Free BOQ template for ELV, AV and lighting works
A Bill of Quantities template in Excel, sectioned the way ELV and AV packages are actually measured: CCTV and security, structured cabling, and audio visual, with formula-driven amounts, a grand total, and a separate preliminaries sheet. Replace the sample items with your measured works.
RFQsNow BOQ template
Excel (.xlsx) · 2 sheets: BOQ with sections and totals, Preliminaries
What is inside the template
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Item code | Hierarchical numbering (1.1, 1.2) so RFQs and bids can reference exact lines |
| Description | One measured item per row with specification-level detail |
| Unit | pcs, box, meter, lot: the unit the rate applies to |
| Qty | Measured quantity from drawings or site survey |
| Rate (AED) | Unit rate, filled by you or by the bidding supplier |
| Amount (AED) | Formula: quantity times rate, summed into a grand total automatically |
| Remarks | Provisional quantities, brand constraints, or authority requirements |
The preliminaries sheet carries the general items that get forgotten until they surface as variation claims: mobilization, submittals, testing and commissioning, as-builts, training, and the defects liability period.
How to use it
- Measure from the latest drawing revision and note the revision number in the remarks column.
- Keep supply and installation as separate lines where labour is a meaningful share of cost.
- Mark provisional quantities clearly so bidders price the stated assumption, not their own.
- Use the section subtotals to sanity-check against budget before issuing anything to market.
- When a package is ready to price, extract its lines into an RFQ rather than sending the whole BOQ.
That last step trips up many teams. The translation from measured works to a priceable supplier request is covered in our guide on BOQ vs RFQ in ELV procurement, and the request document itself is in the free RFQ template.
From BOQ to competitive bids
Once the BOQ is priced internally, the fastest way to test it against the market is a structured RFQ to multiple suppliers. On RFQsNow, buyers post the package once and receive line-item bids from verified GCC suppliers in a fixed format, so the returned pricing drops straight into a comparison table instead of a stack of PDFs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a BOQ template?
A Bill of Quantities template is a pre-structured spreadsheet that lists every measured item of work with its unit, quantity, rate, and amount. This one is sectioned by system (CCTV, structured cabling, AV) with formula-driven amount and total cells, plus a separate preliminaries sheet.
Is the BOQ template free to download?
Yes. Direct Excel download, no sign-up or email required. A footer credit to RFQsNow is the only branding.
What is the difference between a BOQ and an RFQ?
The BOQ measures the full works: every item, quantity, and rate. An RFQ extracts a package from those works and asks suppliers to price it. Contractors typically build the BOQ first, then issue RFQs per package against it.
What are preliminaries in a BOQ?
General items that are part of delivering the works but are not physical equipment: mobilization, submittals, testing and commissioning, as-built documentation, training, and warranty support. Pricing them as separate lines stops them being hidden inside equipment rates.
Can I add my own sections to the template?
Yes. The section rows are ordinary formatted rows. Copy a section header, renumber the item codes, and the amount formulas keep working because each row calculates quantity times rate independently.
Related templates and guides
The BOQ template works alongside these.
Price your BOQ against the market
Post the package as a structured RFQ on RFQsNow: free for buyers, with line-item bids back from verified UAE and GCC suppliers, usually within 18 to 48 hours.
Get started, it's free →