	Influences initial cost estimates and overall project budgeting. It helps in understanding the project's scale and resource needs.	Affects detailed procurement planning and inventory management. It ensures accurate material supply and helps avoid project delays.
Detail Level	Offers a broad perspective with general quantities and dimensions.	Provides detailed information about each material, including types, grades, and quantities.
Applications in Projects	Facilitates the creation of competitive bids by providing a detailed estimate of material quantities.	Streamlines the procurement process by providing a precise list of materials needed, which helps in coordinating with suppliers and ensuring timely delivery.

In day to day estimating, quantity vs material takeoff shows up as a handoff. First you measure and verify. Then you specify and buy.

How to Do Quantity and Material Takeoffs:

The methods for performing QTO and MTO have evolved significantly over time, with advances in technology playing a crucial role.

Traditional Methods: Manual review of drawings and specs. You measure, count, and list by hand. It is slow and it invites human error on complex sets, but it forces a deep read of the plans.
On-Screen Takeoff Software: Digital plans on a monitor with measurement and markup. You draw polygons, tally counts, and adjust fast when a sheet changes. This sits in the middle of construction takeoff types for speed and clarity and replaces a lot of paper.
AI-Enhanced Methods: With the advent of AI, tools like Beam AI have transformed the takeoff process for both QTO and MTO. Software reads the plans, identifies scope, and extracts quantities automatically. It reduces manual labor and helps estimators focus on validation, pricing, and scope questions. Among construction takeoff types, this is where many teams are headed because it scales when addendums stack up.

How QTO and MTO Work Together in Construction Projects

Quantity Takeoff (QTO): The process starts with QTO, which measures and lists all material quantities the project will need. This data anchors budgets, labor planning, and resource allocation.
Material Takeoff (MTO): Next, MTO specifies the exact products, grades, and sizes from the QTO list, creating a purchase-ready materials schedule for procurement and inventory management.

Together, QTO and MTO form a sequence that ensures accurate estimating, timely procurement, and smooth project execution.

The Role of AI in Transforming Quantity and Material Takeoffs

AI tools speed up plan reading, handle revisions automatically, and cut human error. Beam AI specializes in automating Material Takeoffs (MTO).

It delivers verified, purchase-ready lists within hours. Teams can price, validate, and order materials confidently. Integrations push data straight into estimating and procurement systems — keeping everything in sync.

By reducing manual work, AI-powered takeoffs like Beam AI set a new standard for faster bidding and smoother execution.

The Takeaway

Quantity Takeoff (QTO) and Material Takeoff (MTO) are two connected steps in preconstruction.

QTO gives the full picture of what’s needed.
MTO ensures the right items are ordered and delivered.

AI-based takeoff software like Beam AI make both steps faster and more accurate. By understanding QTO and MTO — and using AI to handle them — construction teams can estimate better, order smarter, and deliver projects on time.