A practical BOQ format for interior work
A BOQ format for interior work is a measured list of every item to be built or supplied, with an item code, full description, unit, quantity and rate. It differs from a quotation because quantities come from drawings and a measurement book, so contractors or vendors can price the same scope. Use the format below and link it to your finish and furniture schedules.
On this page
The BOQ template
Number items by trade so vendors can price their part: 1 for civil and demolition, 2 for false ceiling, 3 for carpentry, 4 for painting, 5 for electrical, and so on. The drawing reference column ties each line back to the drawing set.
| Item code | Description | Drawing ref | Unit | Qty | Rate (₹) | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | Supply and fix gypsum false ceiling on GI framework, including jointing tape and finishing, excluding paint | RCP-01 | sq ft | 640 | ₹ — | ₹ — |
| 3.01 | Wardrobe carcass in 18 mm BWP ply with 1 mm laminate outside and 0.8 mm liner inside | WD-03 | sq ft | 96 | ₹ — | ₹ — |
| 3.02 | Soft-close hinges, branded, as per hardware schedule | HW-01 | nos | 24 | ₹ — | ₹ — |
| 4.01 | Wall putty 2 coats, primer 1 coat, interior emulsion 2 coats | FS-01 | sq ft | 2,300 | ₹ — | ₹ — |
| 5.01 | Concealed LED profile light with driver, as per lighting schedule | LS-02 | r ft | 48 | ₹ — | ₹ — |
| Total, carried to summary | ₹ — |
Sample BOQ lines. Quantities are illustrative. Rates are blank so each vendor or your own rate card fills them.
When a BOQ is the right document
Use a BOQ when more than one party will price or execute the work: a turnkey project with subcontractors, a corporate fit-out tender, or a client who wants to compare contractors on the same scope.
For a simple 2BHK where you supply and execute everything, a room-wise quotation is usually enough. Many firms keep a BOQ internally and send the client the quotation built from it.
Field-by-field explanation
- Item code: trade number plus line number. It lets you refer to 3.02 in a change order without retyping the description.
- Description: write it as a work instruction. Supply and fix, material, size, grade, finish, and what is excluded.
- Drawing ref: the drawing or schedule the item comes from. If there is no drawing, the item is not ready to be priced.
- Unit: sq ft, r ft (running feet), nos, kg or lump sum. Keep units consistent across the whole BOQ.
- Quantity: from the measurement book, which records actual measured dimensions and who measured them.
- Rate and amount: per unit, then quantity times rate. Running bills later use the same codes.
The schedules that sit behind a BOQ
A good BOQ points to schedules rather than repeating every detail in one cell. Keep these as separate tabs in the same workbook.
| Schedule | What it lists | Typical columns |
|---|---|---|
| Finish schedule | Every surface finish by room | Room, surface, material, brand or code, colour, area |
| Furniture schedule | Loose and built-in furniture | Tag, item, size, material, finish, qty, supplier |
| Lighting schedule | Every fixture type | Tag, type, wattage, colour temperature, qty, location |
| Door and hardware schedule | Doors, frames and fittings | Door tag, size, shutter, frame, lock, hinges, handle |
Mistakes that make a BOQ useless
- Quantities from the plan area instead of measured surfaces. Wall area for paint is not the carpet area.
- Descriptions that say as per design. A vendor cannot price that, and you cannot hold them to it.
- No measurement book. When a running bill is disputed, you have nothing to show.
- Mixing supply-only and supply-and-fix lines without saying which is which.
- Editing quantities after approval without a variation entry.
How to build a BOQ format in Excel for interior work
- Tab 1, Summary: one row per trade with the total pulled from each trade tab.
- Tab 2 onwards, one tab per trade, using the columns above.
- Tab for the measurement book: date, item code, location, length, breadth, height, number, quantity, measured by.
- Use SUMIF on the measurement book to pull the quantity for each item code into the BOQ.
- Add the finish, furniture, lighting and door schedules as their own tabs and reference their tags in the description.
BOQ inside the D&B Operating System
The D&B Operating System keeps rate cards and BOQ together in its Quotations module, so a quote is built from the same items your BOQ uses. Material and finish selections from the design stage hand off to quotation, and each quote version can be approved by the client.
It is software by BRANDSWOT Consultancy, now in early access for design-and-build firms.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a BOQ and a quotation in interiors?
A BOQ is a measured list of items and quantities that anyone can price. A quotation is your priced offer to one client, with your rates, fees, GST and terms. Many firms prepare the BOQ first, then turn it into a quotation. On larger fit-outs the client may issue the BOQ and ask several firms to fill in rates.
Where can I get a BOQ format in Excel for interior work?
Copy the columns on this page into Excel: item code, description, drawing reference, unit, quantity, rate and amount. Keep one tab per trade and a summary tab that adds them up. Add a measurement book tab and use SUMIF to bring measured quantities into the BOQ, so totals change when measurements change.
What is a measurement book format for interiors?
A measurement book records every measurement taken on site, with date, item code, location, length, breadth, height or depth, number of units, calculated quantity and the name of the person who measured. It backs up your BOQ and running bills. Ask the client or their representative to sign measurements for big items.
What goes in a finish schedule template?
A finish schedule lists each room and surface, such as floor, skirting, walls, ceiling and joinery, with the material, brand or code, colour and area. It stops a site team from guessing finishes. Reference finish codes from the BOQ so one change updates both documents.
Do I need separate furniture and lighting schedules?
On anything beyond a small flat, yes. A furniture schedule tags every item with size, material, finish and supplier. A lighting schedule tags each fixture with type, wattage, colour temperature and location. Both make procurement faster and help you check deliveries against what was approved.
What is a door and hardware schedule?
It is a table of every door with its tag, size, shutter type, frame, lock, hinges, handle, stopper and finish. It matters on offices and villas where many doors differ. Vendors price from it and the site team checks against it at installation. Keep the door tags on the plan so each door is easy to find.