Automated Mechanical Takeoff Software

The biggest time sink in quoting

Monaro replaces the manual takeoff process entirely. Upload your construction drawings and the AI handles symbol counting, schedule extraction, and line item output in under 20 minutes.

A manual takeoff runs 4 to 8 hours on an average project. With Monaro it finishes in about 20 minutes, and teams respond to roughly 3 times as many quotes.

Where the hours go

For most HVAC and plumbing distributors, the mechanical takeoff is the biggest time sink in the quoting process. Before a single price is applied, someone has to read the engineer's schedule and count every symbol on every floor.

On a mid-size commercial project that is four to eight hours of work. It happens on every project, for every bid, whether the job is won or lost.

What automation changes

Monaro automates the entire process. The AI reads the drawings exactly the way a coordinator would, but completes the work in under 20 minutes.

What Monaro does with your drawings

Five steps that used to take a day, now automated end to end.

Drawing parsing and sheet classification

Monaro ingests the PDF and classifies every sheet, identifying mechanical floor plans, equipment schedules, legends, and detail sheets.

Equipment schedule extraction

The AI locates every equipment schedule table in the drawing set and extracts the engineer's specified equipment types, model references, and specifications.

Symbol detection on floor plans

Every floor plan sheet is scanned for mechanical symbols. Monaro detects and counts diffusers, grilles, fans, plumbing fixtures, and other terminal equipment floor by floor.

Callout cross-referencing

Symbol counts are matched against schedule callout tags so each quantity is tied to the correct specified equipment type. Ambiguous items are flagged for review.

Structured takeoff output

The completed takeoff is delivered as structured line items: equipment type, callout tag, quantity, and schedule reference, ready for pricing.

The downstream impact of faster takeoffs

Time recovered from takeoff does not disappear, it goes somewhere more valuable.

More bids out the door

When takeoff takes 20 minutes, coordinators can respond to projects they would have previously passed on. More bids at the same headcount.

Faster quote turnaround

The bottleneck before pricing is gone. Quotes go out sooner, which matters when contractors are choosing the fastest responsive distributor.

Consistent output across the team

Every coordinator produces the same structured takeoff. Easier to review, easier to hand off, and easier to build a quoting process around.

Frequently asked questions

About mechanical quantity takeoffs and how Monaro automates them.

What makes Monaro different from other HVAC takeoff software?

Most takeoff tools are built for contractors estimating full project costs. Monaro is built specifically for distributors: the equipment scope, quoting workflow, and output format are all designed around how distributors supply and quote terminal mechanical equipment.

Does Monaro require a human to review the takeoff output?

The AI reads the drawings, extracts schedule data, and counts symbols automatically, producing a complete takeoff in minutes. Your team stays in control: anything ambiguous is flagged for review, and takeoffs are verified before they go into a quote.

What types of drawings does Monaro work with?

Any PDF mechanical drawing set, from any engineering firm, produced in any CAD software, regardless of project size or complexity.

Is a mechanical takeoff the same for distributors and contractors?

No. Contractors estimate full project costs including labour, ductwork, and installation. Distributors are quoting the equipment supply only, terminal-level items from the mechanical drawings.

How long does it take to get started?

Most project coordinators run their first takeoff the same day. There are no drawing templates to configure, no training on your specific symbols, and no IT setup required.

Is HVAC takeoff software worth it for a distributor our size?

At an average commercial HVAC equipment contract value of $50,000 to $150,000, winning one additional project per month that you would have passed on due to bandwidth pays for the annual subscription many times over. The math works at two branches as well as twenty.

Ready to take the manual out of takeoffs

Join distributors already using Monaro to quote faster and win more work. Try it free, no credit card required.

Start with a live project

Upload a drawing set from a project you are quoting now and see the automated takeoff for yourself.

Automated mechanical takeoff, no spreadsheets, no counting