Quick answerOrder ESX if the measurements are going straight into Xactimate®, order PDF-only if the file just needs a printable exhibit or the homeowner needs a document, and order ESX + PDF if you need both from a single order. Published prices: Standard ESX $19, Complex-roof ESX $25, PDF-only $25, ESX + PDF $29. Symbility® users order the XML format instead of ESX.

What each format actually gives you

ESX is a file built to open inside Xactimate®. It carries roof facets, pitch, and area as line items the estimate can reference directly, so nobody has to retype the squares by hand.

XML is the equivalent file for Symbility®. It carries the same measured facets in the structure that platform reads.

PDF is a document. It shows the same measurements as a printed sketch and a summary table, meant for the claim file, the homeowner, or anyone who does not have Xactimate® or Symbility® open.

None of the three formats is more accurate than another; they carry the same underlying measurements. The only question is which application, or which person, is going to open the file.

Match the format to the job

You need toOrder this formatPublished price
Build the estimate in Xactimate® on a typical residential roofStandard ESX$19
Build the estimate on a cut-up roof with many facets or additionsComplex-roof ESX$25
Attach a measured exhibit to the claim file, or hand the homeowner something to readPDF-only$25
Do the estimate and keep the exhibit from one orderESX + PDF$29
Build the estimate in Symbility®XMLsee order page

Prices are the sponsor's published rates as of the date in the sources; the order page is authoritative if the two ever disagree.

When ordering both formats is worth the extra dollars

A single order for ESX + PDF costs $29, against $19 for ESX alone or $25 for PDF alone. If you already know the file needs to go both places, the report from a claim that will need a printed exhibit later, or a homeowner who will ask for a copy, ordering both up front is cheaper and faster than placing two separate orders later.

If you are not sure yet whether the file needs a PDF, ordering ESX-only first and adding the PDF later means paying for two orders instead of one combined order. When in doubt on a claim that is likely to go to appraisal or litigation, order both.

Checklist: confirm before you submit the order

  • Which platform reads the estimate: Xactimate® or Symbility®

    Xactimate® takes ESX. Symbility® takes XML. Ordering the wrong one means placing a second order.

  • Whether anyone outside the estimating platform needs to see the measurements

    A carrier reviewer, a homeowner, or a file audit typically wants a PDF, not an ESX or XML file they cannot open.

  • Whether the roof is a simple gable/hip shape or has many facets

    Standard ESX is $19; a cut-up, many-facet roof is priced as Complex-roof ESX at $25.

  • Whether this claim is likely to need documentation later (appraisal, supplement dispute, litigation hold)

    Ordering ESX + PDF now at $29 avoids a second order and a second delivery wait later.

Getting the file into your estimate after delivery

An ESX file is brought into Xactimate® via the Sketch import option inside the estimate; menus vary by version, so verify the exact path in your build against the official Xactimate® documentation. A Symbility® XML file is imported the same way inside that platform, per the vendor's claims documentation.

The PDF does not import into either platform; it is meant to be saved into the claim file or attached to correspondence as-is.

You can start an order from the sponsor's order a roof report by address page, or use Xactimate® Integration ordering if your desk works through Verisk™.

Common ordering mistakes

Ordering PDF-only for a roof that is going straight into Xactimate®, then having to place a second order for the ESX once the estimate work starts. If you already know the estimate is happening, order ESX or ESX + PDF the first time.

Ordering Standard ESX on a roof with several additions, dormers, or attached structures that push it into the Complex-roof category, then needing a revision. If the roof is clearly cut up, order Complex-roof ESX from the start.

Ordering ESX for a Symbility® file. ESX will not open in Symbility®; that platform reads XML.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ESX more accurate than PDF?
No. Both formats carry the same measured facets, pitch, and area. ESX and XML are structured for the estimating platform to read directly; PDF is a document version of the same measurements for anyone without that platform open.
Can I get ESX and PDF from the same order?
Yes. The published ESX + PDF option is $29 and delivers both files from a single order, instead of ordering ESX at $19 and PDF-only at $25 separately.
What if I order ESX but my desk uses Symbility®?
Order the XML format instead. ESX is built for Xactimate® and will not open in Symbility®; XML is the equivalent file for that platform.
How do I know if my roof needs the Complex-roof ESX price instead of Standard?
Roofs with several additions, dormers, or attached structures and many facets are priced as Complex-roof ESX at $25 rather than Standard ESX at $19. If you are not sure, the order page describes the distinction, or you can note the property details when ordering.

Sources