• Home Depot has launched Material List Builder AI to automate materials lists for contractors.
  • The tool aims to reduce time spent on estimates and support contractor margins amid rising costs.
  • Automation could streamline ordering and reduce manual errors, though contractors should verify quantities.

What Home Depot’s Material List Builder AI does

Home Depot has introduced Material List Builder AI, a tool designed to automate the creation of contractor materials lists. According to the announcement, the AI generates materials lists to save contractors time that would otherwise be spent compiling line items and quantities.

The short description from Home Depot positions the tool as a time-saver that also helps protect contractor margins as construction and supply costs increase.

Why this matters for contractors

Automating materials lists addresses two persistent pain points in contracting: time spent on takeoffs and the financial pressure of rising material costs. By reducing time spent on list-building, contractors can move faster from bid to job setup — potentially getting more bids out the door and reacting quicker to client requests.

Even if the AI speeds list creation, contractors should treat the output as a starting point. Verifying quantities, checking for project-specific preferences, and accounting for waste or overage remain essential steps before submitting a final bid or placing orders.

Practical ways contractors can use the tool

  • Speed up estimates: Use the AI to generate initial material lists, then refine for project specifics.
  • Double-check quantities: Treat automated lists as a baseline and validate measurements against plans.
  • Protect margins: With costs rising, faster, more accurate lists can reduce costly omissions or last-minute purchases.

What to watch for

The tool’s effectiveness will depend on how well it translates project inputs (plans, scope notes, or measurements) into accurate lists and whether it integrates smoothly with existing ordering or estimating workflows. Contractors should watch for how the AI handles complex or custom jobs and whether it can factor in regional product availability and pricing.

There’s also a practical adoption curve: teams will need to learn how to review AI outputs efficiently and incorporate company-specific allowances for waste, substitutions, and supplier lead times.

Bottom line

Home Depot’s Material List Builder AI is positioned as a practical automation aimed at saving contractors time and supporting margins while costs rise. For contractors, the next step is to test the tool on real projects, compare AI-generated lists with manual takeoffs, and develop a quick review workflow so automation becomes a reliable productivity boost rather than a hidden risk.

If you’re a contractor interested in trying Material List Builder AI, consider running it alongside your current estimating process for a trial period to understand where it speeds work and where human oversight remains critical.

Image Referance: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/ai-tools-construction-efficiency/