Free estimate maker
Use this estimate generator to price a job for a client: list the work and materials, set a deposit and terms, and download an estimate to send. Prefer paper or Word? There is also a free estimate template and a free quote template.
Need a blank one? Download the free estimate template (PDF or Word), or the free quote template.
How to write an estimate
- Add your business details and logo, so the client knows who it is from and how to reach you.
- Describe the project in a sentence: what you will do and where.
- List the work and materials. Labor as hours times your rate; materials as separate lines. Add tax or a discount if they apply.
- Set the terms: how long the price is valid, the deposit, and when the balance is due. Then download the PDF.
What a good estimate includes
- Your business name, contact details and, where your trade requires it, your license number (add it under your address)
- The client's name and the job address
- An estimate number and date, and a date the estimate is valid until
- A clear line for each part of the work, with labor and materials separated
- Tax, any discount and the total
- The deposit, payment terms and what could change the price
- A place for the client to accept
Tips for winning the job
Send the estimate the same day you see the job. Use the client's words for the work in your line items, so it is easy for them to compare with other estimates. Separate optional extras into their own lines, and say what is not included so there are no surprises later.
Estimate or quote?
An estimate is your best guess at the price and can change if the job does. A quote is a fixed price for a defined job. The two templates on this page have the same layout, so pick the word that matches what you are promising, and say in the terms what could change the price. The questions below cover the difference in more detail.
After the client says yes
An estimate is sent before the work. When the client pays the deposit, give them a payment receipt so both of you have a record of it. When the job is paid in full, send a receipt for the final amount.
Example estimate
A finished estimate for an interior painting job, with labor and materials on separate lines and a deposit.
- Estimate number and valid-until date. The estimate number and date are at the top right, with the date the price is good until.
- Client and project. Who the estimate is for and a one-line description of the job, so it is clear what is being priced.
- Labor and materials. Prep, painting hours, paint and supplies each get a line with a quantity and a unit price.
- Total and deposit. The total, then the deposit the client would pay up front and the balance due on completion.
- Terms. What can change the price and when payment is due.
- Acceptance. A signature line for you and one for the client, so a signed estimate can be your go-ahead.
Free estimate template (PDF and Word)
A blank estimate template on one Letter page: your details, the client and the job, a table for labor and materials, the total, a deposit line, terms and a place for the client to accept. Use it as a job estimate template or a work estimate template for repairs, painting, landscaping, cleaning and other trades.
The PDF is for filling in on site. The Word version is an editable estimate template: type in your prices, add rows if you need them and print it, in Word, Google Docs or Pages.
Free. Made in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
See premium designs (Classic, Modern and Minimal, with a logo area; PDF and Word).
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Free quote template (PDF and Word)
The same layout titled Quote, with a Quote no. and a Valid until date, for when you give the client a fixed price for a defined job. Download it as a PDF to fill in by hand, or as a Word file to edit.
Free. Made in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
See premium designs (Classic, Modern and Minimal, with a logo area; PDF and Word).
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Questions people ask
Is this estimate maker free?
Yes. Make and download as many estimates as you like, with no account.
Is there a free estimate template I can print or edit in Word?
Yes. The blank estimate template on this page comes as a PDF to print and fill in by hand, and as a Word file you can edit. It has a table for labor and materials, a total, a deposit line, terms and a place for the client to accept. Or type the details into the estimate maker above.
Is there a free quote template?
Yes. The blank quote template on this page is the same layout titled Quote, with a Quote no. and a Valid until date. It comes as a PDF and as a Word file.
What is the difference between an estimate maker and an estimate generator?
Nothing important. Both mean a tool that turns your list of work and materials into a finished estimate you can send. This one gives you a PDF with no account.
What is the difference between an estimate and a quote?
An estimate is your best guess at the cost and can change if the job turns out different. A quote is usually a fixed price for a defined job. Many contractors use the words loosely; say in your terms whether the price can change.
What is the difference between an estimate and an invoice?
An estimate is sent before the work, so the client can decide. An invoice is sent after the work, or at agreed stages, to ask for payment. The invoice maker on this site, and the contractor invoice template, turn an estimate into an invoice.
How long should an estimate be valid?
Thirty days is common, because material prices and your schedule change. The estimate maker fills in a valid-until date 30 days ahead; change it to suit the job.
Should I ask for a deposit?
Many trades ask for a deposit before ordering materials or booking the job. Enter the percentage and the estimate shows the deposit amount under the total. Some states limit deposits for home improvement work, so check your local rules.
Can I add labor and materials separately?
Yes. Put labor on its own line, with hours as the quantity and your hourly rate as the price, and list materials on separate lines.
Is my information uploaded?
No. The estimate is built in your browser and the PDF is made on your device. Nothing you type is uploaded.
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