CostX
On-screen takeoff and estimating software for quantity surveyors.
What it is
About CostX
CostX (now part of Trimble) is the leading on-screen measurement and estimating platform used by quantity surveyors and cost managers to quantify construction work from digital drawings. Instead of printing drawings and measuring manually with a scale rule, users open PDF, CAD, or BIM drawings directly in CostX and measure areas, lengths, and counts on screen using precision digital tools. Measurements are linked to workbooks where rates are applied to produce cost plans, bills of quantities, and tender documentation. CostX is widely used across UK construction for both pre-contract cost planning and post-contract measurement. Its BIM linking capability allows surveyors to extract quantities directly from 3D models (IFC and Revit files), compare modelled quantities against manually taken quantities, and update estimates automatically as the design evolves. This is increasingly required on major projects where clients specify BIM Level 2 information requirements.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Measure floor areas, wall lengths, and openings on a PDF drawing without printing it.
Link measurements to a cost workbook and apply rates to produce a cost plan.
Import an IFC model and extract element quantities for comparison against drawn takeoff.
Produce a formatted bill of quantities using the NRM2 work breakdown structure.
Share a live CostX workbook with a client team so they can see cost plan updates in real time.
How to learn it
Learning Resources
CostX online training at costx.com/training — vendor-provided video tutorials covering each module
RICS APC and degree programme curricula routinely include CostX as standard software training
YouTube: "CostX tutorial" returns practitioner-produced walkthroughs covering key workflows
Trimble Education Programme — free or discounted licences and learning materials for university students
Pro Tip
Calibrate against a known dimension on the drawing before measuring anything — PDF print settings frequently produce documents at 95–99% scale rather than exactly 1:100, and an uncalibrated takeoff will underquote systematically.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool