Definition
What it means
A bill of quantities (BOQ) is a detailed itemised breakdown of every quantity of material and labour a job requires. Quantity surveyors prepare BOQs on commercial and larger residential projects so multiple builders or trades can quote against the same scope and the customer can compare apples to apples. BOQs are also useful for sanity-checking material orders mid-build.
What a BOQ contains
Material take-off (each material listed by type, quantity, and unit, eg '2,400 standard bricks', '180m of 100x50mm timber'). Labour by trade (eg '40 hours of plumbing first-fix', '120 sqm of skim and finish'). Provisional sums for items not yet defined. Reference drawings the BOQ is built against.
When you'd quote against a BOQ
Most commercial work and larger residential builds. The customer (or their quantity surveyor) provides the BOQ. You quote unit rates against each line, plus your overheads and margin. Multiple trades quoting against the same BOQ produces comparable totals.
How QuoteGenio handles BOQs
For smaller residential work, a regular itemised quote is plenty. For commercial BOQ work, the quote becomes the unit-rate response and the invoice tracks against those rates as the work progresses.
Related terms
Other glossary entries you might want next
Closely related terms in the trades-finance vocabulary, with the same plain-English treatment.
Quote
A written proposal stating what work you will do and what you will charge. It is binding once the customer accepts it in writing.
Provisional Sum
An allowance for work that cannot be exactly quoted when the contract is signed. Reconciled to the actual cost via a variation later.
Scope of Work
A precise list of what the quote covers and what it does not. Protects you from scope creep and protects the customer from surprise charges.
Put it to work
Templates that use this concept
Free quote and invoice templates where this term naturally appears.
Testimonials
Trusted by tradespeople
Real tradespeople using QuoteGenio to quote and invoice from their phone, with the trades-finance vocabulary you've just read about.
“The templates look incredibly professional. My clients in Italy are always impressed by the branding. Huge time saver.”
Sofia Ricci
Interior Designer · Milan
“Converting a quote to an invoice in one click saves me so much time. Payment tracking is brilliant. I can see immediately who still owes me.”
Thabo Nkomo
HVAC Technician · Midrand
“Switched from a clunky desktop app. QuoteGenio is faster, simpler, and my crews actually use it. Payments tracking is a huge plus.”
Michael O'Brien
General Contractor · Denver, CO
Read more
Articles that go deeper on this topic
Long-form posts from the QuoteGenio blog that put this concept in real-world context.
How to Write a Quote for a Building or Renovation Job
Building and renovation quotes are more complex than most. Here's how to structure them so clients understand what they're getting, and disputes are avoided.
Voice to Quote: Dictate a Job, Get Priced Line Items
Hold the mic, describe the job in your own words, release. The AI drafts a priced quote. What Voice to Quote is, when to use it, and when not to.
Sunday Bank Reconciliation in 15 Minutes
Reconciling last week's payments used to be an hour of squinting at your bank app. Six moves that get it done in fifteen minutes.
Free forever plan
Start quoting faster. Win more jobs.
Create professional quotes in minutes, send instantly, and stay on top of your work without the admin slowing you down.
Free to start. No credit card required.