Takeoff Quantity vs. Bid Quantity

This article explains the difference between takeoff quantity and bid quantity in Stimaro — two numbers that are often the same but sometimes deliberately different, and why that flexibility matters.

Two quantities, two purposes

Every item in Stimaro carries two quantities:

Takeoff quantity is what you actually measured — the real amount of work, counted off the plans or the site. 200 linear feet of bulkhead means 200 linear feet of takeoff.

Bid quantity is what you put on the bid — the amount you're pricing and presenting to the customer. Most of the time, it's the same as your takeoff.

When you create an item, the quantity you enter sets both to the same starting value. For most line items, they stay equal and you never think about it again. The distinction only matters when you have a reason to make them differ — and there are real reasons.

Why they're sometimes different

A few situations where bid quantity intentionally diverges from takeoff quantity:

Waste and overage. You measured 600 cubic yards of backfill, but you know stone compacts and you always order extra. Your takeoff is 600; your bid quantity might be 660 to cover the real amount you'll buy and place.

Bid strategy and unbalancing. On unit-price public work, contractors sometimes shift quantities between line items to improve cash flow or position for anticipated changes — a practice called unbalancing a bid. Your takeoff stays honest (it's what you measured), while your bid quantity reflects the strategic number. Keeping the two separate lets you do this deliberately without losing track of the true measured amount.

Owner-specified quantities. Sometimes the bid form dictates a quantity that differs from what you'd measure yourself — the owner's engineer published 1,440 linear feet and you're required to bid to that number, even if your own takeoff comes out slightly different. Bid quantity matches the owner's form; takeoff quantity records what you actually measured.

Minimum orders and practical rounding. You measured 38 piles, but they come in lots of 10 and you'll order 40. The takeoff reflects the design; the bid quantity reflects what you'll actually procure and drive.

Why keeping both matters

The value is in not losing information. If Stimaro only stored one quantity, you'd have to choose between recording what you measured and recording what you bid — and whichever you didn't store would live only in your head or a side note.

By keeping both, you preserve the honest measured number and the number you presented, with a visible gap between them when one exists. That matters when:

• You're reviewing a bid later and want to know whether a quantity was measured or adjusted
• You're tracking actual production against the real scope during the job
• Someone questions a number and you need to show both what you measured and what you bid
• You're carrying lessons forward to the next similar project

In practice

For most items, you'll enter one quantity and move on — takeoff and bid stay equal, and that's correct. You only reach for the distinction when a specific item needs it: a waste factor, a strategic adjustment, an owner-specified number, or a procurement reality.

When that happens, you can set the takeoff and bid quantities separately on the item, and Stimaro carries both forward — the measured truth and the bid number — instead of forcing you to pick one.