# Estimates

> Ask the agent to build a takeoff and estimate from project drawings, review quantities and costs, and export an estimate as a spreadsheet or proposal.

Source: https://docs.specset.com/docs/estimates · Section: Issues & Estimating · Last updated: 2026-10-08

Ask the agent to help build an estimate from your [drawing sheets](https://docs.specset.com/docs/plan-sets). Review its quantities, units, assumptions, and pricing before using it for a bid.

1. Open **Estimates** in the project sidebar and choose an estimate.
2. Review the line items and supporting measurements. Use **Estimates → Measurements** to browse the project's measurements.
3. Open the estimate's **Export** menu to download Excel, CSV, or a proposal.

Estimating navigation appears when the feature is enabled for your organization.

![Estimate with item quantities, units, and costs available for review](https://docs.specset.com/images/docs/estimates/docs-qa-concrete-estimate.png)

## Start an estimate

Click **New estimate** in **Estimates**, enter a **Name** and optional **Description**, then click **Create estimate**. Use the description to record the scope and pricing basis, such as “Ground-floor concrete; quantities from the issued structural drawings.”

You can also ask the agent to build a starting estimate. Name the work, the drawing package, and any exclusions. Check the result against the source drawings before adding your rates.

## Bring in measured quantities

1. Create and check the takeoff in [Measurements](https://docs.specset.com/docs/measurements), including its scale, quantities, and units.
2. Open the estimate's menu and choose **Import measurements**.
3. Select the measurement rows to include. Rows are grouped by measurement and drawing; **Already imported** identifies rows already in the estimate.
4. Import the selected rows and review their descriptions, quantities, rates, and totals.

Imported rows stay linked to their source measurements. Follow the **Measurement** link to edit the source description, classification, rate, or remarks. Change a measured quantity by correcting the measurement on the drawing. Those fields are not editable directly on the linked estimate row.

![Estimate with measured quantities linked to their source takeoff and separate manually priced items](https://docs.specset.com/images/docs/estimates/docs-estimate-linked-measurements.png)

## Price and organize the work

Use manual rows for costs that do not come from a drawing measurement, such as mobilization or a delivery allowance. Add a row, or use a row's menu to **Insert row above** or **Insert row below** an existing item.

For manual rows, edit the **Description**, **Qty**, **UoM**, and **Rate** in the grid. The **Total** follows quantity times rate. Use **Category**, **CSI Code**, **Type**, and **Remarks** to organize the work and record assumptions. Select rows and use **Edit** to make supported changes together.

Check that each rate uses the same unit as its quantity. A square-foot takeoff needs a price per square foot; a lump-sum allowance can use a quantity of 1 with the full allowance as its rate. Avoid pricing the same measured work twice across imported and manual rows.

## Export the estimate

Open the estimate's menu and choose **Export**:

- **Excel (.xlsx)** for a workbook the team can review or continue pricing.
- **CSV (.csv)** for moving the line items into another tool.
- **Proposal (.pdf)** for a PDF version to share.

Review the scope, units, rates, and assumptions before issuing an export. Downloaded files are snapshots; changes to the estimate or its source measurements require a new export.