What a plumbing estimate should include
An estimate is a price you give before anyone opens a wall. The example above quotes Marcus Lee for replacing old galvanized supply pipe with PEX, and every line is there to stop a question later.
- A scope the homeowner can picture. "Remove and replace 40 ft galvanized supply line with PEX" says what comes out, what goes in and how much of it. The word "repipe" on its own lets the client imagine a bigger or smaller job than the one you priced.
- Valves and small parts counted. Two quarter-turn shutoffs at $38 each is a line the client can see and understand. It also shows you're not leaving the old, seized valves in place.
- The access work, priced up front. A repipe means holes in walls. Listing "Open and patch drywall access (2 openings)" tells the client that before you arrive, not when they see the hallway.
- The test that proves the job. A pressure test and leak check on its own line shows how you'll know the work is done right before the walls are closed.
- Permit and inspection. When a job needs one, pricing it here means it's not a surprise on the invoice. Whether it's needed depends on your city, so check your local rules.
- What the price does not cover. The example excludes painting the patched drywall, fixture replacement and work behind tile. Three short lines like these save a long argument at the end.
- How long the price holds and the deposit. "Price valid 30 days. 30% deposit to schedule, balance on completion." Material prices move, and a deposit holds the date for both of you.
How to write a plumbing estimate
- Look at the job before you price it. Trace where the supply line runs, which walls it crosses and where it ties in. Take photos of the old pipe and the meter so you can price from them later.
- Describe the finished result. Write what the client will have when you leave: new PEX supply, new shutoffs, a tested system and two patched openings.
- Put each part of the work on its own line. Pipe, valves, access, testing and permit. If the client wants to trim the price, they can see what each piece costs.
- Say what happens if you find more. Old galvanized pipe can hide a rotten fitting at the tie-in or a leak in a wall you didn't plan to open. Write that extra work is priced as a change order and done only after the client approves it.
- Set the validity and the deposit. Pick a window you can honor, and say what the deposit does and when the balance is due.
- Get a yes in writing. A signed estimate is your record of the agreed scope. In TapBill the client signs on your phone screen, and one tap turns the approved estimate into the invoice.
Use this plumbing estimate template
When the work is done, the plumbing invoice template shows how the approved lines become the bill. For small fixes around the house, see the handyman estimate, and for a system swap with its own permit, the HVAC estimate. You can also start a blank one in the estimate generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write an estimate for a plumbing job?
Visit the job, describe the finished work in plain words, list parts, labor, access and permit as separate lines, then add what's excluded, how long the price is good for and the deposit. The example on this page follows that order.
Is a plumbing estimate the same as a quote?
Many plumbers use the words for the same thing. Some use "quote" for a fixed price and "estimate" for a best guess. Whichever word you use, say on the document how firm the number is. Whether an estimate is legally binding depends on where you work, so check your state's rules.
What if I open the wall and find more damage?
Stop, show the client what you found, and write a change order with the extra work and its price. Start that work only after they approve it. A photo of the problem makes the conversation short.
Should I charge for a plumbing estimate?
That's your call. Some plumbers give free estimates for larger jobs and charge a service call for small repairs, and some credit the fee back if the client goes ahead. Say which one you do before you visit.