Bill Of Quantities Total Calculator

Work out bill of quantities total instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Bill Of Quantities Total Calculator

A bill of quantities totals the priced measured work section by section, then adds a contingency for undefined risk. Looking at which section dominates the total shows where estimating error hurts most, and where value engineering effort should be concentrated.

Formula

Bill total

Total = sum of section values x (1 + contingency percentage)

Worked example

With the default values below, Bill Of Quantities Total Calculator returns Bill of quantities total of $551,250.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Substructure and civil worksminimum 0: 250,000
Superstructure and finishesminimum 0: 180,000
Services and external worksminimum 0: 95,000
Contingencyaccepts 0–30 %: 5 %

Results

Bill of quantities total: $551,250.00
Measured works subtotal: $525,000.00
Contingency sum: $26,250.00
Largest section share: 47.6% %

Step by step

1Values used
2Bill total
3Bill of quantities total= 551,250.00
4Measured works subtotal= 525,000.00
5Contingency sum= 26,250.00
6Largest section share= 47.6 %

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Bill Of Quantities Total figure worked out?

Total = sum of section values x (1 + contingency percentage). A bill of quantities totals the priced measured work section by section, then adds a contingency for undefined risk.

How large should the contingency be?

It reflects design maturity: 10-15 percent at concept, 5-10 percent at detailed design and 2-5 percent on a fully documented tender. Carrying a large contingency on a well defined job just inflates the budget.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: Substructure and civil works, Superstructure and finishes, Services and external works, Contingency. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.