Glossary
What Is a BOQ in Interior Design?
BOQ explained for interior firms: definition, example, common mistakes and FAQs.
Published · Updated · By DecorFlow
Key points
Itemised
Every line has a unit, quantity and rate, so the total can be audited.
Grouped
Lines are grouped by room or trade, which makes billing and ordering easier.
Versioned
Each revision is saved, so you can show what changed and when.
Definition
A BOQ (bill of quantities) is an itemised list of the work and materials in a project. Each line gives a description, a unit, a quantity and a rate, so the total cost can be built up and checked line by line. In interior work it is usually grouped by room or by trade.
An example
A wardrobe line might read: 8 ft × 7 ft, unit sq ft, quantity 56, rate set by your supplier. Multiplying quantity by rate gives the line amount. Add similar lines for hardware, labour and finishing, then sum them for the room. The figures here are illustrative; use measured quantities and current quotes.
Common mistakes
- Pricing a whole room with one lump sum, which hides what is included.
- Copying quantities from one room to another without re-measuring.
- Leaving out hardware, labour or transport lines.
- Not recording which version the client approved.
Common questions
Is a BOQ the same as a quotation?
Not quite. A BOQ lists work and quantities, often with your internal costs. A quotation is the client-facing document and shows the rates and total you offer.
Who prepares the BOQ?
Usually the designer or estimator, from the site survey and drawings. Suppliers may then quote against the same list.
Can I build a BOQ in a spreadsheet?
Yes. Our BOQ template is a starting point you can edit in Excel or Google Sheets.
Start from a ready BOQ layout
Download the room-wise BOQ template, or see how DecorFlow builds a BOQ from a site survey.
Get the BOQ template