Glossary · BoQ
Bill of Quantities
A Bill of Quantities (BoQ) is a structured document listing measured quantities of every item of work required to build a project, used at tender stage to allow contractors to price like-for-like.
How it's structured
The BoQ lists each item of work with a description, unit of measurement, quantity, rate, and resulting amount. Items are grouped by trade or work section — typically following NRM2 (the New Rules of Measurement, the standard UK QS measurement code).
The contractor prices each line by inserting their rate; the total of all lines is the tender sum. During the project, the BoQ becomes the basis for valuations: actual quantity executed × rate = monthly valuation.
BoQ vs detailed estimate
A BoQ is the contractor-side priced document. A detailed estimate is the consultancy-side cost plan that produced it. They typically share the same structure but exist in different worlds: the BoQ is the contractor's commercial commitment, the detailed estimate is the consultancy's expectation of where the contractor will land.
Common pitfalls
- Provisional quantities not flagged. If a quantity is provisional (e.g. earthworks before survey), it should be marked as such. Otherwise contractors price it as firm and dispute later when it changes.
- Inconsistent NRM2 application. Different QSs measure the same scope slightly differently. Tender comparisons fall apart when one BoQ measures perimeter while another measures area for the same work.
- No BoQ for small projects. On a £200k fit-out, a full BoQ is overkill. A schedule of works or a detailed estimate is faster. Don't default to BoQ on every project just because it's the QS-default.
Related
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