BOQ format
How to quote electrical work
Why an electrical BOQ is quoted per point, what a point should include, and the definition gap that makes two electrical quotes look different by half.
The unit
Point (nos), with the definition of a point written down
A point is one switched outlet wired back to the distribution board. Whether it includes the conduit, the wire, the switch, the modular plate and the labour is the whole argument — and it is almost never written on the line.
What the BOQ breaks into
| Line | Unit | Why it is its own line |
|---|---|---|
| Light points | nos | State what the point covers, end to end. |
| Power points (6A / 16A) | nos | Different rates. A 16A run needs heavier wire. |
| AC points | nos | Dedicated circuit, separate from general power. |
| Distribution board | nos | MCBs and RCCB itemised, not a lump sum. |
| Concealed conduit | rft | Where it is priced separately from the point. |
| Switches and modular plates | nos | Often client-choice and often excluded — say which. |
| Fixture installation | nos | Fitting the light is not the same line as wiring the point. |
The specs that decide the rate
- What one point includes
- Conduit, wire, back box, switch, plate, labour — name them. This single sentence is the difference between two quotes that look 40% apart and two that can be compared.
- Wire brand and gauge
- 1.5 / 2.5 / 4 sq.mm by circuit, and whose. FRLS or not. Buried in a wall for thirty years.
- Switch range
- Modular ranges span a wide price band within the same brand. The range name, not just the brand.
Nobody writes down what a point is
One studio prices a point as wire-to-switch-installed; another prices the wiring and lists plates separately. Both are honest and the totals differ by a third. The client reads two numbers and picks the lower one, then finds the switches are extra. One sentence defining a point, on the BOQ, removes the entire dispute.
Houscade writes this breakdown for you, room by room, and the client approves it on their phone. See a real quotation.