BOQ format for construction and interior work
By the Inbecto team · Updated
A bill of quantities (BOQ) lists every item of work with its number, description and specification, unit, quantity, rate and amount, grouped by trade: earthwork, concrete, masonry, plaster, flooring, painting, electrical and plumbing. Contractors price the same BOQ so their quotations can be compared line by line.
Columns
| Column | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Item no. | 1.1, 1.2, grouped by trade |
| Description | The work and its specification, for example M20 concrete in slab |
| Unit | cum, sq.m or sq.ft, rmt, kg, no., point |
| Quantity | Measured from drawings or on site |
| Rate | Price per unit, with or without material as stated |
| Amount | Quantity × rate |
Units by trade
Measurement rules for building work are set out in IS 1200; say on the BOQ that quantities are measured to it, or to the drawings.
| Work | Unit |
|---|---|
| Earthwork, concrete | cubic metre (cum) |
| Reinforcement steel | kilogram or tonne |
| Brick or block masonry | cum, or sq.m for thin walls |
| Plaster, flooring, tiling, painting, false ceiling | sq.m or sq.ft |
| Skirting, cornices, cove profiles | running metre or running foot |
| Doors, windows, fixtures | number, or sq.ft for windows |
| Electrical points | point |
BOQ, estimate and quotation
- An estimate is your own working of what the job will cost
- A BOQ is the list of items and quantities, often given by the client or architect, for contractors to price
- A quotation is your priced offer to the customer, with terms, which they accept