Sign Schedule
One row per sign design. Size class sets the face height (18 / 24 / 30 in panel heights, as used for FAA L-858 signs) — choose Custom to enter any height. ICAO signs use different face heights, so choose Custom and enter the height your project specifies. Double-faced signs have two faces and no back sheet.
| # | Tag | Sign Type | Size Class | Width (mm) | Face Ht (mm) | Faces | Qty |
|---|
CSV columns: tag, type (mandatory / location / direction / destination / information / distance), size (s1 / s2 / s3 / custom), width_mm, height_mm (needed for custom only), faces (1 or 2), qty.
Construction Assumptions
Defaults are typical starting values, not manufacturer data. Replace them with your fabricator's drawings, LED datasheet and the project specification before relying on the numbers.
Legend film coverage by sign type
| Sign type | Typical colours (verify against spec) | Legend film coverage (% of face) |
|---|
Share of the face area covered by legend / border overlay film. Background sheeting is always taken as the full face area.
Bill of Quantities & Material Take-Off
Enter a sign schedule above.
Report details
Material BOQ
Calculated / Nominal Quantity — not a Final BOQ Quantity. "Order qty" applies the allowance and rounds up to whole stock units (sheets, rolls, bars, tubes) or whole pieces. Verify against the approved sign drawings and supplier data before issue.
Per-Sign Breakdown (totals for the full quantity of each row, before allowances)
How This Calculator Works
Each sign row is expanded into component quantities using geometry and the editable assumptions, then summed across the schedule. Stock conversion (sheets, rolls, bars) is done on the project total, not per sign, so offcuts are shared across signs.
Face and housing area
W and H are the face width and height, D is the housing depth. Face panel sheet and housing sheet are counted separately because they usually differ in thickness. Aluminium weight uses 2,700 kg/m³.
Frame, gasket and fixings
Perimeter frame plus vertical stiffeners at spacing s, per face. Gasket length equals the face perimeter. Rivets/screws are perimeter length × fixings per metre; sealant length is perimeter × the sealant factor, divided by the metres per cartridge.
LED, driver and isolating transformer
The transformer is the smallest standard size (30 / 45 / 65 / 100 / 150 / 200 / 300 W) not below the required VA. Drivers are sized on LED watts against the derated driver rating. Use your sign manufacturer's actual load figure for the final selection, then confirm the circuit with the Series Circuit Load calculator.
Legs, base plates and foundation
One breakaway coupling and one base plate per leg, with the set number of anchor bolts per plate. The pad is (W + 2 × margin) long by the set width and depth; reinforcement is estimated per m³ of concrete. Frangibility, wind loading and foundation design must be verified separately.
Stock conversion
Sheet: gross area ÷ (stock length × width), rounded up. Sheeting and film: gross area ÷ roll width gives linear metres, then rolls. This is an area-based estimate with an allowance — it is not a cutting-layout optimisation, so wide faces that exceed the sheet or roll size are flagged for a joint.
What this calculator does not do
It does not choose sign type, legend, character height or border dimensions, and it does not check photometric, wind or frangibility compliance. It does not price the BOQ. Those depend on the approved standard, manufacturer and project specification. Size classes default to the FAA L-858 panel heights; confirm which dimensions your project actually requires.
Sign BOQ & Material Calculator: Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on turning an airfield guidance sign schedule into a material take-off.
What does the Sign BOQ & Material Calculator do?
It converts an airfield guidance sign schedule into quantities of aluminium sheet, retroreflective sheeting, legend film, LEDs, drivers, isolating transformers, frames, legs, base plates, foundations and hardware. Every stock size, spacing and allowance is editable so it can match your fabricator's or supplier's actual build. The output is a nominal estimate, not a final BOQ.
What do I enter in the sign schedule?
One row per sign design, with a tag, sign type, size class, width, faces and quantity. The size class sets the face height, using 18, 24 and 30 in panel heights as used for FAA L-858 signs. For ICAO signs, which use different face heights, choose Custom and enter the height your project specifies. Double-faced signs have two faces and no back sheet.
How are the face, housing and frame quantities calculated?
The face area is width times height times the number of faces. The housing area is built from the width, height and housing depth, and the face panel sheet and housing sheet are counted separately because they usually differ in thickness. Aluminium weight uses 2,700 kg per cubic metre. The frame is the perimeter plus vertical stiffeners at your spacing, per face, and the gasket length equals the face perimeter.
How are the LEDs, driver and isolating transformer sized?
The number of LEDs is the width divided by the pitch, rounded up, times the rows and the faces. The required VA is the LED watts divided by efficiency, with a margin added. The transformer is the smallest standard size not below that, from 30, 45, 65, 100, 150, 200 and 300 W. Use your sign manufacturer's actual load for the final selection, then confirm the circuit with the Series Circuit Load calculator.
How are legs, base plates and the foundation worked out?
The number of legs is the larger of your minimum and the width divided by the maximum leg spacing, rounded up, plus one. Each leg gets one breakaway coupling and one base plate, with the set number of anchor bolts per plate. The pad is sized from the width plus a margin, and reinforcement is estimated per cubic metre of concrete. Frangibility, wind loading and foundation design must be verified separately.
How is stock conversion done?
It is done on the project total, not per sign, so offcuts are shared across signs. Sheets are the gross area divided by the stock sheet area, rounded up. Sheeting and film use the gross area divided by the roll width to give linear metres, then rolls. This is an area-based estimate with an allowance, not a cutting-layout optimisation, and wide faces that exceed the sheet or roll size are flagged for a joint.
Can I import and export the schedule?
Yes. The CSV columns are tag, type, size, width in mm, height in mm (needed for custom size only), faces and qty. You can export the schedule as a CSV, and download the BOQ as CSV, copy it for Excel or print it.
Is the output a final BOQ?
No. Quantities are calculated nominal quantities, and the order quantity applies the allowance and rounds up to whole stock units or pieces. The defaults are typical starting values, not manufacturer data. The calculator does not choose sign type, legend, character height or border dimensions, check photometric, wind or frangibility compliance, or price the BOQ. Those come from the applicable standard, the manufacturer and the project specification.