If you install carpet or sheet goods, shortlist the two tools built specifically for flooring, MeasureSquare and RFMS Measure, because both plan seams and cuts on roll goods. Bluebeam Revu is the standard for PDF markup and measuring across trades. STACK and PlanSwift are general takeoff-and-estimating platforms that suit multi-trade contractors and GCs. The right pick comes down to what you install, how many people estimate, and whether you need seaming.
A quick note on where we are coming from: our estimators work in MeasureSquare 8 every day. No vendor paid for this comparison, and the prices below come from the public listings linked in the table.
Flooring estimating software compared
| Software | Built for | Seam and cut planning for roll goods | Platform | Published price (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MeasureSquare | Flooring | Yes | Windows desktop, iPad and iPhone | $49/user/mo mobile, $149 multi-family (Windows), $179 commercial (Windows); about 20% off annual billing |
| RFMS Measure | Flooring, part of the RFMS business suite | Yes | Desktop with mobile sync | Monthly or annual subscription; quote from RFMS |
| Bluebeam Revu | PDF markup and measurement, all trades | No | Windows desktop, plus web and mobile access | $260 Basics, $330 Core, $440 Complete per user per year |
| STACK | Cloud takeoff and estimating, all trades | No | Web browser | Takeoff & Estimate from $2,999/yr for one estimator, less per seat for teams; free version available |
| PlanSwift | Takeoff and estimating, all trades | No | Windows desktop | One Professional plan; price on request |
MeasureSquare
MeasureSquare is built around how flooring actually gets measured and installed. You trace rooms on a PDF or a site sketch, assign products, and it calculates quantities, carpet seams and cuts, and tile and plank layouts, then produces cut sheets and seam diagrams you can hand to an installer. Editions are split by type of work (mobile, multi-family and commercial), so you pay for what you use.
Good fit: commercial flooring contractors, dealers and multi-family specialists handling carpet, sheet vinyl, LVT and tile.
Watch for: the desktop editions run on Windows, and some Mac users report needing Windows emulation to run them (Capterra).
RFMS Measure
RFMS Measure is the takeoff piece of the RFMS flooring business suite. RFMS says it lays out roll goods while leaving you in control of cut placement, handles plank and tile on floors and walls, and captures labor, transitions and base so they do not get missed (RFMS). For commercial contractors, the big advantage is integration: takeoffs flow into RFMS Bid Pro for pricing and margin, then into order entry and accounting (RFMS Commercial).
Good fit: flooring companies already running RFMS for operations and accounting.
Watch for: you get the most value inside the RFMS ecosystem. RFMS has also offered its own outsourced takeoff service, which tells you even software vendors see demand for outside estimating help (RFMS).
Bluebeam Revu
Bluebeam Revu is the PDF tool most GCs and architects already use for markups, measurements and plan comparison. Area and length measurements are available in Basics, while advanced measurements and overlay tools need Core or higher on Windows (Drawboard). The overlay and compare tools are handy for catching what changed between addenda.
Good fit: estimators who want one PDF tool for markup, measuring and GC collaboration, often alongside a flooring-specific tool.
Watch for: no roll-goods seam optimization, so carpet and sheet vinyl layout is manual. Subscriptions are billed annually, with no monthly option (The Pricer).
STACK
STACK is a cloud-based takeoff and estimating platform for all trades, with AI-assisted features, assemblies and proposal tools. Software Advice lists the Takeoff & Estimate plan at $2,999 a year for one estimator, dropping per seat for larger teams, and STACK also offers a free version (Software Advice).
Good fit: multi-trade subcontractors and GCs who want takeoff, estimating and plan sharing in a browser.
Watch for: reviewers rate it highly overall but flag the price, and performance depends on your internet connection; in Software Advice’s review analysis, connection speed was the least-liked area.
PlanSwift
PlanSwift is a long-running desktop takeoff tool known for point-and-click measuring, drag-and-drop assemblies and Excel export. Reviewers on GetApp like its value for money, but some report slowdowns or crashes on large projects (GetApp).
Good fit: multi-trade contractors who prefer a desktop tool and like building their own assemblies.
Watch for: no flooring seam planning, and it runs on Windows desktop only.
Are AI takeoff tools ready for flooring?
AI takeoff tools can detect rooms and calculate areas automatically, and they get faster every year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics even expects better estimating software to reduce how many cost estimators employers need over the next decade (BLS).
For flooring, though, area is the easy part. The hard part is reading finish codes correctly, catching split finishes and transitions, planning seams around traffic and light, and noticing when the finish plan and the finish schedule disagree. Treat AI as a fast first pass that still needs an experienced flooring estimator to check it.
How to choose
- Mostly carpet, carpet tile or sheet vinyl: MeasureSquare or RFMS Measure
- Already running RFMS: RFMS Measure
- Multi-trade sub or GC: STACK or PlanSwift
- Need markup, addenda comparison and GC collaboration: Bluebeam Revu, usually alongside a flooring tool
- On a Mac: check platform support before you buy
- Low or uneven bid volume: you may not need to buy software at all
The real cost is the person running it
Software does not do takeoffs; estimators do. Add up one in-house seat: a MeasureSquare commercial license listed at $179 a month is about $2,150 a year before any annual discount, a Bluebeam Core seat is $330 a year, and then comes the big number. BLS puts the median cost estimator wage at $78,740 a year as of May 2025, and $80,330 at specialty trade contractors, before benefits and payroll costs (BLS).
That is a solid investment when your bid volume is steady. When it is not, see how outsourcing flooring takeoffs compares.
Frequently asked questions
What software do flooring estimators use?
The most common are MeasureSquare and RFMS Measure for flooring-specific takeoffs, plus Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift, STACK and On-Screen Takeoff for general plan measuring.
Is there free flooring estimating software?
STACK offers a free version, and most vendors offer free trials. Free tools are fine for simple area measuring but usually lack seam planning and flooring-specific reports.
MeasureSquare vs. RFMS Measure: which is better?
Both are built for flooring and handle roll-goods seaming. RFMS Measure makes the most sense if you already run RFMS for your business. MeasureSquare is a strong standalone choice, with editions for mobile, multi-family and commercial work.
Can Bluebeam do flooring takeoffs?
Yes, for areas, lengths and counts. It does not optimize carpet or sheet vinyl seams, so many flooring estimators use it alongside a flooring-specific tool.
How much does MeasureSquare cost?
Public listings show $49 per user per month for mobile, $149 for the multi-family Windows edition and $179 for the commercial Windows edition, with about 20 percent off when billed annually. Check with MeasureSquare for current pricing.
Skip the software learning curve
Floor Pro Takeoffs uses MeasureSquare 8 on flooring takeoffs for contractors across the US, so you get flooring-specific quantities without buying licenses or training an estimator. Send your plans to info@floorprotakeoffs.com or call +1 832-583-1156. You get a quote first and pay only after you are satisfied with the finished takeoff. See our services.
About the author: Syed Umair Ali is the founder of Floor Pro Takeoffs in Sugar Land, Texas. A civil engineering graduate with 8 years in flooring estimating and subcontracting support, he has completed more than 3,000 flooring takeoffs and estimates for contractors, flooring companies and estimating teams.