Carpentry estimate template

Download the Carpentry estimate template

The same sample document in two formats. The PDF is what a finished estimate looks like; the spreadsheet has live formulas, so change a quantity or a rate and the totals follow.

No signup, no email, no watermark. Sample figures — edit everything. Opens in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.

See this estimate filled in, in the builder — the same sample, editable.

What a Carpentry estimate needs on it

Estimate any repair to existing structure. Rot at a sill, a header that was never sized, and framing hidden behind finished surfaces are all found rather than predicted — so price the visible scope, carry an allowance, and state that structural findings are quoted before the work continues.

• Whether the work is rough or finish, since the rate and tolerance differ
• Material grade and species by name — paint-grade poplar and stain-grade oak are different bids
• Whether the price assumes you can work off the existing structure or need temporary support
• Lead and asbestos on pre-1978 work, excluded until tested
• Who disposes of removed material, and whether a dumpster is inside the number

And what every estimate needs

Use an estimate when the scope is clear but the final number can still move — concealed damage, a substrate you cannot see until demo, or material prices that change between bid and start date.

• An expiry date, so a months-old number cannot be held against you
• Scope written plainly enough that a homeowner knows what is excluded
• A deposit or payment schedule if you need money before mobilising
• A signature line, so acceptance is recorded rather than remembered

Carpentry line items included in this template

These load into the builder ready to edit. Prices are starting points, not our opinion of what you should charge — set your own and they save to your price book.

Rates are illustrative US figures and vary widely by market. Price your own work.

Questions

How do I bid trim work in an old house?

Higher per foot than new construction, and say why on the estimate. Out-of-square walls, uneven floors and plaster mean every piece is scribed rather than cut to length. A line noting that the price reflects an existing-structure fit is worth more than the extra dollars — it explains the difference before the customer asks.

Should a deck estimate include the permit?

Include it as its own line if the jurisdiction requires one, which most do above a certain height. Decks are inspected, and an unpermitted deck becomes the customer's problem at resale — pricing the permit visibly is both more honest and a reason your bid beats the one that skipped it.

How do I estimate repair work on structure I cannot see?

Price the visible scope, carry an allowance with a unit rate, and state that structural findings are quoted before the work continues. Rot at a sill, an undersized header and framing hidden behind finished surfaces are found rather than predicted, and an estimate that says so keeps the relationship intact when the number moves.