A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) is a document that lists every item of work in a construction project, with a clear description, a unit of measurement and a measured quantity. Contractors price each line, so every bid covers the same scope. That makes tenders comparable, exposes gaps early and gives you a fixed reference for payments and changes.
In Egypt a BOQ is also called a مقايسة or حصر كميات. Whatever the name, its purpose is the same: to turn drawings and specifications into a priced, checkable list of work before you commit your budget.
What is in a Bill of Quantities?
A BOQ is organised into sections, usually by trade or by building element. A typical structure looks like this:
- Preliminaries. The contractor's site costs that are not tied to one item: site set-up, supervision, temporary works, insurance and site services.
- Measured works. The bulk of the BOQ, divided into sections such as excavation, concrete, masonry, finishes, doors and windows, and MEP works.
- Provisional sums. Allowances for work that cannot yet be fully defined, clearly labelled as such.
- Prime cost (PC) sums. Allowances for items the client will select later, such as sanitary ware or light fittings.
- Contingency. A sum held for unforeseen events, controlled by the client.
- Summary. The collection of every section into a total.
Each line in the measured works follows the same format:
| Item | Description | Unit | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.01 | Reinforced concrete for isolated footings, as specified | m³ | measured | priced by bidder | qty × rate |
| 3.02 | Steel reinforcement, high-tensile bars, cut, bent and fixed | tonne | measured | priced by bidder | qty × rate |
| 7.04 | Ceramic floor tiles laid on screed, including grouting | m² | measured | priced by bidder | qty × rate |
| 12.10 | Supply and install PVC drainage pipe, including fittings | m | measured | priced by bidder | qty × rate |
The descriptions do as much work as the numbers. A precise description, tied to the specification, removes room for argument later about what the rate includes.
How are quantities measured?
Quantities are taken off the drawings using a consistent measurement method. The method sets the rules: what is measured, in which unit, and what is deemed included in each rate. Internationally, quantity surveyors use published methods such as the RICS New Rules of Measurement (NRM2) or POMI. Many Egyptian projects use local conventions and the employer's own standard item descriptions, with materials and workmanship specified to the Egyptian Code (ECP) and relevant international standards.
The key point is consistency. If every line is measured the same way, every bidder prices the same thing, and the client can check any quantity against the drawings.
How does a BOQ protect your budget?
It makes bids comparable
Without a BOQ, each contractor prices their own interpretation of the drawings. One includes waterproofing, another does not. One allows for a better grade of tile. The totals look comparable but are not. With a BOQ, you compare rates line by line and see immediately where a bid is unusually high, unusually low or missing items.
It exposes scope gaps before you sign
Measuring every item forces questions the drawings do not answer. Where does this pipe run? What finish goes on this wall? Answering those questions at the BOQ stage costs little. Answering them on site costs variations, delays and disputes.
It makes unknowns visible
Every project has some unknowns, such as ground conditions or items the client has not yet chosen. A BOQ shows them as provisional sums and PC sums, with clear amounts. You know what is fixed and what is still an allowance, and you control the contingency.
It values payments and changes fairly
During construction, the priced BOQ is the yardstick for interim payments: work done is measured and valued at the agreed rates. When the scope changes, the same rates are used to value the variation wherever they apply. This keeps change control objective rather than a negotiation each time.
When should a BOQ be prepared?
A BOQ should be prepared once the design is developed enough to measure, normally after design development and before tendering. Before that point, use a cost estimate based on areas and benchmark rates to check that the design is heading towards your budget.
| Stage | Cost tool | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and concept | Order-of-cost estimate from areas | Broad, for go or no-go decisions |
| Design development | Elemental cost plan | Tighter, checks the design against the budget |
| Construction documents | Bill of Quantities | Detailed, for tender and contract |
| Construction | Priced BOQ and valuations | Tracks actual cost against the contract |
What makes a BOQ reliable?
- Complete drawings. Architecture, structure and MEP all measured, not just the building shell.
- Clear specifications. Every description refers to a defined material and standard.
- Specialist measurement for MEP and structure. These sections are complex and easy to under-measure.
- Few provisional sums. Each one is an admission that the design is not finished.
- A review before issue. Quantities checked against the drawings by someone other than the person who measured them.
How does a BOQ fit into project delivery?
A BOQ is most valuable when it connects design to construction. On a residential project such as the duplex in 5th Settlement, Cairo, the scope ran from foundation works to interior fit-out and finishing, which means a BOQ must cover structure, MEP and finishes in one consistent document.
Laurent's BOQ services cover take-off, specification writing, pricing and tendering support. For projects where Laurent also builds, see how that connects to residential construction.
Protect your budget before you build
A Bill of Quantities is one of the cheapest forms of protection you can buy for a construction budget. Laurent is Alexandria-based and prepares BOQs for projects across Egypt. Start your project and share your drawings, and we will tell you what is needed to measure them.
