Duplicate a project and copy its cost breakdowns
When your new job looks a lot like one you've already built out, there's no reason to key in the budget and unit-price breakdowns all over again. Matterial lets you start from an existing project: it creates the new job and copies over the complete budget, the unit-price breakdowns, and the markups from whichever project you pick, so all you have to do is adjust quantities. It's a direct copy of your own data—no AI involved—and it takes just a few seconds.
- You'll find the option inside the New project wizard, on the "How do we build it?" step → "Start from an existing project."
- It copies the entire budget: sections, coded line items, unit-price breakdowns, and the markups (overhead, profit, and so on) from the source project.
- It's a straight data copy: no AI, so it doesn't spend any of your company's credit pool.
- The copied breakdowns point to the same resources in your organization's catalog, so a cost change shows up in both projects.
- Physical progress and spend both start at zero; it doesn't copy purchases or the schedule. All you do is adjust quantities.
- 1
Open "New project" from Projects
Head to Projects and tap the dark "New project" button in the top right. The four-step wizard opens, with the numbered progress bar running across the top.
- 2
Pick a project type to move on
On the "Project type" step, choose a category (House, Building, Remodel, or Warehouse). It's required to continue; when you copy, its template won't be used, so just go with whichever one comes closest.
- 3
Fill in the basic details for the new job
On "Basic details," enter the name (required), and if you'd like, the location, floor area, number of levels, start date, budget, and currency. These belong to the new job; the detailed budget will come over with the copy.
- 4
Select "Start from an existing project"
On the "How do we build it?" step, choose the "Start from an existing project" card (flagged as recommended if you already have projects). The "Copy from" field appears: open the list and pick the source project whose budget and breakdowns you want to bring over.
- 5
Review and build the project
On "Review and create," confirm the details and tap "Build project." You'll watch the copy progress (sections → line items → cost breakdowns → Done) and, once it wraps up, you land right in the new job with everything filled in. Its breakdowns live under Unit prices, ready for you to adjust quantities.
Frequently asked questions
Does copying a project use up AI credits?
No. "Start from an existing project" is a direct copy of your own data and uses no AI, so it doesn't draw from your company's monthly credit pool. The option that does use AI (and credits) is the separate "From a blueprint (AI)" one.
If I change a resource's cost in the new project, does it affect the original?
Yes, on the cost side. The copied breakdowns point to the same resources in your organization's catalog, so a change to a resource's price shows up in both projects. What stays independent per project are the quantities, the amounts, the progress, and the spend.
I don't see the "Start from an existing project" option—why not?
It only shows up once you have at least one active (unarchived) project to copy from. If this is your first project, use a template, upload a blueprint, or start it blank; after that you'll be able to copy from it.