Measurement guides for civil contractors
How to measure 20 common items of work for an RA bill: the unit, what is measured, the standard deductions, a worked example that adds up and the disputes to avoid.
- Items of work
- 20
- Trades
- 5
- Units
- cum, sqm, rmt, kg, nos
- Last checked
- 10 November 2026
Twenty items of work. Grouped by trade.
Building
Foundations, frame and walls
- Earthwork excavationcum
- PCCcum
- RCCcum
- Formworksqm
- Brickworkcum
- Block masonrycum
- Demolitioncum
Roads
Layer by layer, by chainage
Water
Pipelines and chambers
- Pipe layingrmt
- Manholenos
Finishes
Plaster, floors, paint, openings
- Plasteringsqm
- Flooringsqm
- Paintingsqm
- Waterproofingsqm
- Doors and windowssqm
Steel
Bars and sections by weight
Each guide ends in a measurement entry
Every guide closes with the item measured the way the site app records it: nos, L, B, D, deductions in red, and a total that the client’s engineer can check row by row.
- Unit and what the rate includes
- Deductions as per your contract
- Disputes the bill room settles
Which standard do these guides follow?
Common Indian practice under the relevant part of IS 1200 and typical PWD and CPWD contracts. Your contract's own mode of measurement always comes first.
Why are the IS 1200 part numbers not given?
Each part covers one item of work and the numbering should be read from the current BIS catalogue. Check the part your contract names.
Do the worked examples add up?
Yes. Every row is nos times the dimensions shown, and the rows add up to the total stated under the table.
Can the client's engineer use these guides?
Yes. They are written so both sides can agree on what is measured before the bill goes in.