In the planning stage (including feasibility study and general planning stages) of a construction project, the review of various design scenarios is often based on the estimated project costs. Recently, building information modeling (BIM) technique has been used to support detailed cost estimations in the detailed design stage. Focusing on the planning stage, this study develops a BIM model (with level of details 100 or 200) to conduct quantity takeoffs (QTO) for supporting conceptual cost estimations and facilitating the budget review for public construction projects. The results show that, in the feasibility study stage with little design information available, the room objects and floor objects are used to support the QTOs of geotechnical and structural engineering cost items, respectively. Rather, different BIM objects are utilized to perform QTOs for decoration cost items. In the general planning stage with additional design information available, the room objects are also used for the QTOs of geotechnical engineering cost items. The floor objects are applied for the QTOs of reinforcing rebar and form cost items, while the volumes of various structural objects (i.e., columns, beams, slabs and walls) are directly applied to conduct QTOs for concrete cost items. Meanwhile, the room objects are applied to carry out the QTOs for most decoration cost items in the general planning stage. Overall, applying BIM's ability in QTO to support conceptual cost estimation for public construction projects is feasible, deserving for further research and development.