BOQ for a commercial building: shops, offices and malls
Commercial buildings have long spans, shear walls around lifts, large glazed areas and drawings that are often incomplete when the BOQ is needed. We measure what is drawn, estimate what is not, and say which is which, so you know which quantities to firm up before you sign a contract.
What to send us
- Architectural plans, sections and elevations
- Structural drawings: foundation, column layout and schedule, beam and slab framing
- Bar details or schedules, if drawn (steel is then measured, not estimated)
- Facade or glazing drawings, if the facade is in scope
PDF or CAD (DWG) both work. If something is missing, we tell you what it changes and state the assumption in the BOQ instead of guessing silently.
What the commercial building BOQ covers
| Earthwork and foundations | Excavation, PCC, footings or raft (m³) |
|---|---|
| Concrete | Columns, shear walls, beams, slabs, ramps and stairs (m³), floor by floor |
| Steel | Reinforcement (kg or t), measured from bar details where drawn |
| Masonry and plaster | Walls by thickness (m³), plaster inside and out (m²) |
| Finishes | Flooring, false ceiling, painting, toilet dado and waterproofing (m²) |
| Openings and facade | Doors, rolling shutters, windows, glazing and ACP (numbers and m²) |
Every quantity comes with its L×B×D measurement sheet, so you can check any line against the drawing. See the sample BOQ for the format.
Commercial buildings we have measured
Shop and office building, G+2
382 m³ concrete, 32.7 t steel, 284 m³ masonry, 4,261 m² plaster
Administrative building, G+1, about 45 × 24 m
667.6 m³ concrete, 79.6 t steel (74% measured bar by bar from the drawn reinforcement), 346.6 m³ masonry, 5,864 m² plaster
Shopping mall
3,571 m³ RCC (footings 499, columns 1,204, shear walls 213, beams 590, slabs 1,066 m³) and 1,354 m³ excavation
The mall drawings had no bar details, so its steel was estimated from norms and labelled as estimated. On the administrative building, the missing column schedule was the main thing left to firm up.
What usually goes wrong in a commercial building estimate
- Missing schedules. When the column schedule or footing details are absent, steel for those members can only be estimated; ask for them before tender.
- The same level printed differently on different drawings. On one building the ground-floor sill level appeared three different ways.
- Glazing and facade areas taken from plans instead of elevations.
- Shear walls around lifts and stairs counted as columns, or left out.
Price
Quoted after we see your drawings, by size and scope. Before you order, you see a sample from a similar real job, and your first project is 50% off, up to ₹5,000.
See what BOQ preparation costs by project size.
Get a quote for your commercial building
Share your drawings and contact details. We confirm the scope and price on WhatsApp before any work begins, and share a sample from a similar real job.
Frequently asked questions
How do you handle steel when there is no bar bending schedule?
Where bar details are drawn, we measure steel bar by bar. Where they are not, we estimate it from member sizes and usual reinforcement ratios and mark those lines as estimated, so you can see how much of the steel is measured.
Can you prepare the BOQ before the drawings are final?
Yes. We measure the current set, list the gaps and assumptions, and update the BOQ when the drawings are revised.
How long does a commercial building BOQ take?
Usually under 48 hours, depending on project complexity and scope. We confirm scope and timing on WhatsApp after seeing the drawings.
How much does a commercial building BOQ cost?
Quoted after we see your drawings, by size and scope. Before you order, you see a sample from a similar real job, and your first project is 50% off, up to ₹5,000.