Estimate · Construction
Free construction estimate template
Free construction estimate and bid template: scope, labor, materials, subs, options, deposit and signature. PDF, Word or Excel, or fill it in online.
- Formats
- PDF · Word · Excel · Fill online
- Paper
- Letter
- Currency
- USD
Free to download, no email needed. Fill it in online and sign up only when you send it to a customer.
Quick answer
A construction estimate shows your business name, contact details and license number, the customer and job address, an estimate number, the date and a valid-until date. It describes the scope and what is not included, then prices the work by phase or trade, with labor, materials and subcontractors on separate lines. Add options where the customer has a choice, permits, sales tax where it applies, the total, the deposit and payment schedule, and a signature block.
What to include
- Business name, contact details and license number
- Customer name, job address, date and estimate number
- Scope in plain words, and what's not included
- Work priced by phase or trade, with quantities
- Labor, materials and subcontractors on separate lines
- Permits and fees, if the job needs them
- Options, such as good / better / best finishes, one recommended
- Sales tax line, where it applies
- Deposit, payment schedule and valid-until date
- Signature and date to accept
Example, line by line
| Item | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul away (each) | 1 | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Plumbing rough-in and trim, sub (each) | 1 | $4,200.00 | $4,200.00 |
| Electrical, lighting and exhaust fan, sub (each) | 1 | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Cement board and waterproofing (sq ft) | 110 | $6.00 | $660.00 |
| Porcelain tile, mid-range (sq ft) | 160 | $9.00 | $1,440.00 |
| Tile labor (sq ft) | 160 | $14.00 | $2,240.00 |
| Vanity, toilet and fixtures (each) | 1 | $2,800.00 | $2,800.00 |
| Permit (each) | 1 | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Total | $15,390.00 | ||
How to use it
- 1Download it, or fill it in online.
- 2Add your own prices and your customer's details.
- 3Send it, get it signed and collect the deposit.
Construction estimates, part by part
A remodel or addition is the biggest check most homeowners ever write to a contractor. They will read your estimate closely, often next to two others. A clear, line-by-line estimate shows you have thought the job through, and it gives you something solid to point to when the scope starts to grow.
Put your business name, contact details and license number at the top. The FTC tells homeowners to look for a contractor's license number and says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price. Then the customer's name, job address, date and estimate number.
Write the scope in plain words: "Gut and remodel hall bathroom: remove tub, install walk-in shower with tile surround, new vanity, toilet, lighting and exhaust fan." Then list what is not included, such as appliances the owner buys, or repairs to framing found behind the walls.
Price the job by phase or trade: demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile, finish carpentry, paint. Inside each, keep labor, materials and subcontractors on separate lines. It makes your number easy to check, and makes changes easy to price later. Add permits and fees on their own line if the job needs them.
Finishes are where customers want choices. Show options such as standard, mid-range and premium tile or cabinets, each priced in full, with your recommendation marked.
Below the lines: sales tax where it applies, the total, the deposit and payment schedule, a valid-until date, and a signature block.
Set it up once, then reuse it
- Download the PDF, Word or Excel version and save a master with your business details and license number.
- At the walkthrough, fill in the customer, job address, date, estimate number and valid-until date.
- Write the scope and exclusions, then price each phase with labor, materials and subs.
- Add permits and build finish options where the owner has a choice.
- Add tax, deposit and payment schedule, then send it and ask the customer to sign.
Construction jobs this template fits
Builders and general contractors use this estimate for a bathroom remodel, a kitchen remodel, a basement finish, an addition and a deck build. It also works as a construction bid sheet when you price against other builders, because every phase is broken out.
Bill the finished work with the construction invoice template and confirm deposits and progress payments with the construction receipt template. The general contractors industry page shows how Quoza handles construction estimates.
Download or fill it in online
Download the construction estimate template as a PDF, Word file or Excel sheet, free and without giving an email address.
Or use the construction estimate maker: fill it in on your phone at the walkthrough, see exactly what your customer will get, then tap Send to customer. You sign up at that step with nothing to retype, and your customer signs the estimate online.
Send it, get it signed, collect the deposit
Questions
What should a construction estimate include?
Your business details and license number, the customer and job address, an estimate number and date, the scope and exclusions, the work priced by phase or trade, labor, materials and subs, permits, options, sales tax where it applies, the total, deposit and payment schedule, a valid-until date and a signature block.
Is an estimate the same as a quote or a bid?
People use them loosely. An estimate is usually your expected price, a quote a firmer price for a defined job, and a bid a price submitted against other builders. Whatever the label, say exactly what the price includes and excludes.
How long should a construction estimate be valid?
Long enough for the owner to decide and line up financing, short enough that lumber and material prices still hold. Put a clear valid-until date on every estimate.
Should I ask for a deposit on a construction estimate?
That is your call. It can make sense when you order materials or book subs before you start. If you take one, put the amount and the payment schedule on the estimate. Some states limit how much a contractor can ask for as a down payment, so check your state's rules before you set one.
Can my customer sign the construction estimate online?
With the downloaded file, they sign on paper or send back a signed scan. If you make the estimate in the Quoza construction estimate maker, the customer gets a link, reads it on their phone and signs online.
Can I download the template in Word or Excel?
Yes. The construction estimate template comes as a PDF, a Word file and an Excel sheet. All three are free, with no email required.