Best takeoff software for tile contractors in 2026.

The best takeoff software for tile contractors in 2026 is the one that treats tile as a first-class scope — walls and floors priced differently, Schluter and heat-wire measured as linear runs, waste factors set per room, and every Zellige or mosaic add-on itemized on the estimate. General-purpose takeoff tools can measure a bathroom floor; tile-first tools price it. That gap is where margin lives.

This guide walks through the criteria that actually matter on a tile bid, then compares the leading platforms against each one.

Why tile contractors need tile-first takeoff software

Most takeoff platforms were built around framing, concrete, and flatwork — scopes where an area measurement and a single unit price are enough. Tile is different. A 60 sq ft bathroom can carry six distinct rates: floor tile, wall tile, shower-pan waterproofing, heat wire, Schluter edge trim, and a niche count. Miss any of them on the bid and the margin walks out the door.

A tile-first takeoff tool collapses those six rates into a clean workflow: measure the scope once, apply the right assembly, itemize the add-ons, and export a PDF a client will actually read.

The eight criteria that matter for tile bids

1. Separate wall and floor pricing

Wall tile and floor tile are not the same scope. Wall installs use different backer prep, different setting materials, different labor rates, and often different tile sizes. A tool that buckets them together costs you margin on every wet-room bid.

Look for: category-level assemblies (floor, wall, shower, backsplash, accent) that price independently, with per-category waste factors.

2. Linear run tools for Schluter, heat wire, and transitions

Tile is an area scope *and* a linear scope. Schluter edges, heat wire, shower curbs, and floor transitions are measured in linear feet and priced per linear foot. If your software forces everything into areas, you're either under-bidding the trim or hiding it in markup.

Look for: a dedicated linear tool that snaps to edges and reports feet-and-inches by default.

3. Per-room waste factors

Waste is not a project-level number. A diagonal herringbone master bath with hex accent deserves 20%+ waste; the square-set porcelain laundry floor deserves 10%. Tools that force one waste factor across the whole bid round off the differences that make the estimate accurate.

Look for: room-level waste that overrides the project default, with a visible breakdown on the PDF.

4. Deductions for niches, doorways, and fixtures

A bathroom with three doorways, a vanity, a shower curb, and a toilet can have 15–25 sq ft of deductions. Tools that make deductions a second-class citizen (hidden in a submenu, or applied globally) cause estimators to skip them — and skipped deductions bid the job high and lose the work.

Look for: an explicit deduction tool on the canvas, visible next to the measurements it reduces.

5. Count markers for niches, drains, and fixtures

Niches, shower drains, linear drains, Schluter end caps, and mud caps are count items. They don't belong in an area measurement and they don't belong in a linear one. A count tool on the canvas — with per-type rates — keeps them visible on the estimate instead of buried in a labor allowance.

6. Assembly-based pricing

The most-repeated scopes in tile (wet-area floor install, half-wall wainscot, shower surround, mud-set pan) should be defined once as an assembly and applied on every bid. Line-item pricing for tile is 5–10× slower than assembly pricing and produces inconsistent bids across a team.

Look for: a library of assemblies editable in one place, with per-drawing overrides when a specific room needs different materials.

7. Subcontractor work orders

Once the bid is won, the setter and helper need to see their scope — rooms, square footage, the assembly, the tile SKU, and the rate. Tools that make you re-type the scope into a second system or a Word doc double the work.

Look for: work orders generated directly from the takeoff, grouped by room, with a shareable link that doesn't require the sub to create an account.

8. Branded PDF estimate export

The client never sees the canvas — they see the PDF. A tool that produces a clean, branded, itemized PDF with scope narrative and waste transparency closes bids. A tool that dumps a CSV or forces a spreadsheet export loses them.

Look for: a PDF template that shows per-room scope, per-category rates, transparent waste, add-ons, markup, and payment terms on one document.

How the leading tools compare for tile contractors

The table below scores the major platforms specifically against tile-contractor workflows. Scores reflect publicly documented capabilities as of April 2026.

Picking the right tile takeoff tool for your business

For solo tile setters and two-person shops

You need a tool with a free or low-price tier, a fast canvas on an iPad, and a clean PDF. Skip enterprise-tier platforms. Cedrus Solo and STACK Starter are the clearest fits.

For specialty tile and stone firms (5–25 bids per month)

You need assembly pricing, per-room waste, and subcontractor work orders. The bid volume is the part that kills spreadsheet workflows — you'll save 2–4 hours per bid, which adds up to a full estimator per month.

Cedrus and STACK both handle this tier. On-Screen Takeoff works if you don't need real-time collaboration.

For luxury custom-home tile contractors

You need every category assembly (Zellige, hand-glazed, natural stone, mosaic accent), granular deductions, and a PDF polished enough to sit next to the architect's renderings. Cedrus was built for this tier; most general-purpose tools feel generic against a $200k tile package.

For multi-office tile firms and large installers

You need role-based access, SSO, shared rate cards across offices, and subcontractor management at scale. Cedrus Operator and STACK Enterprise are the two tiers designed for this.

Common mistakes tile contractors make when evaluating takeoff software

• Buying a general tool and bending it to tile.: You can bolt tile assemblies onto a framing-first tool, but you'll spend a year fighting the categories. Start with a tool that understands wall vs. floor natively.
• Ignoring the linear tools.: A Schluter-heavy bid has 80–120 linear feet of trim. If the tool doesn't measure linear natively, the trim gets rolled into markup and the margin silently erodes.
• Skipping the work-order test.: Try generating a sub work order from a finished bid. If it takes more than 30 seconds, you'll stop doing it — and your subs will start guessing the scope.
• Evaluating on the easy bid.: Demo every tool on a *complex* bid with diagonal waste, three rooms, heat wire, and a Zellige accent. Easy bids hide the weaknesses.

Frequently asked

What is the best takeoff software for tile contractors in 2026?

For tile-first workflows with real wall-vs-floor separation, per-room waste, and shareable sub work orders, Cedrus is the clearest fit. STACK is the closest general-purpose alternative. Both handle the core tile scope well; Cedrus is tuned specifically for tile, stone, and finish trades.

How much does tile takeoff software cost?

Solo and starter tiers run $0–$29 per seat per month. Small-firm tiers run $49–$99 per seat per month. Enterprise tiers are contract-priced. Per-project platforms (Togal.AI) charge per plan uploaded, which becomes expensive at 20+ bids per month.

Can I use general takeoff software for tile bids?

You can — but you'll work harder for a less-accurate bid. General tools don't separate wall and floor by default, don't carry per-room waste, and don't make linear trim a first-class measurement. For 1–2 bids a month it's tolerable; for 10+ it's a tax.

Do tile contractors still use spreadsheets?

Many still do, but the share is falling fast. Spreadsheets can't do pixel-accurate measurement, can't store assemblies with cascading updates, and can't produce a shareable sub work order. The only reason to stay on Excel in 2026 is if your bid volume is genuinely low (under 3 per month).

Does takeoff software handle stone, slab, and natural material scopes?

The tile-first tools (Cedrus) do — natural stone, slab countertops, and cut-to-size materials use the same area and linear primitives as tile. General tools usually require a custom assembly per material, which is workable but slow.

The right takeoff tool for a tile contractor treats walls, floors, trim, and counts as distinct scopes from the first click — not as fields buried three menus deep. If that sounds like what you need, try Cedrus free on your next bid.