Free contractor estimate template.
A clean estimate template for renovation, remodeling, and specialty trade work. Copy the sections you need, fill in your numbers, and send it. No signup required to use the template.
- Line items with labor and materials
- Markup and tax
- Acceptance and validity terms
A good estimate tells the homeowner exactly what they are paying for, protects your margin, and gives them a simple way to say yes. Use the structure below as your estimate template. The sample line items show the level of detail that wins jobs without burying the client in a spreadsheet.
The template
Contractor Estimate Template
Select the text and copy it, or use it as a checklist while you build your own.
Header
- •Your business name, license number, address, phone, and email
- •Client name, project address, phone, and email
- •Estimate number and date
- •Valid until (30 days is standard)
Project scope
- •One paragraph describing the work in plain language
- •What is included
- •What is explicitly not included (exclusions)
- •Who supplies fixtures, finishes, and appliances
Line items
- •See the sample table below. Group by phase or by trade so the total is easy to follow.
Pricing summary
- •Subtotal
- •Markup or overhead and profit (as a line or built into unit prices)
- •Sales tax where it applies
- •Total estimate
Payment schedule
- •Deposit due on acceptance
- •Progress payments tied to milestones (demo complete, rough in, install, final)
- •Final payment due at substantial completion
Terms and acceptance
- •How long the price holds
- •How change orders are handled and priced
- •Warranty period on workmanship
- •Client signature and date, contractor signature and date
Sample
| Item | Quantity | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul away | 1 | $2,900 | $2,900 |
| Cabinets, semi custom, supply and install | 1 kitchen | $18,400 | $18,400 |
| Quartz countertops, template, fabricate, install | 42 sq ft | $150 | $6,300 |
| Backsplash tile and labor | 38 sq ft | $75 | $2,850 |
| Plumbing rough in and fixture set | 1 | $3,100 | $3,100 |
| Electrical and lighting package | 1 | $4,200 | $4,200 |
Subtotal $37,750. Add your markup, then tax where it applies, to reach the total.
What every renovation estimate should include
A written scope with exclusions
State what is included and, just as important, what is not. Most disputes start with an assumption that was never written down.
Itemized labor and materials
Break the job into line items grouped by phase or trade. Clients approve faster when they can see where the money goes.
Your markup, applied consistently
Cover overhead and profit either as a visible line or built into unit prices, but apply the same percentage every time so your margin holds.
Sales tax handled correctly
Apply tax to the taxable portion based on your state and locality. When in doubt, note that tax is estimated and will be finalized on the invoice.
A payment schedule tied to milestones
A deposit plus progress payments at demo, rough in, and install keeps cash flow positive and reduces the final balance you have to chase.
Validity and change order terms
Say how long the price holds (30 days is normal) and how changes are priced, so a delayed decision or a scope change does not eat your margin.
Signature lines
An estimate is not a commitment until both sides sign. Include a date next to each signature.
Estimate template FAQ
Is this contractor estimate template really free?+
Yes. Copy the structure and sample line items above and use them for your own estimates at no cost. There is no signup required to use the template.
What is the difference between an estimate and a quote?+
An estimate is your best projection of cost and can change if the scope changes. A quote is a fixed price you are committing to. Renovation work is usually estimated, then locked to a contract price once the scope is final.
How much detail should a renovation estimate have?+
Enough that the client can see the major phases and what drives the cost, without a hundred micro line items. Six to fifteen grouped line items is typical for a kitchen or bathroom remodel.
How do I turn this template into a faster workflow?+
Renovate ships kitchen, bathroom, whole home, and deck estimate templates with line items, markup, and tax already structured. Clients accept online with one tap and the accepted estimate becomes an invoice automatically, from $29.99 a month.
Stop rebuilding this document on every job.
Renovate builds your estimates from reusable templates, keeps the numbers tied to the contract, and lets clients approve online. From $29.99 a month with unlimited users.