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Free contractor estimate template
Fill in the sheet below and print it, or save it as a PDF. Your line items, your rates, your logo. No account, no email, and nothing you type leaves this browser.
Worked example
Contractor estimate example
Composite deck, 12 × 20 ft, with stairs and aluminium railing. The rates are round example figures to show the layout, not a price for your area or ours.
| Line | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete footings, dug and poured | 9 ea | $140.00 | $1,260.00 |
| Deck framing, pressure-treated lumber | 240 sq ft | $14.00 | $3,360.00 |
| Composite decking, supplied and installed | 240 sq ft | $22.00 | $5,280.00 |
| Aluminium railing | 48 ft | $65.00 | $3,120.00 |
| Stairs, four risers | 1 set | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| Permit drawing and application | 1 job | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Clean-up and disposal | 1 job | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Subtotal | $14,670.00 | ||
| Tax 13% | $1,907.10 | ||
| Total | $16,577.10 |
What should a contractor estimate include?
Your business name and contact details, the client and the job address, a date and an estimate number, and a line for every piece of work with its quantity, unit and rate. Then the subtotal, tax, total and the deposit you want before you start. Last, the terms: how long the price holds, when payment is due, and what happens when the job turns up something nobody could see.
The line items do most of the work. "Deck, $19,000" invites a fight about the number. Seven lines with quantities show where the number came from, and a client who can see the maths argues about one line instead of the whole job.
Are contractor estimates free?
For most residential jobs, yes. A contractor visits, measures and sends a written estimate at no charge, because the estimate is how the job is won. Some trades charge for a detailed estimate on a large or complex job, like a full renovation with drawings, and many of them credit that fee back if you hire them.
If you give estimates for free, say so on your website and in your ads. People search for exactly that, and it is often what gets you the call over the next contractor.
What is the difference between an estimate and a quote?
An estimate is your best informed guess, and the final bill can move if the job changes. A quote is a fixed price for a fixed scope, and you carry the risk if it takes longer. Write "Estimate" or "Quote" at the top of the sheet and mean it, because clients read the word.
How do I turn this into a PDF?
Fill in the sheet, press "Print or save as PDF", and pick "Save as PDF" (or "Microsoft Print to PDF") as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it, the buttons and the remove marks are left off. On a phone, the share button in the print preview sends the PDF straight to email or WhatsApp.
When a PDF is not enough
Know when the client opened it
- A quotation portal: send a link, see when it is opened, take the deposit online
- The other free tools
- Send the address of your current site and get a direction and a basic build back in 48 hours.