Six tools Australian flooring businesses compare when they move off the scale ruler, ranked for flooring-only quoting.
What is the best flooring estimating software in Australia?
For flooring-only quoting in Australia, AreaSum is our pick because it measures straight off a PDF in the browser and is priced in Australian dollars. MeasureSquare is the better choice for tile setout, and builders pricing every trade are better off with PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff.
| Rank | Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AreaSum | Flooring-only quotes in Australia | $49 AUD per user a month |
| 2 | MeasureSquare | Tile setout and US distributor catalogues | $540 USD per seat a year |
| 3 | Bluebeam | Teams already marking up PDFs | $260 USD per seat a year |
| 4 | PlanSwift | Builders pricing every trade | Annual licence, usually thousands a year |
| 5 | On-Screen Takeoff | Teams already set up on OST | Not listed |
| 6 | Magicplan | Measuring on site with no plan | Per plan or per month |
The 6 best flooring estimating software tools
Two of these are built for flooring, AreaSum and MeasureSquare. The rest are general construction estimators or plan capture apps that measure floors as one job among many.
1. AreaSum
AreaSum is browser-based flooring estimating software built in Australia. You upload a PDF plan, set the scale, trace the rooms and export a quote-ready PDF, usually in under ten minutes. It covers carpet, carpet tiles, vinyl plank, sheet vinyl, hybrid, timber and tile.
Strengths
- Measures straight off PDF plans, including multi-page sets
- Area, lineal metres and wastage per material in one job
- Carpet cut list with offcuts placed into robes and stairs (Pro)
- Runs in the browser on PC, Mac and tablet, priced in AUD from $49 per user a month
Limitations
- Doesn't draw a tile pattern setout
- Flooring only, so no framing, concrete or roofing
Best for
Australian carpet layers, flooring retailers and estimators who quote from PDF plans and want the quote out the same day.
“There are other measuring tools out there. This one is built for how a flooring business actually works. Twenty seconds clicking the rooms saves ten minutes on the measure, and once you see how much time it takes out of a job it’s a no-brainer. It gets better every week too, because the feedback actually gets acted on.”
2. MeasureSquare
MeasureSquare is the most established name in flooring takeoff and estimating, used by flooring installers, retailers and estimators. It runs mainly on Windows desktop, with a lighter cloud Estimator.
Strengths
- Tile pattern layout, including commercial patterns
- Mature carpet seam tools
- Deep US distributor catalogues
Limitations
- PDF import only on the Multi-Family edition, $1,640 USD per seat a year
- Priced in US dollars and takes hours to days to learn
Best for
Shops where tile setout and US distributor pricing run the day.
3. Bluebeam
Bluebeam Revu is the main PDF markup tool in construction, with measurement built on top. It runs on Windows desktop with a lighter iPad app, from $260 USD per seat a year.
Strengths
- Markup and measurement in the same tool
- Already standard in a lot of builder and architect offices
Limitations
- Wastage columns are built by hand for each quote
- Output is a markup list rather than a customer quote, with no carpet cut planning
Best for
Teams whose main job is marking up construction drawings.
4. PlanSwift
PlanSwift, owned by ConstructConnect, is a general construction takeoff tool that covers every trade, from concrete and framing to roofing and floors. It's Windows desktop software with an annual licence.
Strengths
- One tool across every trade, with assemblies and parts catalogues
- Fits an existing Windows estimating setup
Limitations
- Flooring parts take extra setup
- Usually about a day to learn, and licences typically run into the thousands a year
Best for
Builders and estimators pricing a whole job rather than just the floors.
5. On-Screen Takeoff
On-Screen Takeoff is ConstructConnect's other long-running desktop takeoff product, used by general contractors and trades across every discipline.
Strengths
- Very wide, all-trade scope
- Connects to Bid Center, Job Cost and the rest of the ConstructConnect tools
Limitations
- Windows desktop only
- A lot of estimator to learn for rooms and materials
Best for
Teams that already have years of OST templates and conditions set up.
6. Magicplan
Magicplan is a phone and tablet app that builds a floor plan on site using the camera and AR. Pricing is per plan or per month, with a free trial.
Strengths
- Creates a plan in an empty room with nothing to work from
- Runs on iOS and Android
Limitations
- Stops at the plan and room sizes, with no per-material wastage or flooring quote
Best for
Measuring on site when there is no plan.
How do they compare?
AreaSum and MeasureSquare are the two built for flooring, and both plan carpet cuts off the roll. AreaSum is the only one here priced in Australian dollars.
| Tool | Built for | Carpet cut planning | Runs on | Priced in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AreaSum | Flooring only | Yes, on Pro | Browser on PC, Mac and tablet | AUD |
| MeasureSquare | Flooring takeoff and estimating | Yes | Windows desktop, plus a cloud Estimator | USD |
| Bluebeam | PDF markup and measurement | No | Windows desktop, plus iPad | USD |
| PlanSwift | Every construction trade | Not listed | Windows desktop | Not listed |
| On-Screen Takeoff | Every construction trade | Not listed | Windows desktop | Not listed |
| Magicplan | Capturing a plan on site | No | iOS and Android | Not listed |
Common questions
Is there free flooring estimating software?
Measuring by hand off a printed plan with a scale ruler is the only fully free way. AreaSum has a free demo you can run without signing up and a 14-day trial with no card, and Magicplan has a free trial too.
Does flooring estimating software work on an iPad?
AreaSum runs in the browser, so it works on iPad and Android tablets with nothing to install. Bluebeam has a lighter iPad app and Magicplan is built for phones and tablets. PlanSwift and On-Screen Takeoff are Windows only.
Can these tools read a PDF floor plan?
AreaSum, Bluebeam, PlanSwift and On-Screen Takeoff all measure off a PDF. MeasureSquare only opens up PDF import on its Multi-Family edition and above. Magicplan creates the plan on site instead of reading one.
Do I need carpet cut planning?
Only if broadloom carpet is a regular part of your work. Planning the drops off the roll and reusing offcuts is where the metres come off the order. If you mostly quote tile, vinyl or timber by the square metre, area and wastage are enough.