Free contractor estimate template (PDF)
Break a job into labor, materials and subcontractors, so the customer can see where the money goes before they agree. No account, no card.
Prefer Word? Download the estimate template (.docx)
- Free to use
- Nothing to sign up for
- Deleted 30 days after you last open it
What to put on a contractor's estimate
Break the job into phases
"Demolition", "Framing" and "Electrical rough-in" as separate lines mean your progress invoices later match the estimate.
Say what is excluded
Anything not listed is not included, and you price changes in writing before the work starts. The Notes box is the place for that wording.
Put your license details in the Notes box
Some states require a license number on estimates or contracts. Check with your licensing board, and print yours where the customer will see it.
Line items contractors often use
- Labor
- Materials
- Deposit
- Permit fee
- Subcontractor work
- Demolition and hauling
- Change order
- Final payment
Tired of rebuilding the same estimate?
In Koteshen your customer accepts the estimate (a quote there) online, and you can ask for a deposit when they do (Basic plan and up). As the job moves along, you invoice each stage from the same account.
14 days free, no card. Then keep the Free plan or pick one with reminders.
Questions about contractor estimates
Is an estimate the same as a contract?
Not necessarily. Whether an accepted estimate counts as a contract depends on your state and on how you word it, so ask your licensing board or a lawyer if the job is a large one.
How do I price a job that might change?
Itemize what you know, and use the Notes box to say which lines are allowances or could change, and how you and the customer agree a change.
Do I charge sales tax on a contractor's estimate?
It depends on your state and on whether you are selling labor, materials or both. Check with your state's tax agency or your accountant. This generator doesn't calculate tax, so add it as its own line if you plan to charge it.