What is MTO?
Material Take-Off
An MTO (Material Take-Off) is a list of the materials and quantities needed for a job, measured from the drawings, used to estimate and price a bid.
What is an MTO?
A Material Take-Off, or MTO, is a list of every material a project needs, with sizes, grades and quantities, worked out by measuring the engineering drawings. It is often called a quantity takeoff.
MTOs are common in EPC, piping, structural steel, electrical and other engineering tenders, where the bidder must work out quantities before it can price the job.
How it differs from a BOQ
A BOQ is the buyer’s list of work items with quantities, against which bidders quote rates. An MTO is usually the bidder’s or engineer’s own working list of materials, which may sit behind several BOQ items.
In lump-sum or turnkey tenders there may be no detailed BOQ, so the bidder’s MTO becomes the main basis for its price.
Tips for bidders
A careful MTO protects your margin. Common points to check:
- Use the latest drawings, including any changes issued by corrigendum
- Allow for wastage, cutting losses and spares where appropriate
- Check the specification for grades, sizes and approved makes
- Cross-check MTO totals against the tender BOQ where one is given
Common questions
Common questions about MTO in government tenders.
The terms are often used interchangeably. Quantity takeoff can also cover work items such as excavation or plastering, while MTO usually focuses on materials.
Bidders usually prepare their own for pricing, and engineering consultants prepare one for the buyer’s estimate or procurement.
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