A BOQ (Bill of Quantities) is a document used in the construction industry that details the quantities and types of materials, components and work needed to complete a project. Its main purpose is to provide a clear, structured basis for cost estimating, planning and tendering.
In Spain it is roughly equivalent to the budget with its measurements: a document organized into sections and line items, each with its quantity and its price. You can see the whole process in how to prepare a construction budget step by step.
What a BOQ includes
In theory, a BOQ includes:
- Description of the work: a detailed list of all the tasks to be carried out.
- Quantities: precise measurements of the work or materials required, expressed in standard units such as cubic meters, square meters, etc.
- Specifications: details on the quality, type and characteristics of the materials and work.
- Unit prices: the cost per unit of measure for each work item, which makes it possible to calculate the total cost of each component.
- Cost summary: an overview of the total project cost, broken down by sections or phases.
What it is used for
The BOQ is an essential tool for contractors, engineers and architects, because it makes it easier to compare bids, brings transparency to the tendering process and helps manage project costs during execution.
If you want to see how one is built in practice, read how to create a BOQ in Odoo.