Ductwork Estimates Your Sheet Metal Shop Can Price
Ductwork estimating services (also called duct estimating services) measure every run of ductwork on the mechanical drawings and turn it into quantities you can price: duct by size, shape, gauge and pressure class, total weight in pounds, fitting counts, dampers, access doors, hangers, and insulation or liner. Design Estimation prepares duct takeoffs by hand from your drawings, checks them with a second estimator, and delivers them in 24–48 hours.
- Who it is for: sheet metal contractors, HVAC and mechanical contractors, and general contractors pricing Division 23.
- What you receive: an Excel takeoff by system and floor, plus color-coded PDF markups of every measured run.
- Your format: pounds by gauge, linear feet by size, fittings each, or your own shop template.
- Addenda: revised drawings are re-measured and changes are highlighted.
Duct Is Priced by the Pound, but Labor Follows the Fittings
Sheet metal bids are usually built on total pounds of duct. Get the gauge wrong on one large trunk, or miss a few hundred feet on an upper floor, and the material number is off before fabrication starts.
Labor is a different story. A run full of elbows, transitions and takeoffs takes far longer to fabricate and hang than a straight trunk of the same weight, so a takeoff that only reports pounds hides the real work.
Our ductwork estimating services report both: pounds by gauge for material, and fittings, dampers and accessories counted each for labor, with marked-up sheets so you can check every run.
Why Sheet Metal Contractors Use Us
Your scope, your format, your deadline.
Pounds by GaugeEvery run converted to weight by gauge and pressure class
Fittings Counted EachElbows, transitions, dampers and access doors for labor
24–48 Hour TurnaroundDeadline confirmed before you send anything
Marked-Up DrawingsColor-coded sheets so you can verify every count
What Our Duct Takeoff Services Include
Every item is counted or measured from the drawings and specifications, so nothing in the sheet metal scope is left to a guess.
| Item | How we measure it |
|---|---|
| Rectangular duct | Linear feet by size, converted to pounds by gauge and pressure class |
| Round, spiral and oval duct | Linear feet by diameter or size, with gauge |
| Fittings | Elbows, tees, offsets, transitions and takeoffs, counted each |
| Dampers | Volume, fire, smoke and combination dampers by size |
| Access doors | Counted each, by size |
| Flex duct and connectors | Linear feet and each |
| Air devices (when in scope) | Diffusers, registers and grilles by size and type |
| Insulation and liner | Square feet by type and thickness |
| Hangers, supports and seismic bracing | Counted each or per length of duct |
| Sealing and testing | By seal class, pressure class and specification |
See the duct weight formula and a worked example in our duct takeoff guide.
Duct Systems and Projects We Estimate
From a single tenant improvement to a full commercial building.
| Project type | Typical ductwork scope |
|---|---|
| Commercial offices and retail | RTU supply and return mains, VAV branch duct, exhaust and outside air |
| Tenant improvements and interior mechanical work | New branch duct, relocated diffusers, demolition of existing duct and tie-ins |
| Healthcare and laboratories | High-pressure systems, more fire and smoke dampers, exhaust and isolation rooms |
| Multi-family | Unit trunk-and-branch duct multiplied by unit mix, plus corridor and amenity systems |
| Restaurants | Kitchen exhaust and make-up air duct, per the project specification |
| Industrial | Large round and spiral duct, process exhaust and ventilation |
Ductwork Takeoff Calculator
Add each duct run to get surface area, sheet metal weight by gauge, insulation, liner, hangers and fitting counts in one place.
1. Duct runs
2. Allowances and supports
Takeoff summary
0 lb net + 0% allowance
| Total duct length | 0 LF |
| Net surface area | 0 SF |
| Order surface area | 0 SF |
| Hangers / supports | 0 |
| Fabricated sections | 0 |
| External insulation | 0 |
| Internal liner | 0 |
| Gauge | Net SF | Order lb |
|---|
Galvanized steel weights per SF: 30 ga 0.656, 28 ga 0.781, 26 ga 0.906, 24 ga 1.156, 22 ga 1.406, 20 ga 1.656, 18 ga 2.156, 16 ga 2.656 lb. Material quantities only. Duct sizing, CFM, pressure class, fitting weight, seams, reinforcement and cost are not included. Check gauges against the project specifications and SMACNA tables.
Need a full ductwork takeoff? Get a Free Quote →
Clear Steps. Your Format. Every Takeoff.
Send the mechanical drawings, specs and bid date. We measure every duct run and send back a takeoff you can price the same day.
Here’s How We Build Your Takeoff:
Share Drawings & Specs
Send the mechanical drawings, Division 23 specifications and addenda, and tell us your scope and bid date.
Set Up Your Format
Pounds by gauge, linear feet by size, fittings each, or your own shop template, so the numbers drop straight in.
Measure & Weigh Every Run
We trace supply, return, exhaust and outside air by size, assign gauge from the spec and SMACNA tables, and convert to pounds.
Review & Deliver
A second estimator checks the counts before delivery. We flag unclear details for you instead of guessing.
Ready To Get Started?
Send your plans and bid date today, and we’ll confirm scope, price, and delivery time.
What to Send Us and What You Get Back
Send Us
- Mechanical drawings in PDF or DWG
- Division 23 specifications and addenda
- Your scope, inclusions and exclusions
- Your shop template or pricing format
- The bid due date and project location
You Get
- Excel duct takeoff by system, floor and gauge
- Total pounds by gauge and linear feet by size
- Fitting, damper, access door and accessory counts
- Insulation and liner quantities
- Color-coded PDF markups of every run
Duct Takeoffs for Contractors in Every State
Material prices and labor rates change from one market to the next, and we price each job for the market where you build it.
More Mechanical Support
Need equipment and piping too, or fabrication drawings once you win the job? The same team can help.
Ductwork Estimating Questions
Answers to what sheet metal and HVAC contractors ask before sending plans.
What are ductwork estimating services?
A takeoff and estimate of all ductwork on the drawings: duct by size and gauge, weight in pounds, fittings, dampers, accessories, insulation and labor quantities for your sheet metal bid.
Are your duct estimates prepared by AI or human estimators?
Experienced human estimators prepare and review every duct takeoff. Software supports the measurements, but quantities, gauges and assumptions are checked by a person.
Do you follow SMACNA for duct gauge?
Yes. We use the project specification first and SMACNA duct construction standards for gauge by size and pressure class where the specification refers to them.
Do you give duct weight in pounds?
Yes. Every takeoff includes total pounds by gauge, along with linear feet by size.
Do you count fittings separately?
Yes. Elbows, tees, transitions, offsets and takeoffs are counted each, because they drive fabrication and installation labor.
How fast can I get a ductwork estimate?
Most duct takeoffs are delivered in 24 to 48 hours, depending on project size and the bid date.
What is the difference between a duct takeoff and a ductwork estimate?
A duct takeoff is the quantities; a ductwork estimate adds the price. Our duct takeoff services measure every run by size and gauge, convert it to pounds and count the fittings, dampers and accessories. A ductwork estimate then applies material cost per pound, labor units and markup. We deliver either one, in your Excel format.
Send Your Plans Today. Get Your Takeoff in 24–48 Hours.
Tell us your trade, your format, and your bid date. We’ll reply with a scope, a price, and a delivery time that gets your numbers back before the deadline.