Download the estimate
One A4 page that says "Estimate" at the top: the work, the estimated cost line by line, what could change it and how you'll charge for that, and a line for the customer to agree. Free, no signup, yours to change.
- Excel (.xlsx): type the lines and it works out the estimated total, with a VAT rate cell (0% unless you're VAT registered).
- Word (.docx): type over the brackets and save a copy for each customer.
- PDF to print: fill it in by hand on the visit.
Giving a fixed price instead? Use the quote maker.
When to give an estimate, not a quote
A quote fixes the price. An estimate is your best guess, so it fits the jobs where you can't see everything before you start: what's under a floor, behind a wall or inside a roof, or a fault you haven't found yet. Citizens Advice says the final bill on an estimate can be more than the estimate, but it has to be reasonable, and it counts a "fixed estimate" as a quote. So call the document what it is, at the top. The quote vs estimate guide explains both.
What to put on it
- The word "Estimate" at the top. The template does it for you.
- What you can see and what you can't. "Replace the bathroom floor. The joists can't be checked until the old floor is up."
- How you'll charge for the unknown part. A day rate plus materials, or a separate price for each likely extra.
- A promise to call first. If it looks like going over, you tell the customer and agree it before carrying on. That one line heads off most arguments.
- How long it's valid. Material prices move; 30 days is common.
A made-up example
A joiner estimating a bathroom floor, not VAT registered:
| Lift the old floor and dispose of it | £180 |
|---|---|
| New 18mm boards, screwed and glued | £320 |
| Estimated total | £500 |
| What could change it | Rotten joists found once the floor is up: £200 a day plus timber, agreed with you before any work on them |
Fixed-price quotes on your phone
When you can give a fixed price, Knockround sends the quote and the customer accepts it with a tap; when the job's done you send 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.
Written by the Knockround team, 29 October 2026. Consumer rules from Citizens Advice, read the same day. A guide, not legal advice.