# Measurement Book in Construction

> A measurement book in construction records the measured quantity of each item of work before it is billed. See a trench example and the digital version.

Canonical: https://superwise.site/glossary/measurement-book/
Last updated: 2026-11-01

The official ledger in which an engineer records the measured quantity of completed work, and the basis for every contractor payment.

## What is Measurement Book (MB)?

A Measurement Book (MB) is the official ledger in which an engineer records the measured quantity of each item of work, as length, breadth and depth, before it is paid. In Indian government contracting, including CPWD works, every contractor bill and [RA bill](https://superwise.site/glossary/running-account-bill/) is based on the entries in the MB.

## Practical example

Before an earthwork contractor is paid for excavating a trench, the government junior engineer measures it with a tape and writes in ink: length 100 m, width 2 m, depth 1.5 m, total 300 cu.m. The contractor's bill is cleared because this entry exists.

## In SuperWise

SuperWise records measurements in measurement sheets, one per [BOQ](https://superwise.site/glossary/bill-of-quantities/) item and [work order](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-order/). Each line holds the number, length, breadth and height, with a deduction for openings, and the system computes the net quantity. Approving a sheet updates progress on the BOQ item, and the approved quantity feeds the RA bill raised against the work order.

[Digital measurement book](https://superwise.site/features/digital-measurement-book/)

## Related terms

- [Running Account bill (RA bill)](https://superwise.site/glossary/running-account-bill/)
- [Quantity Surveyor (QS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quantity-surveyor/)
- [Bill of Quantities (BOQ)](https://superwise.site/glossary/bill-of-quantities/)
- [Joint Measurement Record (JMR)](https://superwise.site/glossary/joint-measurement-record/)

## Related
- [Running Account bill (RA bill)](https://superwise.site/glossary/running-account-bill/)
- [Quantity Surveyor (QS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quantity-surveyor/)
- [Bill of Quantities (BOQ)](https://superwise.site/glossary/bill-of-quantities/)
- [Joint Measurement Record (JMR)](https://superwise.site/glossary/joint-measurement-record/)
- [Digital measurement book](https://superwise.site/features/digital-measurement-book/)