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A take-off is the action of counting symbols and measuring lengths that we will later use to determine the bill-of-material. A proper take-off ensures there will be little need to refer to the drawings or specifications to complete the estimate. To accomplish this, you must follow an orderly, methodical routine that is complete and consistent for each and every job.

Manual Take-off
Use colored pencils, pens, or highlighters to identify each item that you have taken off on paper documents. The following table contains a sample of a sequence and color code to use to identify those items taken off. Be sure to note what color you use for each step so you won't forget, or so someone else can pick up where you left off, if necessary. Be consistent between bids to create a system that allows fast reference later if needed.

When you have finished the take-off, your drawings should be a colored representation of the electrical work that needs to be installed like in the following drawing:

Some people prefer to simply place a check mark on the items they have taken off, as shown in the following drawing:

If you didn't receive a full set of drawings you can mark up, then you need to make a full-size copy, which can be done at most copy centers. Attempting to estimate a job without color coding the drawings leads to mistakes and errors.