Online quantity surveyor for Indian projects
A quantity surveyor (QS) measures quantities from drawings, prepares the BOQ and rate analysis, prices or checks tenders, and keeps the measurement book, RA bills, reconciliation and final account during construction.
Hire SiteSetu's online QS desk for quantity takeoff, BOQ, BBS and monthly billing. We work from your drawings and site records anywhere in India; we don't visit site.
BOQ from ₹2,500 per project. Monthly billing from ₹7,500 a month per site.
What a quantity surveyor does at each project stage
A QS keeps quantities, rates and payments traceable from the first drawing to the final account. What they do depends on the stage and on the appointment.
Design and budgeting
Measure the drawing set, record missing details and prepare a BOQ. Build rate analysis from the agreed material, labour and plant inputs.
Records: Quantity takeoff, measurement sheets, BOQ and cost abstract.
Tender and award
Price the tender quantities or check bidders against the same scope, units and rate basis. Identify exclusions before comparing totals.
Records: Priced BOQ, tender comparison and a list of scope differences.
Construction and monthly billing
Record executed quantities in the measurement book (MB), prepare running account (RA) bills and track variations. Reconcile recorded material use with receipts and stock.
Records: MB, RA bill, BBS, reconciliation and extra-item records.
Completion and final account
Reconcile final quantities, agreed variations and previous payments so the parties can settle the balance under their contract.
Records: Final measurement summary and final account.
For the profession's broader cost and contract role, see RICS' guide to what a quantity surveyor does. Our desk's deliverables are listed below; the full professional role is not automatically included in a takeoff order.
QS vs estimator vs billing engineer
An estimator focuses on the expected cost; a billing engineer focuses on executed work and bills. A quantity surveyor can cover both and follow cost changes through completion. On smaller projects, one person may perform several of these roles.
| Role | Usual focus | When to hire |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity surveyor (QS) | Quantities and cost through the project, from the drawing takeoff to the final account. | You need quantities, pricing and changes kept on a consistent basis. |
| Estimator | The expected cost before work starts: quantities, rate build-ups and a bid or budget. | You need a project estimate or tender price. |
| Billing engineer | Executed work during construction: measurements, BOQ item mapping and periodic bills. | You need this month's work measured and entered in an RA bill. |
For an estimate or tender quantities, start with BOQ from your drawings. For a running site, use the monthly billing desk.
Quantity takeoff: what it is, manual vs software
Quantity takeoff means measuring the work shown in drawings before applying prices: concrete in m³, formwork and finishes in m², reinforcement in kg, and fixtures by count. The measurement sheet records where each quantity came from; the BOQ groups it under the correct item.
Manual takeoff
Read the plans, sections and schedules, enter dimensions in Excel, and calculate quantities item by item. Keep the drawing revision and floor or grid beside each line. This makes a small scope easy to inspect, but repeated floors and revisions need careful checking.
Software-assisted takeoff
PDF, CAD or BIM tools can measure geometry, repeat counts and organise quantities. They still need the right scale, drawing revision, item mapping and measurement rules. A model or a traced area does not resolve conflicting drawings by itself.
Worked example: a concrete measurement line
Illustrative slab S1, one rectangular panel with no openings: 12.00 m × 9.00 m × 0.125 m = 13.50 m³. Record the slab mark, floor and drawing revision beside it. If Nos, L, B and D occupy cells C2 to F2, the quantity formula is =C2*D2*E2*F2 with Nos = 1.
That is the slab concrete quantity only. Formwork and reinforcement need their own measurements. A priced BOQ then multiplies 13.50 m³ by the agreed concrete item rate; a quantities-only takeoff leaves that rate for you to enter.
Compare the workflow in our BOQ software guide for Indian construction, then follow how to prepare a BOQ from drawings. For reusable Excel layouts, download the Indian QS Starter Kit.
Hire our online QS desk
Send drawings for a one-off takeoff, BOQ or BBS. Add the monthly desk when you need billing records from ongoing site updates. You receive files your engineer can review, with the scope and price agreed before work starts.
1. Send the latest drawings
Send PDF or DWG floor plans for a simple house estimate. For a villa, add sections and elevations. Add structural drawings for RCC, steel/BBS and formwork, and services drawings for an agreed MEP scope. Include the revision list and the trades you need measured.
2. Agree the scope and price
The desk checks the files, lists missing details and shares a sample from a similar real job. Choose quantities-only or priced work, and confirm the rate basis: CPWD/state DSR-style rates, market rates or your own work-order rates. Work starts after you accept the quote.
3. Receive a checked takeoff
AI measures from the drawings and a civil engineer reviews the sheets before delivery. You receive Excel with live formulas, an item-wise BOQ and IS 1200 measurement sheets with drawing references, assumptions and the agreed rate basis. The BOQ is also supplied as a PDF.
4. Add the monthly billing desk if needed
Send your work order with rates, a previous accepted bill and site updates with locations, sizes or counts and photos. The desk keeps MB entries and prepares one RA bill a month, BBS for the month's pours, steel reconciliation and extra-item records for your engineer to check.
Timing: BOQ in hours, 48 hours at most from drawing confirmation, depending on project complexity and scope. Monthly RA bills and supporting records reach you by the 5th of the next month, following your agreed cut-off.
Site responsibility: your supervisor supplies measurements and progress records. We ask about anything the drawings or updates do not confirm. Your engineer and the client's engineer handle joint measurements and certification.
BBS: send approved structural drawings and revisions. See the bar bending schedule examples and Excel workbook for the member, bar mark, diameter, cutting length and weight fields.
See the takeoff and billing work
Review the existing sample workbook and case studies to see how quantities were measured and checked. Client names are withheld.
The 48-item G+1 house BOQ sample includes an Excel download. It is quantities-only, with blank rates and gross plaster; it excludes steel/BBS, finishes and MEP. A structure BOQ from us today includes steel with a BBS.
For billing work, read the formwork billing case study. Before you order, the desk shares a sample BOQ from a similar real job, with its measurement sheets.
Online QS desk prices
Drawing-based work follows the BOQ project price card; ongoing billing uses a monthly plan. The quote confirms the included trades, drawing set and final price before work starts.
BOQ and drawing takeoff
| Project and scope | Price per project |
|---|---|
| Simple houseEstimate from your floor plans | from ₹2,500 |
| Luxury home or villaMaterial-wise BOQ. From floor plans, section and elevations | from ₹10,000 |
| High-rise10 typical floors, 3 basements, 2 podiums Structure: RCC concrete, steel with BBS and formwork. Full: structure plus masonry, plaster, flooring, doors, windows and finishes. | ₹25,000 structure₹50,000 full BOQ |
| Infra and bridgesDrawing set and measured scope confirmed in the quote. | Quote-based, ₹25,000 – ₹1,00,000 |
Opening prices; final quote after we see your drawings. Send PDF or DWG drawings, or a Drive link. We confirm the included trades, assumptions, deliverables and how any first-project offer applies before work starts.
First project 50% off (up to ₹5,000), minimum ₹2,500.
Get your BOQ quoteMonthly billing desk
From ₹7,500 a month per site. Choose the plan for your site size below.
| Plan | Site | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| One site | Work up to ₹5 Cr | ₹7,500 |
| Larger site | ₹5–25 Cr, or 2 sites | ₹15,000 |
| Big project | Above ₹25 Cr | ₹25,000 |
Setup: your project's BOQ and BBS, priced on our BOQ card, with your first project 50% off (up to ₹5,000), minimum ₹2,500.
Each plan covers one RA bill a month. Re-measuring after new drawings, extra RA bills and 3D models are quoted separately.
One plan covers one site, or two sites on the middle plan.
Quantity surveyor FAQs
The desk works online from drawings and site records. These answers cover scope, site visits, prices and delivery.
What does a quantity surveyor do in India?
A quantity surveyor measures quantities from drawings, prepares BOQs and rate analysis, prices or checks tenders, and tracks measurements, bills and changes during construction. The role can continue through material reconciliation and the final account. The agreed appointment defines which of these tasks are included.
Do you visit site?
No. We don't visit site, so anything we can't confirm from the drawings or the updates, we ask about before billing it. A civil engineer checks every bill before it goes out. If a difference remains, your engineer and the client's engineer take a joint measurement on site, and we bill the agreed figure.
Quantity surveyor near me: can you work on my project?
We work online across India from drawings. Send your project location, PDF or DWG files and required scope. For monthly billing, your supervisor supplies the site measurements, updates and photos. If you need someone physically present to measure or inspect the site, you need a local professional for that work.
What is the difference between quantity takeoff and a BOQ?
Quantity takeoff is the measurement step: lengths, areas, volumes, counts and steel quantities taken from drawings. A BOQ organises those quantities into item descriptions and units, with rates and amounts when pricing is included. Our measurement sheets support the BOQ so your engineer can trace each quantity.
Can I order quantity takeoff services without rates?
Yes. Ask for quantities-only when you send the drawings. You receive the agreed measured items and supporting sheets, so you or your contractor can apply rates separately. Confirm the trades, drawing revisions and exclusions before work starts.
How much does the online QS desk cost?
Drawing-based work uses our BOQ price card: simple house from ₹2,500 (estimate from floor plans); luxury home or villa from ₹10,000 (material-wise BOQ from floor plans, section and elevations); high-rise ₹25,000 (structure) or ₹50,000 (full BOQ); infra and bridges quoted at ₹25,000–₹1,00,000. First project 50% off (up to ₹5,000), minimum ₹2,500. The monthly billing desk starts at ₹7,500 a month per site. Setup BOQ and BBS are priced separately on the BOQ card; your quote confirms scope and final price.
How quickly will I get the work?
BOQs are delivered in hours, 48 hours at most from drawing confirmation, depending on project complexity and scope. The monthly billing desk works to your cut-off date and sends the RA bill and supporting records by the 5th of the next month. Confirm the drawings and billing inputs with the desk before starting.
What happens if drawings change or I need another bill?
Each plan covers one RA bill a month. Re-measuring after new drawings, extra RA bills and 3D models are quoted separately.
Does the desk include every quantity surveying service?
The published scopes cover drawing-based takeoff, BOQ, BBS and monthly billing records. Tender administration, contract negotiations and final-account settlement are broader QS tasks; do not assume they are included in these prices. Send the required deliverables so the desk can confirm what it can cover before you order. Your client's engineer retains certification.