Bill of Quantities Format: Templates, Examples & Standards Explained

Understanding Bill of Quantities Formats

A bill of quantities format defines how items are organized, described, and presented in a BoQ document. The format you choose affects how contractors interpret your BoQ and how accurately they can price it.

The Standard BoQ Structure

Regardless of the measurement standard used, most BoQs follow this general structure:

1. Cover Page

• Project name and location
• Client/owner name
• Architect/designer name
• Date of BoQ preparation
• BoQ reference number

2. Preliminaries Section

General project costs not tied to specific quantities:

• Site establishment and security
• Temporary works and facilities
• Insurance and bonds
• Health and safety requirements
• Quality control and testing
• Contingencies

3. Measured Works (by Trade)

The core of the BoQ, organized by construction trade:

4. Summary

• Trade-by-trade subtotals
• Grand total
• Notes and exclusions

BoQ Format Example: Residential Project

Here's a simplified example of a BoQ format for a residential floor plan:

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PROJECT: Smith Residence — Ground Floor

TRADE: FLOOR FINISHES

Item No.	Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Total
F.01	Ceramic floor tiling, 600×600mm polished porcelain, cement mortar bed, to living room	m²	32.50
F.02	Ceramic floor tiling, 600×600mm polished porcelain, cement mortar bed, to kitchen	m²	18.20
F.03	Ceramic floor tiling, 600×600mm polished porcelain, cement mortar bed, to dining	m²	16.80
F.04	Ceramic floor tiling, 300×300mm matte, to bathroom	m²	8.40
F.05	Ceramic skirting, 100mm high, matching floor tiles	m	42.60
F.06	Waterproof membrane to bathroom floor	m²	8.40

TRADE: WALL FINISHES

Item No.	Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Total
W.01	Internal wall plastering, 15mm thick, cement:sand 1:4	m²	156.40
W.02	External wall plastering, 20mm thick, waterproof	m²	68.20
W.03	Emulsion paint, 2 coats, to internal walls	m²	156.40
W.04	Weatherproof paint, 2 coats, to external walls	m²	68.20

TRADE: DOORS AND WINDOWS

Item No.	Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Total
D.01	Hardwood door, 900×2100mm, including frame and ironmongery	nos	4
D.02	Bathroom door, 800×2100mm, PVC, including frame	nos	2
W.01	Aluminium sliding window, 1500×1200mm, clear glass	nos	6
W.02	Aluminium sliding window, 900×1200mm, clear glass	nos	3

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Major Measurement Standards Compared

NRM2 (New Rules of Measurement 2)

Used in: UK, Commonwealth countries, international projects

Structure:

• Group: Major trade category (e.g., "Substructure")
• Sub-group: Sub-category (e.g., "Excavation")
• Work section: Specific work type (e.g., "Excavation for foundations")

Key features:

• Detailed rules for measurement
• Clear classification system
• Widely accepted in international tenders
• Updated and maintained by RICS

SMM7 (Standard Method of Measurement, 7th Edition)

Used in: UK, Commonwealth countries (legacy)

Structure:

• Similar to NRM2 but older format
• 27 work sections covering all trades
• Still widely used despite NRM2 being newer

Key features:

• Well-established and understood
• Extensive guidance notes
• Familiar to older practitioners
• Being gradually replaced by NRM2

CSI MasterFormat

Used in: USA, Canada

Structure:

• Divisions (01–49) covering all construction work
• Sub-divisions for detailed breakdown
• Standardized numbering system

Key divisions:

• Division 03: Concrete
• Division 04: Masonry
• Division 05: Metals
• Division 06: Wood, Plastics, Composites
• Division 07: Thermal and Moisture Protection
• Division 08: Openings (Doors/Windows)
• Division 09: Finishes

POMI (Principles of Measurement International)

Used in: International projects (World Bank, aid projects)

Structure:

• Simplified format for international use
• Less prescriptive than NRM2 or SMM7
• Focuses on consistency across borders

How to Choose the Right BoQ Format

Situation	Recommended Format
UK project	NRM2
International tender	NRM2 or POMI
US/Canada project	CSI MasterFormat
Legacy UK project	SMM7 (if specified)
Private project (no standard required)	Any consistent format
AI-generated BoQ	Enormous Buildings (NRM2-style)

BoQ Template Structure

Use this template structure for your next BoQ:

[PROJECT NAME]
Bill of Quantities
[Date]

SECTION A: PRELIMINARIES
A.1  Site establishment
A.2  Temporary facilities
A.3  Insurance
A.4  Contingencies

SECTION B: SUBSTRUCTURE
B.1  Excavation
B.2  Foundations
B.3  Concrete works
B.4  Backfill

SECTION C: SUPERSTRUCTURE
C.1  Walls (external)
C.2  Walls (internal)
C.3  Columns and beams
C.4  Floor structure

SECTION D: ROOFING
D.1  Roof structure
D.2  Roof covering
D.3  Insulation
D.4  Gutters and downpipes

SECTION E: DOORS AND WINDOWS
E.1  Doors
E.2  Windows
E.3  Ironmongery

SECTION F: FLOOR FINISHES
F.1  Screeds
F.2  Tiling
F.3  Timber flooring
F.4  Skirting

SECTION G: WALL FINISHES
G.1  Plastering
G.2  Painting
G.3  Wall tiling

SECTION H: CEILING FINISHES
H.1  Plaster ceilings
H.2  Suspended ceilings
H.3  Painting

SECTION I: ELECTRICAL
I.1  Wiring
I.2  Fittings
I.3  Distribution

SECTION J: PLUMBING
J.1  Water supply
J.2  Sanitary fixtures
J.3  Drainage

SECTION K: EXTERNAL WORKS
K.1  Paving
K.2  Landscaping
K.3  Fencing

SUMMARY
[Trade subtotals and grand total]

Generating a Formatted BoQ Automatically

Manually creating a formatted BoQ from scratch is tedious. Enormous Buildings generates a properly formatted, trade-categorized bill of quantities automatically from your floor plan:

1. Upload your floor plan
2. AI identifies all building elements
3. Quantities are calculated and categorized by trade
4. Export in your preferred format (Excel, CSV, PDF)

The output follows industry-standard formatting with item numbers, descriptions, units, and quantities—all ready for pricing.

Generate a formatted BoQ →