---
title: "Bill of quantities and its importance"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:bill-of-quantities"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/bill-of-quantities
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Bill of quantities and its importance

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 2: Method of Estimating

- Asked in: 2082 Bhadra, 2 marks; 2076 Asoj, 2 marks; 2071 Chaitra, 3 marks; 2065 Shrawan (old course), 2 marks; 2068 Baisakh (old course) (asked 5 times)
- Video: [What is Bill of Quantity (BOQ)? Explained in Detail with Example.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKJKSPlMVzA) — Engineering Academy
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/bill-of-quantities
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-2

## Question

What is Bill of Quantities (BOQ)? State its importance.

## Short answer

A Bill of Quantities is a document listing every work item with description, unit, and quantity, often priced. It is important as the basis for fair tendering, the contract document, cost estimation, interim payment valuation, material planning, cost control, and easy variation pricing.

## Answer

#### Bill of quantities (BOQ)
A bill of quantities is a document that lists, item by item, all the works of a project with their description, unit and quantity, derived from the drawings and specifications. In a priced BOQ the rate and amount for each item are added.

A typical BOQ has these columns:

| SN | Description of item | Unit | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|

The total amount (plus contingency and VAT) is the project cost.

#### Importance
1. **Basis of tendering:** all bidders price the same list of quantities, so bids can be compared fairly.
2. **Cost estimate:** the BOQ with rates gives the abstract of cost and the total estimate.
3. **Contract document:** in a unit-rate contract it is the basis of the contract price.
4. **Payment:** interim and final bills are prepared against the BOQ items; variations are valued at the BOQ rates.
5. **Planning:** gives quantities of materials, labour and plant for procurement and scheduling.
6. **Cost control:** actual quantities and costs are checked against the BOQ.
7. **Variation valuation:** additions and omissions can be priced easily.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does a BOQ list?
   A. Only the total cost
   B. Only drawings
   C. Only labour wages
   D. Items of work with description, unit and quantity (and rate and amount when priced)
   Answer: D. Priced BOQ adds rate and amount. (Key point: BOQ definition)

2. Why is a BOQ important in tendering?
   A. All bidders price the same quantities so bids are compared fairly
   B. Each bidder measures own quantities
   C. It hides quantities from bidders
   D. It fixes the bidder's profit
   Answer: A. Common quantities allow fair comparison. (Key point: Tendering)

3. How are variations valued?
   A. At market rates always
   B. At the BOQ rates
   C. They are not valued
   D. At double the BOQ rate
   Answer: B. BOQ rates price additions and omissions. (Key point: Variation)

## Related in Estimating and Costing

- [Bill of quantities and abstract of cost](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aboq-abstract-of-cost) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Bill of quantities for RCC T-beam bridge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aboq-rcc-t-beam-decking) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 2
- [Prepare AOC, BOQ and summary of cost](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aaoc-boq-summary-numerical) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 2

## Related in other subjects

- [BOQ for DOECE four computer labs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Aboq-doece-four-labs) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 5
- [BoQ for NITC four research labs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Aboq-nitc-research-labs) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 5
- [BoQ for IOE ICT building six labs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Aboq-ioe-ict-six-labs) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 5
- [Substation site criteria and H-pole BOQ](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Asubstation-site-boq-h-pole) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 4