Contractor Estimate Template

In many cases, a contractor will not charge for an estimate on smaller jobs like painting, window washing, or lawn services. If the work is simple and doesn't require in-depth consultation or design work, estimates are generally free of charge.

Bottom-up estimation is often preferred over top-down estimation since the people doing the work are the same ones setting the timeline and budget. It's also likely to result in more accurate estimates.

Most general contractors use a markup of between 15-20%. However, contractor markups largely depend on the project and average costs in the area.

Our general contractor estimate template makes it easy to send out customizable, professional-looking estimates. It’s ideal for business owners and individual contractors who are just getting started or exploring software instead of pen and paper.

A contractor estimate template is a blank copy of your estimate form, which you can fill out to create a detailed estimate after a consultation.

You can find templates as fill-in PDFs, Microsoft Word or Google Docs, Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheets, free quoting tools, or even invoicing software such as Invoice Fly.

These templates are essential to keeping your business efficient and consistent.

Here’s what a contractor estimate template can do for you:

• Help you stay organized and include all necessary information
• Reduce room for error by including mandatory form fields
• Make you look more professional than handwritten estimates
• Cut down on repetitive data entry and save you time
• Help you track rates, prices, hard costs, expenses, and accounts receivable
• Set client expectations and protect your business with terms and conditions
• Make filing easier with digital copies of all estimates

With estimate sheets for contractors, it’s easy to add in the specific details for that job, get the estimate approved, complete the work, invoice the client, and get paid faster—all with just a few clicks.