Bill of Quantities also referred to as BOQ, is a document formulated in the construction industry to specify materials, labors, and their cost. It serves as a communication tool between client, consultant & the contractor, It is usually prepared by a cost consultant or a surveyor. Primarily there are two types of BOQs
- Bill of Materials
- Bill of Labour
What is a bill of quantities?
A bill of quantities (commonly known as BOQ or BQ) is a document prepared by a quantity surveyor or cost consultant to define the quality and quantity of works required to be carried out by the main contractor to complete a project.A bill of quantities also provides the main contractor with measured quantities of works as identified on the project drawings and specification.The main purpose of a BOQ is to:
Standardise the process for tendering contractors to prepare a firm cost to carry out the works. Provide a fair and accurate method for tendering contractors to price the project using the same information. Allow the employer’s consultants to carry out a tender analysis whereby they can compare both the overall cost received and individual priced items with other tender offers. Enable either the quantity surveyor or contract administrator to confirm that individual contractors have submitted bona fide tenders compliant with the tender information, that represent value for money to the client.
During the construction period the BOQ can assist the design team by:
Helping to determine the agreement of the contract sum with the successful tender Identifying a schedule of rates for individual work items to assist with costing variations Providing the basis of identifying works completed for interim valuations Providing the basis for the preparation of the final account
It is important that a BOQ is prepared to a standard methodology recognised by everyone involved in the project to avoid any misunderstandings or ambiguities. A BOQ is also a valuable document during the process and settlement of any dispute resolution. 
Joseph Trainor : What is a bill of quantities?
Contents
What is Bill of quantities (BoQ) in construction?
Bill of Quantities also referred to as BOQ, is a document formulated in the construction industry to specify materials, labors, and their cost. It serves as a communication tool between client, consultant & the contractor, It is usually prepared by a cost consultant or a surveyor. Primarily there are two types of BOQs
- Bill of Materials
- Bill of Labour
What is a bill of quantities?
Bill of Quantities also referred to as BOQ, is a document formulated in the construction industry to specify materials, labors, and their cost. It serves as a communication tool between client, consultant & the contractor, It is usually prepared by a cost consultant or a surveyor. Primarily there are two types of BOQs
- Bill of Materials
- Bill of Labour
How do contractors create Bill of quantities for projects?
How to prepare a bill of quantities – Start preparing a bill of quantities by breaking the work down into items that can be quantified or measured. This breakdown is often based on standard work breakdown structures, like CSI codes. The breakdown works best when it’s organized by subcontractor packages, which makes it easier for general contractors to bid the work.
The list of work items includes a short description, the quantity, and the unit of measure. From there, the contractor prices the work listed on the bill of quantities, based on the drawings and specifications they have been provided. If an item is shown on the drawings and is missing from the bill of quantities, the contractor should bring this to the owner’s attention.
A revised bill of quantities may need to be sent out. Pricing is sent back to the owner by the general contractor for review, where their proposal is compared to other bidders. Once a contract is signed, the bill of quantities can be used to create payment applications as the work progresses.
- The contractor notes the quantities completed each month on the form and multiplies it by the price for each item to get the invoice amount.
- Although architects and engineers usually create the bill of quantities for a project, more companies are using BIM software to prepare their list of quantities.
The software easily creates the list, and it can revise it quickly if the model is updated.
What happens to the bill of quantities after a bid?
How to prepare a bill of quantities – Start preparing a bill of quantities by breaking the work down into items that can be quantified or measured. This breakdown is often based on standard work breakdown structures, like CSI codes. The breakdown works best when it’s organized by subcontractor packages, which makes it easier for general contractors to bid the work.
The list of work items includes a short description, the quantity, and the unit of measure. From there, the contractor prices the work listed on the bill of quantities, based on the drawings and specifications they have been provided. If an item is shown on the drawings and is missing from the bill of quantities, the contractor should bring this to the owner’s attention.
A revised bill of quantities may need to be sent out. Pricing is sent back to the owner by the general contractor for review, where their proposal is compared to other bidders. Once a contract is signed, the bill of quantities can be used to create payment applications as the work progresses.
- The contractor notes the quantities completed each month on the form and multiplies it by the price for each item to get the invoice amount.
- Although architects and engineers usually create the bill of quantities for a project, more companies are using BIM software to prepare their list of quantities.
The software easily creates the list, and it can revise it quickly if the model is updated.
