Source: https://www.quantsurv.com/library/glossary/variation
Content format: Markdown version of the public page.
Content reviewed: 2026-10-10

# Variation (variation order)

A change to the work in your contract that the other party instructs, such as extra, changed or omitted work.

by [Jack Butler-Kettle](<https://www.quantsurv.com/about#jack-butler-kettle>) · About 1 min readShare

## Further detail

Read this alongside [NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works](<https://www.rics.org/content/dam/ricsglobal/documents/standards/NRM-2_Oct2022_Update.pdf>).

A variation changes the agreed work under the applicable contract. An instruction, entitlement to payment and valuation are related but separate questions. Comparing the original scope with the changed requirement helps distinguish additional work from something already included in the price.

Record the change, its authority and its effect. Our [Change valuation and compensation-event quotations](<https://www.quantsurv.com/quantity-surveying?service=%2Fquantity-surveying%2Fvariations-compensation-events#client-types>) service supports routine notification and valuation. An [Variation Recovery](<https://www.quantsurv.com/claims?service=%2Fvariations%2Fservices%2Fvariation-recovery#client-types>) addresses a refused or disputed change.

## Sources

1.  [NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works, UK 2nd edition, October 2021 (reissued October 2022 as RICS practice information)](<https://www.rics.org/content/dam/ricsglobal/documents/standards/NRM-2_Oct2022_Update.pdf>). RICS.

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