The difference
Citizens Advice puts it simply. A quote (also called a quotation or a fixed estimate) is a promise to do the work at an agreed price. An estimate is your best guess at what the work will cost.
| Quote | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| The price | Fixed: what you quoted | A guide: the final bill must be reasonable |
| Your costs go up | You can't charge more for that | Can be taken into account |
| Extra work | Only if the customer agrees to pay for it | Counts towards a reasonable bill, if you explain why |
| A mistake in the price | Only if it was obvious to the customer | The bill still has to be reasonable |
When you give a quote
Once the customer has said yes, you can't charge more than you quoted unless there's a good reason. Citizens Advice gives two:
- you told them you'd need to do extra work, and they agreed to pay more for it
- the price in the quote was an obvious mistake, one most people would spot
Materials going up in price after you quoted isn't a good reason, and nor is a mistake the customer couldn't have seen. If you priced it wrong, the customer has a right to the work at the quoted price. That's why a quote should only be given for work you can see and measure.
When you give an estimate
With an estimate, the final bill can be more, but it has to be reasonable. The law doesn't say what reasonable means, so it comes down to what you and the customer agree. Citizens Advice tells customers to weigh up:
- the estimate they agreed to
- any changes, and why they happened
- things beyond your control, like bad weather or the cost of materials going up
A customer who thinks the bill is too high can get another trader's estimate for the same work, contact your trade association or get an expert opinion. If no price was agreed at all, the customer only has to pay a reasonable price, so an estimate in writing protects you too.
Which one to give
- Give a quote when you can see the whole job: a gutter clean, a boiler service, a room to paint, a fence of known length. Customers prefer a fixed price, and it's quicker to say yes to.
- Give an estimate when part of the job is hidden: what's behind a wall, under a floor or inside a roof, or a fault you haven't found yet.
- Or both on one document: quote the parts you can see, and give a separate estimate or a day rate for the unknown part, for example "replacing rotten joists if we find any: £280 a day plus materials".
Whichever you give, call it what it is at the top of the document. Citizens Advice tells customers to check their paperwork to see which one they were given, and counts a "fixed estimate" as a quote.
What to put in writing
- The word Quote or Estimate at the top, and the date
- The work, line by line, and the address of the job
- What's included and what isn't: waste removal, making good, decorating after, parking
- How long the price stands, for example 30 days
- How extra work is priced, and that you'll agree it before you do it
- Any deposit to book, and when the balance is due
- VAT, if you're registered: whether the price includes it
Wording you can copy for extras: "If we find work that isn't in this quote, we'll stop, show you, and give you a price before we carry on. Nothing extra is charged without your OK." Then get that OK in a text, email or WhatsApp message, so there's a record.
Quotes in Knockround
In Knockround, a quote goes out line by line by WhatsApp, text, email or link, and the customer taps Accept. The job moves to Booked and you get an email, so there's a dated record of exactly what they said yes to. When it's done, the same job becomes the invoice, with a Pay button for Apple Pay, Google Pay or card.
Try it on the jobs board demo, with made-up customers. It's free for 7 days with no card needed, then £19.99 a month. Or make a one-off quote with the free job quote template.
Written by the Knockround team from Citizens Advice, problem with building work, decorating or home improvements (advice for England), read on 29 October 2026, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This is a guide, not legal advice.