A renovation quote should break the job into labour and materials, say what is not included, and make the deposit and the next steps clear. Below is a filled-in example, wording to copy, and steps to make one as a PDF with the free quotation generator, with no sign-up.
- The word “Quotation”, a quote number and the quote date.
- Your name or business name, phone and email.
- The customer and the site address (“Quote for”).
- The work in clear lines: labour by hour and materials by quantity.
- Allowances for items the customer has not chosen yet.
- What is not included.
- The total, the deposit and when the rest is due.
- How long the price is valid (“Valid until”), the time the job should take and how to accept.
Example renovation quotation
A made-up example: a small bathroom refresh with tiling, a new vanity unit and painting.
| From | Northgate Renovations · 555 0191 · [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Quote for | Hannah Cole · 7 Birch Lane (site address) |
| Quote number | QUO-0015 |
| Quote date | 30 October 2026 |
| Valid until | 29 November 2026 |
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour: remove old fittings and tiles, clear away | 12 | hour | $30.00 | $360.00 |
| Wall tiles (allowance), supplied | 12 | sq m | $28.00 | $336.00 |
| Adhesive, grout and sealant | 1 | set | $65.00 | $65.00 |
| Vanity unit with basin (allowance) | 1 | pcs | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| Labour: reconnect plumbing | 4 | hour | $45.00 | $180.00 |
| Painting: walls and ceiling | 1 | job | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Total | $1,301.00 | |||
Below it, the terms: “$300.00 deposit to book, balance due on completion. About 5 working days. Electrical work and skip hire are not included.”
Wording you can copy
Type these into the quote’s Terms & conditions box, and change them to match what you really agree with customers.
Terms, one per line:
A deposit of $300.00 is due to book the work. The balance is due on completion.
This quotation is valid until 29 November 2026.
Items marked “allowance” are adjusted to the real price once the customer chooses.
Electrical work and skip hire are not included.
Extra work is quoted and agreed before it is done.
Acceptance line: To accept, sign below or reply “yes” in writing. Work starts on the date we agree after the deposit is received.
Only write terms you really follow. For larger jobs, agree the key points in writing before you start.
Make a renovation quote in 2 minutes
These steps use the free TaskingMint quotation generator. It works on your phone, so you can quote on site.
- Add your business details once Under Your business, add your name, phone, email and, if you like, your logo. Your browser remembers them for next time.
- Add the customer Type their name in Quote for, with the site address.
- Set the dates Set the Quote date and choose a Valid until date, usually 14 to 30 days away.
- List the work, line by line Put labour on one line per task and materials on their own lines. Set the Unit for each, for example hour, set or pcs. Write “allowance” in the description where the customer has not chosen yet. The total is worked out for you.
- Add your terms and signature boxes Put the deposit, what is not included and your rule on extra work in Terms & conditions. Tick Signature boxes so the customer can sign to accept.
- Download and send Click Download PDF and send it by WhatsApp or email. When it is accepted, click Invoice at the top of the form, and the customer and items stay.
Make your renovation quote now
Free, no sign-up. Turn it into an invoice with one click when it is accepted.
Tips to win the job
- Quote quickly, ideally within a day or two of the site visit.
- Be specific about what is and is not included. It prevents most disputes.
- Use allowances for choices not yet made, so the price is honest.
- Follow up politely if there is no answer. See how to follow up on a quote.
- Keep the quote, then invoice from it. See quote vs estimate vs invoice.
Quoting every week?
The free generator keeps your business details in your browser, but not your customers or past quotes. The Starter plan saves your quotes and customers in an account, so you can find a quote when you follow up, and it removes the “Made with TaskingMint” line from your PDFs. Starter costs $0.99 for a day or $3.99 a month, with a free 7-day trial and no card needed. The free quotation generator stays free.
A note on local rules: licences, permits, insurance, tax and whether an accepted quote is binding differ by country. This guide covers good practice. For the exact rules, ask your local authority or an adviser.
Questions people ask
What should a renovation quote include?
The customer and the site address, a quote number and date, how long the price is valid, the work broken into labour and materials, what is not included, the deposit and payment schedule, the expected time, and how the customer accepts.
Should I show labour and materials separately?
Yes. A breakdown lets the customer see where the money goes and compare quotes fairly. It also makes extra work easier to price later.
What is an allowance?
An allowance is a set amount for something the customer has not yet chosen, such as tiles or a vanity unit. If they pick something dearer or cheaper, the price changes by the difference. Say this clearly in the quote.
How do I handle extra work found during the job?
Write in the terms that extra work is quoted and agreed before it is done. Then send a short written note of the extra price, and ask the customer to confirm, before you carry on.
Should I ask for a deposit?
It is common for renovation jobs, since you must buy materials and reserve time. Put the amount, and when the rest is due, in the quote. Show the deposit as already paid on the final invoice.
How long should a renovation quote be valid?
Many people use 14 to 30 days, and shorter if material prices change quickly. The date goes in “Valid until”.
Related tools and guides
- Quotation generator — free PDF quotes you can turn into invoices.
- Quotation template — what to put on a quote, with an example.
- How to follow up on a quote — messages to copy when there is no reply.
- Invoice template for plumbers — invoice the job when it is done.