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Estimate template

A job estimate for contractors and trades. It has a box for the scope of work, separate tables for labor and for materials, room for exclusions, totals for each part and an estimated total, and signature lines for you and the customer. Type your details or print it blank.

By Paul Gunder. Free to print for home, classroom and office use; see how our printables are made.

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Estimate1 page · US Letter

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EstimateEstimate no.DateValid untilBUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESSCUSTOMER AND JOB SITESCOPE OF WORKLaborHoursRateAmountMaterials and partsQtyUnit costAmountLaborMaterialsTaxEstimated totalEXCLUSIONS AND NOTESPrepared byDateAccepted by (customer)DatePrintablePal.com · free printable formsEstimate
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On this page

Why labor and materials are separate

Customers ask two questions about an estimate: what am I paying for the work, and what am I paying for the stuff? Splitting the page answers both. The Labor table has a description, hours, rate and amount on each row. The Materials and parts table has a description, quantity, unit cost and amount. Each feeds its own total box, so the customer sees labor, materials, tax and the estimated total separately.

The split also helps you. When the price of lumber or copper moves between the estimate and the job, you can show exactly which part of the number changed.

Scope of work and exclusions

The Scope of work box under the customer block is where the job is described in plain words: what will be done, where, and to what standard. The Exclusions and notes box at the bottom says what is not included. Most disagreements about a finished job come from something one side assumed was included, so it pays to be specific: "Does not include painting", "Disposal of old fixtures included", "Price assumes no rot under the existing deck boards".

The FTC's advice to homeowners is to get written estimates from several contractors and compare them. A clear scope makes yours easy to compare, and easy to choose.

The settings

  • Rows. The rows are shared between the two tables, so 12 rows gives six labor rows and six materials rows.
  • Tax line. Turn it off where materials are not taxed or where tax is already in your unit costs.
  • Valid until. Estimates go stale as prices move. Thirty days is typical.

Worked example: a bathroom fan replacement

An electrician estimates replacing a bathroom exhaust fan. The scope reads "Remove old fan, install new 80 CFM fan with humidity sensor, vent to existing roof jack, patch and paint ceiling around housing". Labor is one row: "Remove and install fan, 3 hours, $85, $255.00". Materials are "Exhaust fan with humidity sensor, 1, $139.00", "4 in. insulated duct and clamps, 1, $24.00" and "Wire, connectors, patch compound, 1, $12.00", which comes to $175.00.

So labor is $255.00, materials $175.00, and with 7% tax on the materials ($12.25) the estimated total is $442.25. The exclusions box notes "Any attic access repairs quoted separately."

Signatures

The page ends with Prepared by and Accepted by lines, each with a date. A signed estimate is a record of what both sides expected. This template is not legal advice; licensing and contract rules for contractors vary by state.

Sources

  1. FTC: Hiring a contractor consumer.ftc.gov
  2. IRS Publication 583: Starting a Business and Keeping Records irs.gov