How to Read a Bill of Quantities Before You Sign Off On It

A well-prepared Bill of Quantities (BOQ) can run several pages of line items, and most clients sign off on it based on the total figure alone. Three specific checks catch the majority of issues before construction starts, when correcting them is still cheap.

First, check that quantities are derived from final drawings, not an earlier design iteration. A BOQ prepared against superseded drawings will look complete and professional while quietly excluding or misquantifying items that changed in the latest revision.

Second, look for a 'provisional sum' or 'PC sum' entry against major finish items — flooring, sanitary fixtures, modular kitchen — and confirm what specification that provisional figure assumes. This is the single most common source of 'unexpected' cost escalation, because the provisional number is often based on an entry-level specification the client never intended to use.

Third, confirm whether the BOQ includes labour as a separate line item or bundles it into material rates. Bundled rates make it harder to negotiate or substitute materials later without also renegotiating labour, which reduces your flexibility mid-project.

A BOQ you've reviewed against these three checks is a genuinely useful cost-control tool — not just a formality before construction begins.