AI electrical takeoff and estimating software that detects devices and fixtures on PDF drawings, reads panel schedules, and routes branch circuits with wire sizing and voltage drop.

Drawer AI Review: AEC Tool Overview & AI Alternatives

Definition

Drawer AI (drawer.ai) is takeoff software built only for the electrical trade. Estimators upload PDF drawing sets to the web app, which prepares the drawings, extracts panel and lighting fixture schedules, reads the symbol legend, and detects power devices and light fixtures on every sheet, linking each to its panel and circuit through tag linking. It then groups circuits, places homeruns, and routes branch circuits from panels to devices, sizing wire with voltage drop and derating calculations and reporting total conduit and wire footage by circuit. QA tools let the estimator review and correct detections before bidding. Output is an Excel report of quantities, device properties, and wire lengths plus a marked-up PDF of the routing, which estimators import into their existing estimating suite; Drawer AI has not published a direct API integration with estimating software. The company also markets a path from PDFs to Revit. Pricing is not published; contact the vendor.

In Depth

Electrical takeoff has a step most general takeoff tools skip: after counting receptacles and fixtures, an estimator still has to figure out how every device gets fed. Branch circuit wire and conduit are a large share of an electrical bid, and estimating them by hand means tracing circuits sheet by sheet against panel schedules. Drawer AI is built around that step. It reads the legend and schedules, detects devices and fixtures, ties each to its panel and circuit, and then routes the branch circuits with wire sizing, voltage drop, and derating applied.

The output is deliberately estimator-shaped: an Excel file with quantities, device properties, and wire lengths, and a marked-up PDF showing the routing so someone can check it visually. There is no published direct integration with estimating suites, so the Excel export feeds whatever pricing tool the contractor already uses. Because routing depends on the panel schedule data, it can also expose schedule and plan mismatches before bid day.

To evaluate it, rerun a job you already bid by hand and compare device counts, circuit groupings, and wire footage line by line. Check how well it handles non-typical symbols and messy legends, and time the QA review, because that review is where the estimator's hours actually go.

Examples

1

An electrical estimator uploads a 60-sheet PDF set and gets fixture and device counts linked to panel and circuit tags

2

Drawer AI routes branch circuits from each panel, sizes wire for voltage drop, and exports conduit and wire footage to Excel for pricing in the firm's estimating suite

3

Circuit routing surfaces a mismatch between a panel schedule and the floor plan before the bid goes out

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Frequently Asked Questions

Drawer AI (drawer.ai) is takeoff software built only for the electrical trade. Estimators upload PDF drawing sets to the web app, which prepares the drawings, extracts panel and lighting fixture schedules, reads the symbol legend, and detects power devices and light fixtures on every sheet, linking each to its panel and circuit through tag linking. It then groups circuits, places homeruns, and routes branch circuits from panels to devices, sizing wire with voltage drop and derating calculations and reporting total conduit and wire footage by circuit. QA tools let the estimator review and correct detections before bidding. Output is an Excel report of quantities, device properties, and wire lengths plus a marked-up PDF of the routing, which estimators import into their existing estimating suite; Drawer AI has not published a direct API integration with estimating software. The company also markets a path from PDFs to Revit. Pricing is not published; contact the vendor.

An electrical estimator uploads a 60-sheet PDF set and gets fixture and device counts linked to panel and circuit tags. Drawer AI routes branch circuits from each panel, sizes wire for voltage drop, and exports conduit and wire footage to Excel for pricing in the firm's estimating suite. Circuit routing surfaces a mismatch between a panel schedule and the floor plan before the bid goes out.

Related Terms

Advancing MEP Estimating Conference

Event

Advancing Construction's focused annual conference for MEP estimating leaders—improving bid accuracy and competitive pricing for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems through AI and data-driven strategies.