Source: https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/material-takeoff/ Your browser. Your workspace. # Steel Material Takeoff Builder Build a steel material list from AISC shapes, lengths, and quantities. Calculate nominal weight, group materials, and export CSV or JSON in your browser. ## Build your material list Choose an exact AISC shape, enter the length of one piece, and set its quantity. Mix feet, inches, meters, and millimeters in one list. Piece marks are optional. Material entry and import Restore a takeoff JSON backup Loading the AISC shape database… ## Material list and totals Total pieces0 Nominal weight0 lb Metric equivalent0 kg Your list is empty. Add the first material above to see its weight and totals. | Piece mark | Shape | Length each | Qty | Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) | Actions | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ### Totals by shape | Shape | Pieces | Length (ft) | Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ## Send selected pieces to cutting Select material rows using their transfer checkboxes. Rows are grouped by exact AISC section. Enter a grade or compatibility identifier shared by every selected row; separate grades, finishes, or project lots must be transferred separately. Grade / compatibility group[Estimate costs from this saved takeoff](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/material-cost/) The cutting planner asks before loading each group. Suggested stock lengths and saw kerf must be checked before use. Selected marks, quantities, and grades stay in this browser; links contain only a temporary transfer identifier. ## How weight is calculated Nominal weight equals the database weight per foot multiplied by each piece length in feet and its quantity. Unit conversion uses exactly 12 inches per foot, 0.3048 meters per foot, and 0.45359237 kilograms per pound. Values are rounded only for display. The list uses [AISC Shapes Database v16.0](https://www.aisc.org/aisc/publications/steel-construction-manual/aisc-shapes-database-v160/) nominal section weights. It excludes plates, bolts, welds, coatings, cuts, waste, and fabrication allowances. Confirm source drawings, member quantities, grades, lengths, availability, and procurement requirements before use. Your list stays in this browser. JSON import, CSV export, and printing happen locally; project entries are not uploaded or sent to Analytics. Browser storage can be cleared, so save a JSON backup for work you need to keep. Changing the length unit changes how the entered number is interpreted. Continue with [shape comparison](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/shape-comparison/), the [stock cutting planner](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/cutting-planner/), or [project review checklists](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/project-checklists/). ## Build a takeoff you can trace back to the drawings A useful material list keeps the source piece marks and individual lengths visible, even when several rows use the same section. Use this builder to organize that list and calculate nominal section weight before moving into pricing or cutting. ### Enter one row for each repeated piece - Choose the exact section designation from the AISC shape list. Enter a piece mark that you can find again in the drawing set. - Enter the length of one piece, select its unit, and enter how many identical pieces are required. Add another row when the mark or length changes. - Check the individual rows, then read the totals by shape. A shared shape total combines quantities and lengths; it does not erase the individual piece marks. ### Worked example: four equal members Enter W18X35, length 20, unit feet, and quantity 4. Its nominal 35 lb/ft gives 20 × 4 = 80 ft of material and 80 × 35 = 2,800 lb, or about 1,270.06 kg. Entering 6.096 meters instead of 20 feet produces the same result. Changing the unit on an entry reinterprets the number already in the field. It does not convert that number for you. If a weight looks unexpectedly large, check both the per-piece length and the quantity before changing the shape. ### Choose the next record deliberately Use CSV for a spreadsheet-readable list and JSON to restore editable takeoff inputs. To transfer pieces into cutting, select their row checkboxes and supply a compatibility group shared by those pieces. Transfer different grades, finishes, or material lots separately. The transfer groups exact sections; it does not determine which materials may be mixed. The [cost estimator](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/material-cost/) copies the saved takeoff into an independent estimate. A named project snapshot also remains independent of later edits. Save a JSON or [complete project backup](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/project-dashboard/) before clearing browser data. A few practical answers ## Frequently asked questions What does the calculated weight include? It multiplies the listed nominal section weight by your lengths and quantities. Connection plates, bolts, weld metal, coatings, waste, and actual material variation are outside that multiplication. Can I change feet to meters after entering a length? The unit selector changes how the entered number is interpreted. Convert the number yourself before changing units; do not expect an existing value to be converted automatically. How can I try this without entering project information? Download a takeoff JSON file from the practice project. Export your current takeoff first: importing replaces the working list, with a confirmation when that list already contains rows. [Try the downloadable practice project](https://www.quantumsteeldesign.com/practice-project/)