Documentation
Everything you need to know about using BoqCalc.
Getting Started
What is BoqCalc?
BoqCalc is an AI-powered platform that reads your Bill of Quantities (BOQ) documents and prices it two ways: Express for a fast direct/indirect cost split, or a full analysis with detailed labor, materials, equipment pricing, and risk analysis.
How do I create an account?
Sign up with your email or Google account at boqcalc.com. You'll receive 4 free credits to try the platform immediately.
What are credits?
Credits are used to finalize calculations. The number of credits required depends on your project's estimated value — the AI determines this automatically at the final step. Larger projects use more credits. Express costs about 70% of a full analysis at the same project value.
What's the difference between Express and a full analysis?
Express prices every BOQ line as direct vs indirect cost and finishes in minutes, for about 70% of a full analysis. A full analysis walks the 10-step wizard below and adds risk coefficients, a resource-level cost build-up, and the option to attach a dynamic schedule or cash flow. Pick Express for a fast number, the full wizard when you need the detail behind it.
The Express Path
Step 1 — Upload your BOQ
Same file formats as the wizard — Excel, PDF, or GAEB/ÖNORM for DACH tenders. Pick your country first: it drives labour rates, material prices and currency.
Step 2 — Check the rows
The AI extracts every line — code, description, unit, quantity. Correct, add or delete rows before pricing starts; there's no going back once you move on.
Step 3 — Documents (optional)
Upload specifications, drawings or site notes as PDFs to sharpen the pricing. Skip this step if you don't have any — it costs nothing to skip.
Step 4 — Your prices (optional)
Have subcontractor quotes or a supplier price list? Enter them here and Express uses your numbers instead of AI-estimated ones for those items.
Step 5 — Confirm and get your price
Express prices every line automatically — no ten-step walkthrough, no resource build-up to review. See the total before anything is charged, then confirm to unlock the full priced BOQ, exportable to Excel or PDF.
Plan & Cash Flow (Your Own Prices)
Step 1 — Upload your priced BOQ
Bring a BOQ that already has your own prices — lines without one get an indicative AI estimate instead. Same file formats as Express and the wizard. Pick your country first: it sets the currency and, for any unpriced lines, the market rates behind the estimate.
Step 2 — Choose Programme, Cash Flow, or both
Programme needs only quantities and works from any BOQ. Cash Flow needs real prices — if your BOQ has none yet, price it with Express or a full analysis first, then come back here to add Cash Flow.
Step 3 — Set a start date and duration (optional)
Skip this and the schedule starts today with a default duration. Set both here if you want a build ready to import straight into MS Project.
Step 4 — Build
See the exact credit cost before committing. Plan & Cash Flow skips the AI pricing pass entirely, so it's priced on its own — not as an add-on to a full calculation or Express. Confirm to build your programme and/or cash-flow forecast.
The 10-Step Wizard
Step 1 — Upload & Verify
Upload your BOQ document (Excel, PDF, or — for DACH tenders — GAEB DA XML / ÖNORM A2063). Our AI extracts every line item — code, description, unit, and quantity. GAEB and ÖNORM files are parsed directly (exact, no AI guesswork). You can review and correct items before proceeding.
Step 2 — Project Documents
Optionally upload project specifications, drawings, or notes as PDFs. The AI reads these to understand project context, which improves pricing accuracy in later steps.
Step 3 — Subcontractors
If you have subcontractor quotes for specific BOQ items, assign them here before the costing phase. Items assigned to subcontractors use your quoted price instead of AI-calculated costs.
Step 4 — Resource Library
Define your project's cost norms: individual labor rates, work crews (brigades), equipment with rental type and operator costs, and base material prices. The AI seeds this library automatically — review and adjust rates to match your market.
Step 5 — Direct Costs
For each BOQ item, review and adjust the AI-suggested labor and material assignments. Switch between the Labor and Materials tabs to fine-tune quantities, hours, and unit prices. Items assigned to subcontractors are shown but locked.
Step 6 — Additional Costs
Add project-level costs: bank guarantees, insurance, permits, testing, temporary facilities, and other expenses not tied to specific BOQ items.
Step 7 — Overhead
Define your overhead structure: site staff, office costs, project duration, and your target profit margin. The system calculates overhead as a percentage of direct costs.
Step 8 — Financing Parameters
Optionally enter your confirmed financing details: available credit line and interest rate, client advance %, payment lag, retention %, own equity, and supplier payment terms. The AI uses these exact values in the cash flow model instead of industry defaults.
Step 9 — Risk Analysis
Our most advanced AI model performs deep risk analysis on your entire project, identifying potential cost risks and generating price coefficients that adjust your estimate accordingly.
Step 10 — Review & Payment
Review your complete estimate with per-item breakdowns. The system calculates the credit cost based on project value. Confirm to deduct credits and unlock your final result.
Exports
Excel Export
Downloads a .xlsx file with 4 sheets: the filled BOQ with unit prices and totals, a detailed price breakdown per item, risk analysis results, and additional costs with subcontractor details.
PDF Export
Downloads a formatted PDF with a Price Analysis for each BOQ item, showing labor, equipment, and material tables with a summary calculation.
MS Project XML Export
Exports a .xml file in Microsoft Project XML format (.xml). Available from the Dynamic Schedule tab on the Review page. Importable in Microsoft Project — includes tasks with durations, start/finish dates, milestones, predecessor links, and schedule buffer.
Supported Formats
BOQ Upload
Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) and PDF documents are supported, plus structured BOQ exchange formats — GAEB DA XML (.x81–.x86) and ÖNORM A2063 (.xml) — so you can upload your Leistungsverzeichnis straight from your AVA software, no Excel/PDF export needed. Whichever format you use, the BOQ should contain columns for item code/number, description, unit of measurement, and quantity.
Project Documents
PDF files only. These can include technical specifications, drawings, site reports, or any additional project documentation.
Still have questions?
Contact our support team