Bill of Quantities (BOQ)
Also known as: BOQ, bill of quantity
A BOQ is an itemised document listing the materials, quantities, and costs required to build a project.
A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) breaks a construction project into measured items — concrete, steel, brickwork, plaster, finishes, fittings — each with its quantity, unit rate, and total cost. It is the basis for budgeting, tendering, and comparing contractor quotes.
A well-prepared BOQ prevents surprises by quantifying exactly what the project needs before work begins. It also makes it easy to track spending against the estimate as the build progresses.
For a typical residential house in Nepal, the BOQ is derived from the drawings and the chosen specifications, then priced using current local material and labour rates.