What is the difference between a construction estimate and a quote?

An estimate is an educated guess at what the work will cost based on a defined scope. It can move if the scope or conditions change. A quote is a firm fixed price for a specific scope, and you are committed to it once the customer accepts. Most residential contractors send estimates, then convert to a fixed-price contract once scope is locked.

How long should a construction estimate be valid?

Thirty days is the standard. Material prices, sub availability, and your own schedule all move inside that window. The template includes a validity field so you can change it per job. For 2025 to 2026 work where supply chains are still bouncy, some contractors are quoting 14 days for the price portion and noting the scope itself stays valid for 60.

Should I show line items on an estimate or just a total?

Line items. Lump-sum estimates make customers nervous and make it harder to defend your price. Showing quantity, unit price, and total per line lets the customer see where their money goes. It also gives you a cleaner path to changing scope mid-job because you can point to the specific line that moved.

What exclusions should I list on a construction estimate?

Anything common that customers assume is included but is not. Examples: permit fees, engineering, dumpster, port-a-john, dewatering, unsuitable soil removal, rock excavation, irrigation repair, sod replacement, electrical service upgrades. Write them out. The number of fights you avoid is worth the line of text.

Do I need a customer signature on an estimate?

Yes. A signed estimate becomes a contract for that scope and price. Even if you intend to convert to a longer contract later, get the signature on the estimate so you have documented acceptance of the scope and price. The template has a signature line at the bottom for this reason.

How much deposit should I require on a construction project?

In Florida, contractor deposits are capped at 10 percent unless you have a stored materials provision or you are subject to a specific exemption. Many residential contractors collect 10 percent at signing and 30 to 40 percent at material delivery, with progress draws after that. Adjust to your state and to your cash needs.

Home · Templates · Construction Estimate

Free template

Construction Estimate Template

Line-item estimate with company header, customer info, scope narrative, exclusions, deposit terms, validity period, and a signature line. Download as PDF.

See the app version

Free, no signup, no email wall.

What's in this template

Everything you'd want on a signable estimate

Company + customer header

Your name, address, phone, license number, email. Customer name and project address. All the pieces a signed estimate needs.

Ten line-item rows

Description, quantity, unit price, total. Subtotal, tax, and grand total already wired up. Fill in real numbers, not lump sums.

Deposit + payment terms

Deposit at signing, progress at material delivery, milestone draws, and final on punch-list sign-off. Pre-written for you to edit.

Scope narrative

Short paragraph describing the job in plain English. Customer signs the scope, not just the number.

Exclusions list

Permit fees, dumpster, dewatering, sod, electrical upgrades. Everything customers assume is included but is not.

Signature + validity

30-day validity block. Customer signature line at the bottom. Signed estimate becomes a contract for the listed scope and price.

How contractors use it

Three steps from walkthrough to signed

Walk the job, do the takeoff

Measure. Note materials. Take photos. Enough scope detail to put real numbers on paper, not a lump-sum guess.

Fill in the template

Header, line items, subtotal, tax, deposit terms, exclusions. Number the estimate so it turns into an invoice later.

Send it, get it signed

Email or hand-deliver the PDF. Customer signs at the bottom. That signature converts the estimate into a contract for the listed scope.

About the format

Why line items beat lump-sum

Lump-sum estimates make customers nervous and give you nothing to point at when scope changes mid-job. Line items show the customer where every dollar goes: 1,800 SF travertine at $14/SF reads as a real number. "1 lump sum, $25,000" reads like a guess.

This template forces line items, exclusions, and a validity period because those are the three fields that end most estimate arguments before they start. The PDF drops onto one letter-size page and looks professional in a customer's inbox.

Construction Estimate

[Your Company Name]

License: [License #]

DescriptionQtyUnitTotal

Travertine pool deck, install

Diamond Brite resurface

Waterline tile replacement

Total: $[Grand Total]

Runs in your browser. No signup, no email.

Tired of filling this by hand?

Estimates in the app, signed on the truck

Same template, auto-filled from your customer and job data. Line items pulled from a saved library. Customer signs on your phone. Deposit charges via Stripe. All before you leave the driveway.

Customer e-signature captured on your phone
Convert accepted estimate to invoice in one tap
Change orders attach to the same job automatically
Free forever plan, no credit card

See how it works