Civil Engineering Billing Guide: BOQ Preparation Step by Step and Quantity Estimation from Drawing
📘 Welcome to the complete Civil Engineering Billing Guide designed for site engineers, billing engineers, quantity surveyors, contractors, and fresh civil engineering graduates. In this guide, you will learn BOQ Preparation Step by Step, Quantity Estimation from Drawing, DSR Rate Analysis, and BOQ for G+1 Residential Buildings using practical examples from real construction projects.
🧱 Module 2: Surface & Site Preparation, Excavation and Backfilling
💡 The Beginner’s Reality Check – Bridging the gap between college theory and site‑office reality (Based on IS 1200 Part 1 & DSR)
🚧 THE GOLDEN RULE FOR FRESHERS: Never calculate excavation volumes based solely on the concrete footprint dimensions. Always visualize the human labor and machinery executing the task.
📏 1. Measurement Units (IS 1200 Part 1)
| Activity | Unit | Practical Rule of Thumb for Freshers |
|---|---|---|
| Jungle Clearing | Per 100 sqm (or m²) | Clearing surface vegetation, weeds, small saplings – depth negligible. |
| Surface Dressing | Per 100 sqm (or m²) | Superficial leveling, cutting/filling ≤ 15 cm depth. |
| Earthwork in Excavation | Cubic meters (m³) | Deep targeted digging for trenches/foundations past 30 cm depth. |
| Backfilling / Filling | Cubic meters (m³) | Putting soil back and compacting (ramming & watering). |
💰 2. DSR Rates – The “Bucket Brigade” Analogy
💡 Imagine a labourer shovelling dirt up to 1.5 m height (standard Lift). Deeper than 1.5 m → second worker needed → cost increases. That’s why we slice depths into tiers.
📥 DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES FOR MODULE 2
✅ Excel BOQ Sheet (Module 2) – Ready-to-use measurement sheet + DSR bill for G+1 building.
📊 Download Excel BOQ Template (Google Sheets)
📱 Join WhatsApp Channel to get more BOQ formats, templates, and site updates.
📱 Join WhatsApp Channel
📖 Official DSR Volume – 1 (Civil Works) – CPWD Publication
📄 Download DSR Vol. 1 (PDF) – CPWD
✅ Excel BOQ Sheet (Module 2) – Ready-to-use measurement sheet + DSR bill for G+1 building.
📊 Download Excel BOQ Template (Google Sheets)
📱 Join WhatsApp Channel to get more BOQ formats, templates, and site updates.
📱 Join WhatsApp Channel
📖 Official DSR Volume – 1 (Civil Works) – CPWD Publication
📄 Download DSR Vol. 1 (PDF) – CPWD
A. Initial Site Preparation
| DSR Item | Description | Unit | Rate (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.31 | Clearing jungle (girth ≤30 cm), rubbish removal up to 50 m periphery | 100 sqm | 1,020.00 |
| 2.33 | Surface dressing – cutting ridges, filling depressions, lead 50 m, lift 1.5 m | 100 sqm | 1,850.00 |
B. Depth‑Wise Excavation Slicing Rates (All soils)
| DSR Item | Depth Zone | Rate (₹/m³) | Cumulative Cost / m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8.1 | 0.0 m – 1.5 m (Base layer) | ₹205.00 | ₹205.00 |
| 2.11.1 | Extra for 1.5 m – 3.0 m | + ₹115.00 | ₹320.00 |
| 2.11.2 | Extra for 3.0 m – 4.5 m | + ₹245.00 | ₹450.00 |
C. Backfilling Operations
| DSR Item | Description | Unit | Rate (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.25 | Filling excavated earth in layers ≤20 cm, ramming, watering, lead 50 m, lift 1.5 m | m³ | 145.00 |
📌 3. Critical Norms for Freshers
🚧 The Working Space Rule (Most common mistake!)
If concrete footing = 2.0 m × 2.0 m and you dig exactly that size, a carpenter cannot stand inside to erect formwork.
IS 1200: For excavation depth > 1.0 m → add 0.3 m (30 cm) working space to all four sides of the concrete footprint.
🚚 Lead & Lift
• Lead (horizontal): Base rate covers up to 50 m. Extra distance → separate cartage item.
• Lift (vertical): Base rate covers up to 1.5 m. Deeper → triggers tiered premium slices.
📉 Backfill Deduction
Net Backfill = Total Excavation – Volume of embedded concrete (PCC + footing + column up to GL).
No deduction for pipes/conduits with cross‑section < 0.1 m².
📐 4. BOQ for G+1 Residential Building (23’0″ × 36’6″)
📋 Project Drawings
📋 MEASUREMENT SHEET (Quantity Takeoff)
| Item no | Items | No | Length (m) | Breadth (m) | Depth (m) | Quantity | Unit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.31 | Jungle clearing | 1 | 10.058 | 12.497 | – | 125.694826 | m² | |
| 2.33 | Surface dressing | 1 | 10.058 | 12.497 | – | 125.694826 | m² | |
| Excavation 1.5 m depth (2.8.1) | ||||||||
| C1,C10 | 2 | 1.75304878 | 1.676829268 | 1.5 | 8.818690512 | m³ | ||
| C2,C4,C5,C7,C8,C9 | 6 | 1.829268293 | 1.676829268 | 1.5 | 27.60633551 | m³ | ||
| C3,C11 | 2 | 1.75304878 | 1.676829268 | 1.5 | 8.818690512 | m³ | ||
| C6 | 1 | 1.905487805 | 1.676829268 | 1.5 | 4.792766582 | m³ | ||
| C12 | 1 | 1.676829268 | 1.600609756 | 1.5 | 4.025923929 | m³ | ||
| C13 | 1 | 1.97 | 1.524390244 | 1.5 | 4.504573171 | m³ | ||
| Total Excavation (1.5m depth) | 58.56698022 | m³ | ||||||
| 2.25 | Backfilling with ramming & watering | |||||||
| Backfilling in foundation | As above | 58.56 | m³ | |||||
| Back filling in Plinth | 1 | 7.012195122 | 11.12804878 | 1.071428571 | 83.60576719 | m³ | ||
| Deductions | ||||||||
| DEDUCTION – TOTAL P.C.C (1:4:8) up to plinth level | -5.867346939 | m³ | ||||||
| DEDUCTION – P.C.C below foundation brick work or ground beam | -2.617857143 | m³ | ||||||
| DEDUCTION – FOOTING CONCRETE QUANTITY | -9.849489796 | m³ | ||||||
| DEDUCTION – Column up to Plinth level | -1.924036281 | m³ | ||||||
| DEDUCTION – concrete work for ground beam & plinth beam | -5.598922902 | m³ | ||||||
| Net Backfilling Total | 116.3081141 | m³ | ||||||
📊 BILL OF QUANTITY (BOQ) – DSR RATE ANALYSIS
| Sr.no | Description | Qty | Rate (₹) | Unit | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.31 | Jungle clearing | 1.26 | 1020.00 | 100 m² | 1,282.09 |
| 2.33 | Surface dressing | 1.26 | 1850.00 | 100 m² | 2,325.35 |
| 2.8.1 | Excavation 1.5 m depth | 58.56 | 205.00 | m³ | 12,004.80 |
| 2.25 | Backfilling with ramming & watering | 116.3081141 | 145.00 | m³ | 16,864.68 |
| TOTAL BOQ AMOUNT | ₹32,476.92 | ||||
🧾 FINAL BILL AMOUNT (as per DSR) = ₹32,476.92
📌 Fresher Verification: This BOQ follows IS 1200 working space rules (depth >1.0m → 0.3m added) and DSR depth‑wise billing. Backfill deduction correctly removes all concrete volumes.
❓ 5. FAQs – Answering Practical Site Dilemmas
🧾 Q1: Why can’t I apply the higher premium rate to the entire excavation volume?
A: Because the premium rate is an extra‑over fee only for soil below 1.5 m. The upper layer must be billed at base rate.
📦 Q2: What is “Bulking” vs “Shrinkage” on site?
A: Bulking (10–30% volume increase) occurs when soil is excavated; shrinkage occurs when compacted. Always bill backfill in compacted cubic meters.
🛠️ Q3: A JCB digs the whole pit – do we still need depth slices?
A: Yes, contractual DSR rules apply regardless of machine speed. Deeper excavation has higher risk and cost.
📏 Q4: Foundation depth exactly 0.9 m – add working space?
A: No. IS 1200 allows working space only when depth > 1.0 m.
⛰️ Q5: Hit solid rock while using “All kinds of soil” items?
A: Stop work, document, and raise a Deviated Item Claim. Rock excavation is billed under higher DSR rates.
📊 Quick Reference for Freshers
| Parameter | Condition | Action / Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Working space | Depth > 1.0 m | Add 0.3 m to each side of footing plan |
| Base excavation (0–1.5 m) | All soils | ₹205 / m³ (DSR 2.8.1) |
| Extra depth (1.5–3.0 m) | Any soil | + ₹115 / m³ (DSR 2.11.1) |
| Backfill deduction | Embedded concrete | Subtract concrete volume from gross excavation |
| Lead / Lift baseline | Lead ≤50 m, Lift ≤1.5 m | Included in base rate; beyond → extra cartage |