Items can be added to a takeoff to include detailed material, labor, and cost information in estimates and reports. Attached items can also be reordered or removed as project requirements change.

Key Information

• Items can be added to or removed from a takeoff at any time.
• Changes are reflected in associated estimates and reports.
• Multiple material and labor items can be added to the same takeoff.
• Items and assemblies can be added to the same takeoff.
• Items can be added from any available Item Library, including the Company Library, custom libraries, Quick Start, STACK, 1build, and BNi.
• BNi and 1build items can be used to apply regional cost data to Estimate Worksheets.
• Any Item can be attached to any Takeoff type, whatever its unit of measure. Items measured in a unit the Takeoff can’t produce are hidden until you select Show all Units of Measure, and they need a formula before STACK can calculate a purchase quantity.
• Items attached to a takeoff can be reordered. The selected order is saved for the takeoff and reflected in the Estimate Worksheet when grouped by takeoff.
• Items and assemblies can be managed from the PLANS & TAKEOFFS section or directly from the Estimate Worksheet.

Overview

Adding an Item to a Takeoff

1. Go to the PLANS & TAKEOFFS section of the project.

2. Select the Takeoffs tab.

3. Select the takeoff to which the Item will be added.

4. Scroll to Items and Assemblies in the left panel.

5. Click the + button next to Items and Assemblies.

6. Select the Items tab in the Add Items & Assemblies window.

7. Select the Library containing the Item.

8. Use the search field or browse the Library folders to locate the Item.

9. Click the green + next to each Item to add.

10. Repeat the process to select Items from other Libraries, if needed.

11. Click Add.

12. The added Items appear in Estimate Worksheets and Item Reports for the takeoff.

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Assemblies can be added during the same process by selecting the Assemblies tab.

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Items and assemblies can also be added directly from the Estimate Worksheet. See Add or Remove Items and Assemblies in the Estimate Worksheet for instructions.

Attaching Items to Any Takeoff Type

Any Item can be attached to any Takeoff type, whatever its unit of measure. A Square Feet Item can go on a Count takeoff, an Area Item can go on a Linear takeoff, and so on. Two things make it work: the Show all Units of Measure option, which brings mismatched Items into your search results, and a formula, which tells STACK how to turn the Takeoff’s measurement into a purchase quantity for that Item.

1. Go to the PLANS & TAKEOFFS section of the project.
2. Select the Takeoffs tab, then select the takeoff you want to attach the Item to.
3. Scroll to Items and Assemblies in the left panel and click the + button.
4. In the Add Items & Assemblies window, select the ITEMS tab and choose the Library that contains the Item.
5. Type what you’re looking for in the search field. Items appear only after you search.
6. Select the Show all Units of Measure checkbox, to the left of the columns icon. Items measured in units the Takeoff can’t produce now appear in the results.
7. Select each Item you want, then click Add.
8. The Items appear under the takeoff in Items and Assemblies. Any Item that still needs a formula is marked with an orange warning icon.

NOTE
Search first. STACK doesn’t preload an entire Library into this window, so the Items list stays empty until you type a search term.

Add a Formula to an Attached Item

Until the Item has a formula, STACK has no way to convert the Takeoff’s measurement into a quantity for that Item. Hover the orange warning icon to see what’s missing.

1. Click the orange warning icon next to the Item in Items and Assemblies. The tooltip names the mismatch – for example, “This item is measured in Square Feet, which this takeoff cannot produce. Add a formula so a purchase quantity can be calculated.”
2. Enter the formula in the field that opens. Type a fixed value if the quantity is always the same, or build an expression from the Takeoff’s own measurement – for example, the measured linear quantity multiplied by a set number.
3. Press Enter or click the green checkmark to save.
4. The warning icon is replaced by a Σ icon, which marks every Item that has a formula.

NOTE
A formula entered directly on a takeoff doesn’t need the custom variables an assembly formula uses. Because the Item is attached to one specific takeoff, you can type the value you want. Reopen the formula to change it at any time.

IMPORTANT
Attaching an Item without an accurate formula can produce a quantity that doesn’t reflect the actual material or labor needed. Review the formula before you rely on the quantity.

Removing an Item from a Takeoff

Removing an Item from a takeoff also removes it from associated estimates and reports.

1. Go to the PLANS & TAKEOFFS section of the project.
2. Select the Takeoffs tab.
3. Select the takeoff containing the Item.
4. Scroll to Items and Assemblies in the left panel.
5. Locate the Item to remove.
6. Click the three dots next to the Item name and select Remove.
7. Click Remove to confirm.

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You can Items and assemblies can also be removed directly from the Estimate Worksheet. See
See Add or Remove Items and Assemblies in the Estimate Worksheet for instructions.

Reordering Items on a Takeoff

Items attached to a takeoff can be arranged in a preferred order. The selected order is saved for the takeoff in the project and is reflected in the Estimate Worksheet when grouped by takeoff.

1. Go to the PLANS & TAKEOFFS section of the project.
2. Select the Takeoffs tab.
3. Select the takeoff containing the Items.
4. Scroll to Items and Assemblies in the left panel.
5. Drag an Item to the preferred position in the list.
6. Repeat as needed to arrange the remaining Items.

NOTE
Reordering Items does not change their quantities, costs, formulas, or other Item information.

TIP
Group the Estimate Worksheet by takeoff to display Items in the selected order.

Next Steps

After you've added all the items and assemblies you need to your takeoffs, you can review item data on estimates and reports. If you've added 1build or BNi items, you can apply regional cost data to an Estimate Worksheet.

Estimate Worksheet Overview
Unit Cost Estimate Material and Labor Estimate Overview
STACK Reports Overview
Using 1build Regional Cost Data in STACK
Using BNi National and Regional Cost Data in STACK

Related Articles

Create, Edit, or Delete Custom Items
What is an Assembly
Add, Edit, or Remove an Assembly on a Takeoff
Add or Remove Items and Assemblies in the Estimate Worksheet
Create, Edit, or Delete Custom Assemblies

See how others use this feature in the STACK Community.

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