BOQ format
How to quote curtains and blinds work
Why a curtain quote is not measured by the window, how fullness decides the fabric quantity, and what belongs on the line beside the cloth.
The unit
Running foot of track, with fabric by the metre at a stated fullness
The window width sets the track. The fabric is a multiple of it — usually two to two-and-a-half times for a proper gather — so a six-foot window can need fifteen feet of cloth. Quoting fabric by window width is the single commonest error here.
What the BOQ breaks into
| Line | Unit | Why it is its own line |
|---|---|---|
| Track or rod | rft | Including brackets and end caps. |
| Main fabric | metre | At a stated fullness multiple, not window width. |
| Sheer / lining | metre | A second layer is a second fabric and a second track. |
| Stitching | panel | Per panel, by heading type. |
| Blinds | sqft | Roller, roman or venetian — priced by area, unlike curtains. |
| Installation | nos | Per window. Concrete lintels change the labour. |
The specs that decide the rate
- Fullness multiple
- Two times versus two-and-a-half changes the fabric quantity by a quarter. It is the number that decides the price and it is almost never written down.
- Heading type
- Eyelet, pinch pleat, wave. Changes stitching labour and how much fabric the gather consumes.
- Fabric width and drop
- Whether the fabric runs railroaded or with joins, which decides waste on tall windows.
Fabric quoted against the window, not against the fullness
A client measures their window and expects that much cloth. A curtain needs two to two-and-a-half times it, plus hem and heading. A quote that does not state the fullness looks expensive next to one that quietly assumed less, and the cheaper one delivers curtains that will not close properly. Put the multiple on the line.
Houscade writes this breakdown for you, room by room, and the client approves it on their phone. See a real quotation.