---
title: Upload plans and set the scale in Takeoffs
description: Learn to upload plans and set the scale in Takeoffs.
---

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3. [Takeoffs](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/feature-guides?hsLang=en#takeoffs)

# Upload plans and set the scale in Takeoffs

## Set the scale before measuring a plan so Ressio can translate distances on the drawing into real-world quantities. A readable plan and a verified scale help you avoid incorrect estimate quantities.

- Start a takeoff from a PDF plan set.
- Prepare a sheet for area or length measurements.
- Investigate a measurement that does not match a labeled dimension.

#### Getting Started

- Have your plan set in PDF format. Export CAD or other source formats to PDF before uploading.
- Choose a readable drawing with a known, labeled dimension.

---

#### Upload your plans

1. Select the project you are estimating.
2. Select **Takeoffs**, or select **Open takeoff** from the project's estimate.
3. Select **Upload Plan** and drop, browse, or import a PDF.
4. Open the sheet you need to measure.
5. Locate the main drawing’s scale and a labeled dimension you can verify.

---

#### Set and verify scale

1. Select the scale setup controls for the sheet.
2. Calibrate against a known dimension on the drawing.
3. Enter the real-world dimension using the units shown in the scale controls.
4. Confirm the scale.
5. Measure a labeled dimension to check the result.
6. Continue with your takeoff only after the result matches the plan within the precision you need for the estimate.

💡If AI scale detection suggests a scale, verify it against a labeled dimension.

---

#### Watch for mixed scales

A sheet can contain a floor plan and a detail drawn at different scales. Do not assume the scale verified for the main drawing also applies to every detail on the page.

If you need to measure a differently scaled detail, confirm the supported workflow with Ressio Support before using its quantities in an estimate.

---

#### What happens next

You can begin measuring the verified drawing. Check the scale again before measuring a different sheet or view rather than assuming it matches the first.

---

#### Troubleshooting

##### The measured dimension does not match the plan

Confirm you are using the correct view and labeled dimension. Recheck calibration, entered units, and whether the detail uses a different scale.

##### My file will not open

Confirm it is a PDF and opens in a PDF viewer. If a readable PDF still will not open in Takeoffs, contact Support with the file and any error message.

##### The plan is blurry or hard to read

Ask for a clearer PDF export. Do not rely on quantities when you cannot confidently identify the drawing boundaries or verify scale.

---

If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact our support team at [support@ressiosoftware.com](mailto:support@ressiosoftware.com). We're here to help! 

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