Job Estimate Template (Excel)

What is in this template

The workbook has an Estimate sheet and a How to use tab. It is for contractors, tradespeople and service businesses that quote a job before they start.

Estimate

At the top enter the customer, job, estimate date, how many days the quote stays valid, your markup percentage, sales tax percentage and deposit percentage. Then list every cost with a type from a drop-down (Labor, Materials, Equipment or Other), a quantity, unit and unit cost. Cost is quantity times unit cost. Under the list you get the cost subtotal, markup, subtotal with markup, sales tax on materials, the estimate total and the deposit due. A chart shows how cost splits across the four types.

How to use

Steps with links back to the estimate.

The sample data

The sample is a bathroom vanity and floor job. Eight lines add up to $1,810 of cost. A 15 percent markup adds $271.50. Sales tax of 7 percent on materials only comes to $70.04. The estimate total is $2,151.54 and a 30 percent deposit is $645.46. These figures are made up.

How to use it

1. Enter the customer, job, date and validity period.
2. Set markup, tax and deposit percentages.
3. List every labor, material, equipment and other cost.
4. Review the total, the deposit and the cost chart.
5. Print or save the sheet as a PDF to send to the customer.

Tips

• Be specific in each description so the customer sees what they pay for.
• Show the validity period, because prices change.
• Keep your cost and your customer price clear. The markup line shows the difference.
• Sales tax rules vary. This sheet taxes materials only, so change the formula if your area works differently.

Frequently asked questions

More free tools: All free calculators · Estimate template · Construction estimate template · How to write a job estimate