Construction take-off software for PDF drawings The drawing, the highlighter, the total.

Lengths, areas, counts, openings deducted: draw on the drawing, Kotelys writes the measurement notes and the Excel workbook. Every trade, and the site layout plan.

Try Kotelys See how it works

Beta by invitation: ask for your code, reply within 48 hours.
Free during the beta, then €24.90 excl. VAT per month per computer. Windows 10 and 11.

Version 0.10.2412 NovemberSee what's new

Take-off of the drawing, “house” example
Tiles 60 × 60	93.59 m²
Oak parquet	49.87 m²
Skirting	90.81 ml
Threshold strips	6 u

From PDF to report, in four steps.

No training course: a sample project and a guided tour come with the installation.

Layer 1: your drawing
Open the drawing.
An architect's PDF, even a heavy one, or an image. It stays underneath, as it is: Kotelys never changes it.
Layer 2: the scale
Set the scale.
1:50, 1:100, 1:200, or two clicks on a known dimension. The Scale button turns green.
Layer 3: your take-offs
Draw.
Lengths, areas, counts. Openings are deducted, quantities line up in the Objects panel.
All together
Send the report.
Take-off calculations, summary, drawing set or Excel, from the Reports tab.

Layer 1: your drawing
Open the drawing.
An architect's PDF, even a heavy one, or an image. It stays underneath, as it is: Kotelys never changes it.
Layer 2: the scale
Set the scale.
1:50, 1:100, 1:200, or two clicks on a known dimension. The Scale button turns green.
Layer 3: your take-offs
Draw.
Lengths, areas, counts. Openings are deducted, quantities line up in the Objects panel.
All together
Send the report.
Take-off calculations, summary, drawing set or Excel, from the Reports tab.

Kotelys Kotelys sample, detached house

FileHomeDrawingsReportsTemplate library

PDF Image

Import

Length Area Count

Take-offs

Scale

Drawing

Export

1Your PDF, untouched

2Scale 1:50

3Take-offs

Your companyDesign office

Detailed take-off calculations

Detached house, ground floor plan, 1:50

Package 02: structural work

Strip footing 50 × 3049.20 ml2 × (14.20 + 10.40) = 49.20

Blockwork wall 20 cm99.08 m²49.20 × 2.50 = 123.00
less 11 openings: 23.92

Concrete slab 12 cm138.00 m²13.80 × 10.00 = 138.00

Reinforced concrete lintels11 u11 openings

Kotelys, 12/10/2026Page 1 of 3

Objects

Structural work

Measure on the drawing: each type appears here with its quantity.

Footing49.20 ml

Wall99.08 m²

Slab138.00 m²

Lintels11 u

Click select an object Layer: Structural workScale not set1:5064%

1 of 4 Open the drawing.

Kotelys in one minute.

A few examples, trade by trade. More videos on each trade page.

Video in French. It loads from YouTube when you click.

What each method can do.

Paper, Excel, a PDF reader, other take-off software, and Kotelys. Including what Kotelys does not do.

Kotelys compared with paper, Excel, a PDF reader and other take-off software
Criterion	Kotelys	Paperprint, scale rule, highlighter	Excelspreadsheet filled in by hand	PDF readerPDF reader with measuring tools	Other take-off softwarefor you to check
Measure lengths, areas and counts on the PDF drawing	Yes	Partly	No	Partly	To checkDoes it measure all three: lengths, areas, counts?
Deductions: voids and openings	Yes	Partly	Partly	Partly	To checkDoes it deduct voids and openings without a separate calculation?
Total per type of item, kept up to date	Yes	No	Partly	Partly	To checkDoes the total follow each correction of the tracing?
Quantities by zone (flat, floor, phase)	Yes	Partly	Partly	No	To checkDoes it give quantities per flat or per floor?
Take-off calculations written out in full	Yes	Yes	Partly	No	To checkIs the working of each quantity written out?
Quantity comparison between two revisions of a drawing	Yes	No	Partly	Partly	To checkWhat happens to the take-off when the drawing is revised?
Site layout plan (cranes, site cabins, fencing)	Yes	Partly	No	Partly	To checkDoes it also draw the site layout?
Pricing: prices, quotations	No	Partly	Partly	No	To checkIf you want to price in the same tool: does it do that?

Swipe the table sideways to see the other columns.

Yes
Partly, or depending on the tool
No
For you to check

See the full grid21 criteria, for you to check during a trial.

The site layout on the same sheet.

The site layout plan sits on the site plan, to scale, with its legend and its quantities.

Site layout plan of the sample project in Kotelys: crane and its working radii, no-oversail zone over the neighbouring school, site cabins, fencing, skips and legend with quantities.

Cranes and working radii
No-oversail zones
Welfare facilities and site cabins
Fencing, access, skips
Legend with quantities

Reports you can check.

Every line keeps the colour and symbol of the drawing: you can see at once what was counted.

Detailed take-off calculations

Every calculation written out: segments, deducted openings, height.

Page of the take-off calculations of the sample project (in French): strip footing, blockwork wall with deducted openings and height, ground slab, lintels.

Summary

Quantities by package, in PDF.

Strip footing	47.60 ml
Concrete slab	129.72 m²
Lintels	11 u

Excel export

Summary and object-by-object detail.

Object	Qty
Oak parquet #1	13.82
Oak parquet #2	13.80

Annotated drawing set

All the measured drawings, to scale, with their title block and legend, in a single PDF.

Open the reports of the sample project: summary, take-off calculations, drawing set and Excel (in French).

Kotelys does not design your buildings or price your work. It measures, it counts and it hands you a clean report.

A few things, done with care. Designed in France, with metric or imperial units; your projects stay on your computer.

For those who estimate and prepare the works.

Quantity surveyors and estimators: Everyday take-off, with the calculations to attach.
Contractors: The quantities of a tender, package by package, through to Excel.
Tradespeople and house builders: The areas and lengths of a house, from the client's drawing.
Site managers: The site layout plan, cranes and welfare facilities included.
Engineering consultancies: Take-offs and site layout plans, in presentable reports.

Your trade, your take-off.

From earthworks to painting, the same gesture. Choose your trade: what you measure, and how.

Structure and external works

Envelope

Finishes

Building services

Site preparation

Site layout

By profession

The beta is open, by invitation.

Testers are in France for now. Elsewhere? Leave your details and we will let you know.

Try Kotelys Ask for access

Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit. Free during the beta.

Plasterboard partitions	41.60 ml
Wall lining 10+80	74.40 ml
Plasterboard ceiling BA13	263.18 m²
Steel door frames	8 u

16 A sockets	41 u
Light points	23 u
Presence detectors	11 u
Cable trays	29.50 ml

Industrial floor slab	835.34 m²
Sawn joints	178.00 ml
Perimeter joint	141.68 ml
Dock leveller pits	5 u

Asphalt 0/10	1,393.00 m²
T2 kerbs	199.80 ml
Green spaces	511.00 m²
Parking spaces	68 u
Grated chambers	4 u
Lamp posts	8 u

Construction take-off software for PDF drawings The drawing, the highlighter, the total.

All your projects, as long as there is a drawing.

From PDF to report, in four steps.

Open the drawing.

Set the scale.

Draw.

Send the report.

Open the drawing.

Set the scale.

Draw.

Send the report.

Kotelys in one minute.

What each method can do.

The site layout on the same sheet.

Reports you can check.

Detailed take-off calculations

Summary

Excel export

Annotated drawing set

For those who estimate and prepare the works.

Your trade, your take-off.

Structure and external works

Envelope

Finishes

Building services

Site preparation

By profession

The beta is open, by invitation.