HVAC takeoff for distributors. Duct, air devices and line sets, measured.
HVAC takeoff for distributors turns a mechanical contractor's plans into the material a counter quotes: rectangular and spiral duct by size, every air device with its spin-in, flex and straps, refrigerant line sets, and the equipment on the schedules. Below the answer you will find the HVAC recipes as a working calculator, a clip of the takeoff reading a sample office plan, a table of what an HVAC order includes, and the recipes to download.
Try the order-list calculatorClients include
Can an HVAC distributor get a material list from mechanical plans?
Yes. Ruh measures duct by size, counts diffusers, grilles and equipment by tag against the schedules, and turns each into its material lines: galvanized duct, flanges and hangers, the supply diffuser or return grille with its spin-in, flex and straps, line sets with insulation, waste set line by line where the recipe has it. There are 17 HVAC recipes to begin with, every one editable, and the first takeoff is on us.
- HVAC recipes to start from, yours to edit
- 17
- material lines in the HVAC recipes, waste set line by line
- 106
- a full takeoff on a mechanical set
- 1st takeoff free
What comes with each supply diffuser?
Six more items in the app's starting recipe: a spin-in collar with a damper, 6 feet of insulated flex, straps, foil tape, hanger wire and mastic. Enter duct footage or a device count to see the order, with prices left out.
1. Pick a starting recipe
Rectangular duct 24" x 12", 24 ga galvanized, TDC joints, hung
Order list for 220 linear feet of Rectangular duct 24" x 12", 24 ga galvanized. A sample input: change it to the quantity on your set.
| Material | Per LF | Quantity | Waste | With waste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Galvanized sheet steel 24 ga, fabricated rectangular ductHow it is builtPerimeter 2 x (24 + 12) = 72 in = 6.00 SF per LF x 1.156 lb/SF (24 ga galv, SMACNA) x 1.15 seam and reinforcement allowance = 8.0 LB per LF | 8 LB | 1,760 LB | 10% | 1,936 LB, incl. 10% waste |
Transverse joint, TDC/TDF flange set with cleats and cornersHow it is builtOne joint per 5 ft section = 0.2 per LF | 0.2 EA, whole units | 44 EA | None | 44 EA |
Duct hanger, 1 in strap or trapeze with 3/8 in rod and anchors, pairHow it is built10 ft support spacing = 0.1 pair per LF | 0.1 EA, whole units | 22 EA | None | 22 EA |
Duct sealant, water-based masticHow it is builtOne gallon per 55 LF at this size (seams and joints), scaled by perimeter | 0.018 GAL | 3.96 GAL | None | 3.96 GAL |
Flange gasket / butyl tapeHow it is builtPerimeter per joint x 0.2 joints per LF | 1.2 LF | 264 LF | None | 264 LF |
Each line is the measured quantity times the recipe’s factor. Lines the recipe marks as whole units, such as sheets, boxes and hangers, are rounded up before waste, the way the app rounds them. Round the with-waste figure up to whole pieces when you build the order.
What this cannot tell you: duct gauge or a fabrication layout from the drawings. Rectangular duct comes from the recipe as galvanized steel by weight for the recipe's size and gauge, which your company can edit, so the shop still lays out fittings, and equipment comes from your own quote.
What does Ruh see on a mechanical plan?
The supply main and branches are traced by size, and diffusers, grilles and boxes are counted against the schedules, each tied to the sheet it came from. The calculator above shows what happens to each of those quantities next.
What does an HVAC order carry?
Duct by the foot, devices by the count, and a long tail of small parts behind both. This table places each one on the mechanical set and shows what it turns into.
| Part of the order | Where it is on the set | How it is taken off | What it becomes on the order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular duct | Duct plans and the duct construction notes | Linear feet by size | Galvanized steel by weight, flange sets, hangers, sealant and gasket |
| Round and spiral duct | Duct plans | Linear feet by diameter | Spiral duct, couplings, fittings, hangers, sealant and screws |
| Air devices | Plans and the air device schedule | Counted per type | Diffuser or grille, spin-in with damper, insulated flex, straps, tape and hanger wire |
| Equipment | The equipment schedule | Counted per tag | Units by your quote, with curbs and connections as the set assigns them |
| Refrigerant piping | Plans and the equipment schedule | Linear feet per system | ACR copper for both lines, insulation, clamps, brazing materials and fittings |
| Duct insulation | Specifications and duct plans | Square feet of duct surface, from length and perimeter | Duct wrap and tape |
Typical practice, not a standard. Duct construction and insulation follow each job's specification, so assign the recipe that matches it.
What do distributors get wrong about HVAC quotes?
Our opinion: Distributors quote the equipment and lose the order on the small parts. In the app's starting recipe every supply diffuser brings six more items with it: a spin-in collar with a damper, six feet of insulated flex, straps, foil tape, hanger wire and mastic. On a fit-out with many air devices, that tail adds up. Count every device off the plan and the small parts follow. Quote them as a lump and the contractor buys them somewhere else.
What it does and does not do
What it does today
- ✓Measures duct by size and counts devices and equipment by tag from drawing PDFs
- ✓Turns diffusers and grilles into their spin-ins, flex and small parts
- ✓Starts you on HVAC recipes you can edit or copy
- ✓Prices from your own price list first, with the source on every line
- ✓Exports as PDF, CSV or JSON
What it does not do
- Duct gauge or fabrication layout from the drawings. Gauge comes from the recipe you assign
- Purchase orders
- Reading a reply or a quote back into the list
- Links to your ERP or point-of-sale system
Your first HVAC takeoff is free.
Send us a mechanical set your branch already has. Its takeoff costs nothing, and the recipes behind this page download as a CSV.
In a customer’s own words
“Ruh helped us win a job during the demo, so we saw value before we even became a client.”
Ben MorlinJ&S Excavation- takeoffs delivered to 29 contractors across 15 trades
- 45
- US, Canada and the UK, Jun to Oct 2026
- starting recipes in this supply line, yours to edit
- 17
- 106 material lines between them
- for every output, the material list included
- PDF, CSV
- and JSON for your own systems
Questions HVAC distributors ask
Answers on duct and devices for HVAC distributors.
What is HVAC takeoff for distributors?
HVAC takeoff for distributors is measuring the duct and counting the devices and equipment on a mechanical set so the distributor can quote the full order. Duct and devices are measured and priced from your list by Ruh, and your team decides what goes out.
Does it read duct gauge off the drawings?
Are the small parts for each air device included?
What mechanical drawings should we send?
Send a set. Check the small parts.
Send a mechanical set and check the free list against what your team would have quoted for duct and devices.
