Free template · Copy & paste
Free construction estimate template
For decks, additions, and bigger jobs — copy the template, split materials and labor, and send a clear total customers can approve.
How to use this template
- 1Tap Copy on the blank template (or the example).
- 2Paste into Notes, Messages, or email.
- 3Replace every [fill in] with your job details and prices.
Blank template — fill in your job
Every line says [fill in]. Change those to your customer, scope, and prices.
YOUR BUSINESS Business name: [fill in] Phone: [fill in] Email: [fill in] CUSTOMER & JOB Customer name: [fill in] Job address: [fill in] Estimate number: [fill in] Today's date: [fill in] Quote good until: [fill in — often 14 days] PROJECT NAME [fill in — e.g. 12×16 composite deck] WHAT WE WILL DO • [fill in — layout, locates, footings] • [fill in — framing / structure] • [fill in — finish materials install] NOT INCLUDED (say "none" if everything is covered) • [fill in — engineering or rot repair] • [fill in — work outside footprint] PRICE • Labor & equipment — $[amount] • Materials — $[amount] • Permits / extras — $[amount] TOTAL: $[fill in] Deposit: [30]% = $[fill in] — due when customer approves Balance: due when job is finished HOW TO APPROVE Reply YES to this message, or use the quote link I send you.
Example quote — copy and edit
Realistic sample with numbers. Change names, scope, and dollar amounts for your job.
Summit Build Co. (Customer: Alex & Morgan Kim) 904 Hillcrest Dr, Round Rock TX Project: 12×16 composite deck Quote #1204 · Good for 14 days WHAT WE WILL DO • Lay out footprint; call for utility locates (customer scheduled) • Install concrete pier footings per local code • Frame deck with pressure-treated joists and ledger attachment • Install composite decking, fascia, and one set of stairs NOT INCLUDED • Engineering or permit fees unless listed above • Rot repair to existing ledger or siding • Staining or sealing beyond manufacturer spec PRICE • Footings, framing labor & equipment — $4,200 • Materials — lumber, hardware, composite decking — $5,100 • Stairs, railing, permits (if required) — $1,800 TOTAL: $11,100 Deposit (30%): $3,330 Balance: $7,770
Quick checklist — before you leave
- 1Project address and footprint dimensions
- 2Utility locates and permit responsibility
- 3Material specs (decking brand, railing, fasteners)
- 4Foundation / framing approach
- 5Exclusions — rot repair, engineering, HOA approvals
- 6Weather or access constraints
- 7Deposit and draw schedule if multi-phase
- 8Quote expiry date
Preview — customer quote link
Summit Build Co.
Proposal for
Alex & Morgan Kim
904 Hillcrest Dr, Round Rock TX
12×16 composite deck
Valid 14 days from send date
Scope of work
- Lay out footprint; call for utility locates (customer scheduled)
- Install concrete pier footings per local code
- Frame deck with pressure-treated joists and ledger attachment
- Install composite decking, fascia, and one set of stairs
Not included
- Engineering or permit fees unless listed above
- Rot repair to existing ledger or siding
- Staining or sealing beyond manufacturer spec
Your price
- Footings, framing labor & equipment
- $4,200
- Materials — lumber, hardware, composite decking
- $5,100
- Stairs, railing, permits (if required)
- $1,800
30% deposit ($3,330) due on approval
Sample layout — send live quotes with BuildQuote
↑ What a polished quote link looks like in BuildQuote (approve + deposit on their phone).
Turn this into a sendable quote on your phone
No credit card required. · 2 free quotes included
Header
- Your business name, phone, and email
- Customer name and job address
- Estimate number and date
- Valid until date (14 or 30 days is common)
Scope of work
- Plain-language description of what you will do
- Materials and key quantities where it matters
- What is included in the price
Exclusions
- Permits the customer handles
- Repair of hidden damage
- Work outside the measured area
Price & payment
- Total price or itemized total
- Deposit amount (25%, 30%, or 50% is typical)
- When the balance is due
More free estimate templates
9 things every contractor estimate should include
Whether you price a patio, a repaint, or a full landscape refresh, a clear estimate protects you from scope creep and helps homeowners say yes faster. Include these nine blocks on every quote you send from the truck.
Your business and contact information
Show your business name, phone number, and email at the top. If you have a logo, use it — branded quotes look more professional than a plain text message and are easier for customers to find later.
Customer name and job address
Address the estimate to the homeowner by name and include the street address for the job. This avoids confusion when someone is comparing multiple bids and makes the quote feel personal, not generic.
Estimate number and date
Assign a unique quote number to every estimate you send. Pair it with the date issued so you can reference it in follow-up texts, deposit conversations, and when the job turns into an invoice.
A detailed scope of work
Break the job into plain-language line items — not one vague lump sum. List prep, materials, install, and cleanup separately where it helps. Homeowners trust quotes that explain what they are paying for.
Pricing and how you calculated it
For each major piece, show quantity or area where it matters (sq ft, linear feet, room count, cubic yards). Itemize materials separately from labor when the job is material-heavy so the total does not feel arbitrary.
What is not included
Call out exclusions up front: permits the customer handles, hidden damage, haul-off limits, or work outside the measured area. Stating exclusions early prevents the “I thought that was included” conversation after you start.
Timeline or start window
Give a realistic start window or completion estimate — even a range like “start within 2–3 weeks of approval.” Timing matters as much as price for busy homeowners scheduling around work and travel.
Terms, expiry, and payment
State how long the quote is valid (14 or 30 days is common), the deposit amount (25%, 30%, or 50% is typical for trades), and when the balance is due. Clear payment terms reduce back-and-forth after approval.
Total and next step to approve
Show the total prominently and tell the customer exactly how to say yes — sign, reply, or tap approve on a link. The best estimates make the next step obvious so you are not chasing “let me think about it” by text for a week.
Trade-specific templates
Painting, landscaping, lawn care, and more — each with a blank template and example you can copy.
Free painting estimate template
Copy a blank painting estimate or the example below — prep, coats, and exclusions spelled out so customers do not argue later.
Free landscaping estimate template
Tap Copy for a blank landscaping estimate or a filled example — mulch, plants, haul-off, and labor spelled out so customers trust your total.
Free lawn care estimate template
Price mowing and maintenance clearly — visit frequency, what's included each trip, and what's extra. Copy the template on site and text it, or send a quote link customers approve on their phone.
Who uses contractor estimate templates?
Any home-service pro who quotes before starting work benefits from a repeatable template. These trades use the same structure most often:
- Exterior & hardscape. Landscapers, fence installers, concrete contractors, pressure washers
- Interior finish. Painters, drywall crews, flooring installers, tile setters
- General home services. Handymen, remodel subs, junk removal, garage organizers
- Seasonal & maintenance. Gutter cleaners, holiday lighting, lawn care, snow removal
Contractor estimate best practices
Write it on site while details are fresh
Measure, note access issues, and capture exclusions before you drive away. Quotes written at night from memory miss the edge cases that become change orders.
Use language the homeowner understands
Skip trade jargon unless you explain it. “Two coats on walls, one coat semi-gloss on trim” beats “full interior application per spec.”
Set an expiration date
Material prices and your schedule change. A 14-day validity date creates urgency and protects you from honoring an old number months later.
Send a link, not a screenshot
A branded quote link looks professional on mobile, is easy to forward to a spouse, and can include approve-and-pay in one step — better than a PDF lost in a group text.
Follow up within 48 hours
A short text — “Any questions on the quote I sent?” — often closes the gap between “looks good” and “approved.” Most jobs are lost to silence, not price.
Frequently asked questions
- What should a construction estimate template include?
- Include project scope by phase, material specs, labor, permits if applicable, exclusions (hidden damage, engineering), timeline, deposit, and quote expiry. Separate materials from labor on material-heavy jobs.
- Is this construction estimate template for residential jobs?
- Yes. It is built for residential decks, remodels, and small build projects — not commercial GC tender packages. Keep line items plain-language for homeowners.
- How do I estimate labor and materials on a deck build?
- List footings and framing labor, then materials (lumber, hardware, decking) as its own line. Call out stairs, railing, and permits separately so the total is easy to defend.
- Can customers approve a construction estimate online?
- With BuildQuote you send a link after filling in scope on site. They approve on their phone and can pay a deposit without PDFs or paper signatures.
Want approve-and-pay on a link? Try BuildQuote free — first 2 quotes on us.