ArchiBoard vs Excel and Google Sheets for interior estimates
Almost every designer starts with a spreadsheet: it is free, flexible and familiar. The trouble starts at the third project — copies of the estimate for the client, broken formulas, prices and delivery dates that live in chats.
For one small project a spreadsheet is enough. When you run several projects, buy for clients and earn on supplier discounts, ArchiBoard does the same work without formulas: it keeps one estimate, shows the client only the client price and tells you when to order.
Task by task
| Task in a design project | ArchiBoard | Excel / Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Add a product from any shop by link: photo, price, dimensions | Yes | No |
| Rooms, and one item split across several rooms | Yes | Manually |
| Quantity with waste allowance, rounded to whole packs | Yes | Manually |
| Supplier discount, markup and profit on every line | Yes | Manually |
| Client sees only the client price, never your cost | Yes | Manually |
| Client approval of items, with history | Yes | No |
| Order deadlines computed from the installation schedule | Yes | No |
| Delivery status and acceptance on site | Yes | Manually |
| Supplier payments, advances and balances | Yes | Manually |
| Tasks created automatically by item status | Yes | No |
| Change history per item and undo | Yes | Manually |
| Client portal with estimate, payments and timeline | Yes | Manually |
| Any structure and your own formulas | Manually | Yes |
| Works offline | No | Yes |
Yes — works out of the box. Manually — possible, but you build and maintain it yourself (formulas, templates, copies). No — not available.
Stay with Excel / Google Sheets if
- You have one or two projects at a time and do not buy for clients yourself.
- You need a completely custom layout or calculations that have nothing to do with procurement.
- You often work without internet.
Move to ArchiBoard if
- You keep a separate copy of the estimate for the client so they do not see your discount.
- Prices, photos and dimensions are copied from shop websites by hand.
- You miss order dates and supplier payments because they live in chats and memory.
How to move from Excel / Google Sheets in one evening
Step 1
Import the sheet
Upload Excel or paste a Google Sheets link. Sections become rooms, a row with quantities per room becomes one item split across rooms.
Step 2
Check prices and units
Price stays per unit — m², pc or pack. Quantity is rounded to whole packs; you can still type the supplier's exact figure.
Step 3
Share with the client
Send a PDF, Excel or a portal link. The client sees the client price only; your cost and markup stay inside.
FAQ
Other comparisons
Try it on your current estimate
Free plan without a card. Import the spreadsheet you already have — rooms, items and quantities are recognised automatically — and compare in an hour.