--- title: "How to Use the Takeoffs Toolbar" url: "https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/how-to-use-the-takeoffs-toolbar" datePublished: "2026-10-14T17:56:00+0000" --- Houzz Pro Help Center > Takeoffs # How to Use the Takeoffs Toolbar When you are creating a takeoff, the Takeoffs toolbar is the go-to spot for working with your canvas. Here, you can make measurements, create groups, annotate, add counts and more. The Takeoffs toolbar is found at the top of your canvas. Let’s go through what each icon means. ## Open Page Settings The Page icon is the first icon in the toolbar. Select this icon to open up the Page menu on the left side of your canvas. Here, you can edit and view individual pages, pin a page, or adjust your page scale _(at the bottom of the canvas)_. Read [Page Settings in Takeoffs](https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/thumbnail-settings) to learn more. ## Edit and Navigate Your Canvas **Move Tool** The Move (Pointer) Tool is used whenever you want to make changes to existing measurements or counts, such as moving, editing and/or deleting. **To move/edit:** Click the Move (Pointer) Tool, then click and drag the measurement or count where needed. To adjust the size, click on a corner or middle dot on a line to change the height or length. **To delete:** Click the Move (Pointer) Tool, then select the relevant item. Click the Delete button at the bottom of the Measurements Drawer. **Pan Tool** The Pan (Hand) Tool lets you pan and navigate around the plan without accidentally creating or editing a measurement. Use it to move around the page without changing anything on the canvas. _Shortcut:_ Press and hold the spacebar to temporarily activate the Pan Tool from any other tool. Release it to return to what you were using. ## Create Annotations The Textbox icon allows you to write notes and annotations directly on the canvas. These notes will appear on any PDF, so you can easily share with your client and/or team. To start, click on the Textbox icon. A dropdown menu will appear — select Textbox for written notes, Draw for free-form drawings, or Arrow or Revision Cloud to highlight specific areas on your canvas. Click directly on the canvas where you would like to add your note. Start drawing or typing your text — you can customize text formatting such as background color, text color and size. If you want, you can add an arrow to point directly to the relevant part of the plan so the note is clear. To do this, select Arrow from the dropdown menu. Create the arrow by clicking the corner of your note, then dragging to the relevant part of your plan. When you let go of the cursor, the arrow will appear. ## Create Measurements **Area** The Area icon is how you create all your new measurements in Takeoffs. Houzz AI is turned on by default and will automatically detect area measurements whenever it can. To use AI measurements, simply hover over the area you want to measure, then double-click. Houzz AI will detect the space and apply the measurement for you — read [Houzz AI for Takeoffs](https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/automate-takeoffs#use-ai-for-area) to learn more. If you'd rather measure manually, you can create two types of area measurements — a rectangle or a polygon — depending on the shape of the space you're measuring. To start, click on the Area icon. The measurement groups and colors will appear in the toolbar. You can select the relevant group or create a new group in the dropdown menu _(more on groups below)_. Next, use one of the following methods to define your area: **Rectangle:** _Use a rectangle measurement for a straightforward square or rectangular space_. Click and drag your cursor from one corner of the space to the opposite corner. Let go of your cursor once the measurement is complete. **Polygon:** _Use a polygon measurement for an irregular or more complex shape._ Click your mouse to set a starting point. Drag to create a line, then click to set the next point. Continue drawing lines and clicking points to outline the shape. Double click the last point to finish the shape. **_Please Note:_** When using the Area icon, you cannot edit a completed measurement. If you need to adjust an existing measurement size, click the Move (Pointer) Tool, then move, edit, or delete it. **Length** The Length icon allows you to customize measurements for perimeters, but it can also be used for a simple linear measurement from one point to another. To start, click the Length icon. The measurement group, line width, and separation type dropdown menus will appear in the toolbar. In the Separation Type dropdown, you can define how you want to handle window, door, or junction (wall) separations. Options include: - **No Separation:** Measure the entire wall length without any separations - **Door Centerline:** Measure door openings - **Window Centerline:** Measure window openings - **Door & Window Separation:** Measure the entire wall length with door and window separations - **Door & Junction Separation:** Measure the entire wall length with door and junction separations - **Door, Window & Junction Separation:** Measure the entire wall length with door, window and junction separations To create a line, select the relevant group or create a new group in the dropdown menu _(more on groups below)_. Click on one of the corners of your space. This will create a line — drag the line to the next corner and click. Continue to drag the line and click on corners until the measurement is complete. Once you are done, double click on the final corner to complete your measurement. If you would like to save time on your length measurements, you can use Houzz AI to complete them — read [Houzz AI for Takeoffs](https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/automate-takeoffs#use-ai-for-length) to learn more. ## Group Measurements Grouping measurements makes it easier for you to get project material totals — you can even use your [saved assemblies](/pro-help/r/how-to-create-assemblies). Setting up your categories and groups early on in the measurement process will help you stay organized while creating your takeoff, plus it helps clients and/or other team members to understand what they're looking at. **_Please Note:_** Selecting a group isn't mandatory before you start measuring or creating counts. If you begin measuring or counting before choosing a group, those measurements will automatically fall under Uncategorized. You can assign them to a group or category at any time afterward. **Create New Group** To create a new group, select either the Area or the Length icon, then click Add Group at the bottom of the measurement group dropdown. A new screen will appear where you can add the group name, category _(new or existing)_, and color. Be sure to click Create once complete. Once created, you'll see any measurements for that new group appear within the Measurements Drawer _(as shown below)_. **Use Existing Group** To use an existing group, select either the Area or the Length icon, then click on the measurement group to open the dropdown menu. Select the relevant group. Continue to create your measurement, and once complete, you'll see it appear in the selected group within the Measurements Drawer. ## Deduct Measurements The deduct option allows you to remove an area so it is not included in your measurements total. This is useful when you are deducting windows and doors from siding, for example. To start, click the Area icon, then select Deduct from the dropdown menu. Once selected, click and drag your cursor from one corner of your space to the next corner. Let go of your cursor once the deduction measurement is complete. ## Count Items The Count icon allows you to count items in your takeoff, including toilets, vanities, electrical sockets, doors, windows and more. This is a very flexible feature — since you are able to name your group and change the count icon size, you can customize and count whatever you need. You can even use [saved assemblies](/pro-help/r/how-to-create-assemblies) for items to help calculate material totals. When counting items, you don't need to select a group before you start counting. Just like area and length measurements, counts can be plotted right away under Individual Measurements — an uncategorized option — and organized into a group later. **Create New Count** To start, click the Count icon. The count group dropdown menu will appear in the toolbar. Select Create New Count at the bottom of that dropdown. A new screen will appear where you can add the count name, category _(new or existing)_, color, and icon. Be sure to click Create once complete. Once your new count group is created, just click the canvas, and the icon will automatically show up. In this example, the yellow circle is counting the number of sinks, which you'll see appear in the new group within the Measurements Drawer. **Add to Existing Count** To use an existing count group, select the Count icon, then click on the count group to open the dropdown menu. Select the relevant group. Continue to add your counts on the canvas, and you'll see them appear in the selected group within the Measurements Drawer. **Use Houzz AI for Counts** If you would like to save time on your counts, you can use Houzz AI to help detect items by using the Search icon in your toolbar. To start, click the Search icon, then click on the count group to open the dropdown menu. Select the relevant group. Draw a close-fitting box around a symbol to find and count matches. We'll instantly surface matching items from your takeoff. Read [Houzz AI for Takeoffs](https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/automate-takeoffs#use-ai-for-count) to learn more about AI count and AI symbol recognition. ## Takeoff Settings On right side of your toolbar, the Settings icon allows you adjust AI suggestions, cursor hints and view keyboard shortcuts. The AI Suggestions uses Houzz AI to automate some of your more manual takeoff tasks. The toggle is turned on by default, but you can turn off the toggle to disable. Read [Houzz AI for Takeoffs](https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/automate-takeoffs) to learn more about AI capabilities. The Cursor Hints show drawing hints on the canvas as you are measuring, which are especially useful if you are new to Takeoffs. The toggle is turned off by default, but you can turn on the toggle to enable. If you select Keyboard Shortcuts, a right menu will appear with a list of all our keyboard shortcut options. Read [Takeoff Keyboard Shortcuts](https://pro.houzz.com/pro-help/r/keyboard-shortcuts) to view the full list. ## Undo Actions The undo icon allows you to revert changes you recently made in case you make an error. Simply click the Undo icon, then your recent change will disappear.