Call us: 0748 015 138 
BILL OF QUANTITIES PREPARATION IN KENYA: KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR BUILD WILL COST
A bill of quantities provides a verified, itemised cost of your build before construction starts and before you sign with a contractor. At Jazz Building and Construction, we provide a detailed, independent cost breakdown prepared directly from your drawings to give you a financial shield against overpricing.
Request a BOQ Quote-
Know Your Costs Before You Commit
A BOQ gives you an itemised breakdown of every material, quantity, and labour cost—produced from your architectural and structural drawings so you know the true scope and cost before committing.
-
A Fair Basis for Hiring a Contractor
When contractors price from your BOQ they quote against the same specification—allowing direct comparison of bids, identification of outliers, and negotiation from a position of knowledge.
-
Your Protection Against Budget Overruns
A BOQ records every cost before work begins; any variation must be agreed in writing—this document is the financial protection that keeps your build on budget.
BILL OF QUANTITIES PREPARATION IN KENYA: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT CONTAINS, AND WHY IT MATTERS
A bill of quantities (BOQ) is a detailed, itemised document that lists every material, quantity, unit rate, and labour cost involved in a construction project. It is produced from the architectural and structural drawings—after those drawings are complete—by a registered quantity surveyor. A BOQ lists everything from foundations and walling to roofing, finishes, fittings, and external works.
In the Kenyan construction market, budget overruns are common because most homeowners do not commission an independent BOQ before hiring. Without this document, a contractor can quote a lump sum with no breakdown, leaving you with no basis to challenge invoices if costs increase mid-build. A BOQ serves as the financial protection between you and the contractor: every cost is recorded before work begins, and any variation must be agreed in writing.
Request a Free Consultation
THE PROCESS
- 01
Share Your Drawings
You provide your completed architectural and structural drawings. If drawings are not finalised we advise on the earliest stage a BOQ can be reliably prepared and will not prepare BOQs from incomplete or unapproved drawings.
- 02
Measurement & Quantification
We measure and quantify every element of the build from your drawings: foundations, substructure, walling, roofing, windows, doors, finishes, drainage and external works. This methodical measurement typically takes 5–10 working days for a standard 3–5 bedroom residential project.
- 03
Pricing & Rate Application
We apply current Kenyan market rates to each measured item—rates updated regularly to reflect actual material and labour costs in Nairobi and central Kenya—producing a priced BOQ that reflects realistic current market costs.
- 04
Delivery & Tendering Support
We deliver your completed BOQ as a formatted document you can issue directly to contractors for pricing, and advise on evaluating quotes and flagging any items that appear unusual or inflated.
Timeline guidance: a BOQ for a 3–5 bedroom residential project typically takes 5–10 working days from receipt of complete drawings.
DELIVERABLES: WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Upon completion of our service you will receive a comprehensive documentation set prepared to professional standards. These deliverables close the information gap and allow you to move forward with your construction project in confidence.
-
Itemised, Priced Bill of Quantities
A complete document covering all elements of your residential or commercial build with quantities and prices for each item.
-
Trade Section Breakdown
Detailed costs for substructure, superstructure, roofing, finishes, external works and drainage.
-
Quantities and Unit Rates
Precise measurements for every item with current Kenyan market pricing applied.
-
Summary Sheet
A high-level overview showing the total estimated construction cost by section and the overall project total.
-
Tendering Format
A document formatted to be issued directly to contractors for competitive, apples-to-apples quotes.
-
Digital and PDF Formats
Editable digital files and PDF copies for your records and contractor use.
-
Narrative Summary
A brief explanation of key assumptions, exclusions, and the basis used for pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bills of Quantities
-
A bill of quantities (BOQ) is a detailed, itemised document that lists every material, quantity, and labour cost involved in a construction project. Prepared from architectural and structural drawings by a registered quantity surveyor, it provides a shared understanding of project costs between the homeowner and the contractor.
-
A contractor’s quote is prepared by the contractor and may omit breakdowns or include their own rates. A BOQ is produced independently with current market rates applied, allowing you to verify if a quote is fair and removing ambiguity about what is included in the price.
-
BOQ fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the total construction cost or as a fixed fee for residential projects. While there is an upfront cost, a detailed BOQ often saves homeowners significantly more by providing the leverage needed to negotiate contractor prices.
-
A BOQ should be commissioned after your architectural and structural drawings are complete, but before you approach contractors for quotes. The standard professional sequence is: design → structural drawings → BOQ → contractor tendering → construction.
-
In Kenya, a BOQ is prepared by a quantity surveyor registered with the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS). It should not be prepared by the contractor you intend to hire to avoid conflicts of interest.
-
Yes. If you are building in stages, we can prepare a BOQ for Phase 1 based on the relevant drawings. We recommend designing the full project upfront so each phase is accounted for and priced to match your construction programme.
RELATED SERVICES
A Bill of Quantities is part of a coordinated professional workflow. If you need any of the documents below, we provide these services in-house or through trusted partners.
-
Architectural Design Services
A BOQ is prepared from your architectural drawings. If these are not yet in place, our design service produces the primary documents required for a BOQ and contractor tendering.
-
Structural Design Services
A complete BOQ must cover structural elements. Our structural design service produces the detailed engineering documents needed to quantify reinforced concrete and load-bearing components accurately.