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Operations and ERP
Free bill of materials software: one recipe for every product you make
A bill of materials is a recipe with part numbers. Get it right and costing, purchasing and planning follow. Get it wrong and every downstream number is quietly off.
The short answer. You can manage bills of materials for free with a structured spreadsheet or open source tools such as InvenTree, ERPNext, Odoo Community and Dolibarr. Free tools handle multi level BOMs, quantities and costs. Revision control, engineering change workflows and CAD integration are more limited. Get your part numbering and units right before you load anything.
Written by Procurement VMS Editorial Team · Reviewed by Michael, Procurement Advisor Expert · Updated
Why the BOM is the most reused document in a factory
Purchasing reads it to know what to buy. Production reads it to know what to build. Finance reads it to know what a product costs. Sales reads it to quote. One document, four audiences. A wrong quantity does not stay in one place; it spreads.
So treat the BOM as a controlled record, not a note. It needs an owner, a revision number and a rule for who can change it.
What a good BOM contains
- Part number and description: unique, stable, never reused for a different part.
- Quantity and unit: per one finished item, with a consistent unit of measure.
- Level: parent and child relationships for assemblies and sub assemblies.
- Supplier and lead time: the preferred source and how long it takes.
- Cost: standard or last paid, so the product cost rolls up.
- Revision and effective date: so you know which version was built.
Add scrap allowances where waste is real, and alternates where parts can be substituted. Costing then becomes arithmetic; use the cost per unit calculator and landed cost calculator to check the roll up.
Free routes worth testing
| Option | Type | Who runs it | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InvenTree | Open source | You or a partner | Makers and electronics teams wanting parts, stock and BOMs | Parts focused, with lighter accounting |
| ERPNext BOM | Open source suite | You or a partner | Manufacturers wanting BOMs tied to work orders and costing | Setup effort |
| Odoo Community BOM | Free edition | You or a partner | Teams wanting a modular manufacturing app | Some advanced features in paid edition |
| Dolibarr BOM | Open source suite | You or a partner | Small workshops with simple products | Limited multi level handling |
| Structured spreadsheet | Template | You | A few products with under 50 parts each | Revision control and cost roll up are manual |
InvenTree
An open source inventory management system with part categories, multi level BOMs and supplier parts.
ERPNext BOM
BOMs with operations, scrap and costing inside the manufacturing module.
Odoo Community BOM
BOMs and manufacturing orders in the community edition. Check revision features.
Dolibarr BOM
Bill of materials module with manufacturing orders.
Structured spreadsheet
One sheet per product, indent levels, locked formulas and a revision log.
Free download
Get the free bill of materials software scorecard and checklist
An Excel scorecard that scores up to four options against the criteria on this page, plus a one-page PDF checklist of upgrade triggers. Free, and ready the moment you submit the form.
- Excel scorecard with weights you can change and totals that update
- PDF checklist: the questions to ask before you commit and the signs it is time to pay
- No account, and no sales call unless you ask for one
Mistakes that corrupt a BOM
Part numbers with meaning that changes
Codes that embed supplier or size break when either changes. Keep numbers short, unique and meaningless, and put meaning in attributes.
Mixed units
Metres in one row and centimetres in another is the classic bug. Fix a unit per part and convert in the system.
No change control
If anyone can edit a BOM, you cannot know what you built last month. Record who changed what and when. The change order workflow and change order pages show a formal route.
A one week pilot
- Fix the part master. Unique numbers, one unit per part, clear descriptions.
- Build one BOM. Choose a product you know well and enter every part.
- Roll up the cost. Compare the roll up with the known cost.
- Change a part. Record the change and the revision.
- Hand it over. Ask purchasing and production to check it for errors.
Two-minute check
Is a free BOM tool enough?
Tick every statement that is true.
When to move beyond free
Move when you need engineering change management, CAD links, multi site BOMs or regulated traceability. Paid PLM and ERP systems add these. Meanwhile, link the BOM to planning in free MRP software and to stock in free inventory management software.
For buying parts at scale, see the manufacturing procurement software page, the free ERP software guide and the make or buy decision guide.
Free download
Get the free bill of materials software scorecard and checklist
An Excel scorecard that scores up to four options against the criteria on this page, plus a one-page PDF checklist of upgrade triggers. Free, and ready the moment you submit the form.
- Excel scorecard with weights you can change and totals that update
- PDF checklist: the questions to ask before you commit and the signs it is time to pay
- No account, and no sales call unless you ask for one
Is your unit cost right?
Check the roll up with the cost per unit calculator.
Questions people ask about free bill of materials software
Is there free bill of materials software?
Yes. InvenTree, ERPNext, Odoo Community and Dolibarr include BOM features, and spreadsheets work for simple products.
What is a multi level BOM?
A BOM where assemblies contain sub assemblies, each with their own parts, forming a tree.
What is the difference between BOM and MRP?
The BOM lists what goes into a product. MRP uses BOMs, stock and demand to plan purchases and production.
How do I keep BOMs accurate?
Use unique part numbers, fixed units, change control with owners, and periodic checks against the shop floor.
Do I need a BOM for a service business?
Not usually. BOMs apply to physical products with parts or ingredients.
Sources and how this page is kept current
- Panorama Consulting Group, The 2026 ERP Report, 4 March 2026.
- US Census Bureau, Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales: August 2026, released 15 October 2026.
Every figure above was opened at its source on 25 October 2026 and quoted as written. Where a source reports a survey, we name the year it was fielded. Tools named on this page are examples, not endorsements. Features, licences and free limits change, so read the vendor page before you commit, and tell us on the contact page if something is out of date. Our editorial team reviews each guide at least twice a year.