Quote or estimate: what’s the difference?
Figures checked on gov.uk on 27 October 2026
Customers use the two words as if they mean the same thing. They don’t, and the difference matters when the bill arrives.
The short answer
| Compared on | Quote | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Fixed for the work described | Your best guess, which can change |
| Once accepted | A binding agreement, written down or not | A guide, not a promise |
| Can you charge more? | Only for extra work they ask for or agree to, or a genuine mistake | It can change, but warn them before it goes much higher |
Citizens Advice tells homeowners to get a quote, not an estimate, and to get it in writing. So customers comparing three traders will usually favour the one who gives a clear written quote.
When to give which
- Quote when you’ve seen the job and can price it: a bathroom refit, a consumer unit change, painting three rooms.
- Estimate when you can’t know until you start: tracing a leak, a repair behind a wall, or a rough figure over the phone before you’ve visited. Say clearly that it’s an estimate and what could make it go up.
What a good quote includes
These are the things Citizens Advice tells customers to look for:
- A fixed total price, not a day rate.
- A breakdown of the work and the materials.
- Separate prices for each part of the work and each material.
- How long the price is valid for.
- Whether the price includes VAT.
- When the price could go up, for example only if they agree to extra work.
When the job changes
If the customer asks for extra work, or you find something you couldn’t have seen, stop and agree the new price before you carry on, ideally in writing. A quick revised quote saves an argument at the end.
How long a quote should stay open
Material prices move, so give every quote an end date. Thirty days is common. After that, you can re-price before you agree to start.
How Kev helps
Kev’s quotes list each piece of work and material on its own line with its VAT, and carry an end date you set. Send the customer a link, and they tap Accept quote on their phone, so you have their yes in writing. When the job’s done, turn it into an invoice in one tap. You get 10 free quotes a month, and unlimited on Kev Pro. See also the free invoice template.
Sources
This is general guidance, not tax advice. Rules can change, so check gov.uk or ask an accountant about your own situation.
Send quotes customers accept online
Write a quote on your phone and send a link. Your customer taps accept, and you turn it into an invoice. 10 quotes a month free, no card needed.
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