# What is a BOQ (bill of quantities)?

Source: https://cloudbrain.in/glossary/bill-of-quantities
Last updated: 2026-11-10

A BOQ (bill of quantities) is a document listing the materials, items and work required for a construction project, with quantities and units, used for tendering, costing and billing. BOQs are central to tendering and payments on Indian projects, and preparing them by hand is slow and error-prone.

## Why does a BOQ (bill of quantities) matter for architects, engineers and contractors in India?

BOQs are central to tendering and payments on Indian projects, and preparing them by hand is slow and error-prone. Generating quantities from BIM models or drawings with AI assistance can save time, provided an estimator checks every line.

## What is an example of a BOQ (bill of quantities)?

A BOQ lists 290 m² of internal plaster and 22.5 m³ of concrete for a villa, with rates added later to produce the estimate.

## Where does CloudBrain come in?

Our [workflow automation](/services/workflow-automation) service helps architecture, engineering and construction firms put this into practice. See the related terms below, or browse the full [AEC × AI glossary](/glossary).