Roofing estimate template

Download the Roofing 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 Roofing estimate needs on it

Roofing estimates are won on squares and decking. Two bids on the same house differ mostly in what they assume about layers to tear off and how much rotten sheathing they expect to find — and the bid that stays silent on decking is the one that produces an angry change order on day two. Price the tear-off by layer, carry a stated decking allowance with a unit rate, and separate the manufacturer warranty from your workmanship warranty.

Estimate when you have not been on the roof, or when the layer count is a guess from the eaves. Deck condition, chimney flashing and unknown layers are the three findings that reprice a roof, and an estimate that names them protects the relationship when the number moves.

• Roof area in squares and the pitch, since both drive labor
• How many layers come off, priced per layer rather than assumed
• A decking replacement allowance with a per-sheet rate for anything beyond it
• Underlayment and ice-and-water coverage, named by product not by category
• Both warranties, stated separately: manufacturer material term and your workmanship term
• Dumpster, magnet sweep and debris haul-off — the parts customers notice when missing

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

Roofing 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.

How roofing contractors price this work

Roofing prices per square (100 sq ft) for material and labor, with adders for pitch, height, layers and complexity. The unknown is always the deck. Experienced roofers quote a fixed price including a specific number of sheets of replacement decking, then a stated per-sheet rate beyond it — that keeps the headline number competitive without absorbing rot you could not see from the ground.

Questions

How should a roofing estimate handle rotten decking?

With an allowance, not silence. Include a set number of sheets in the base price and state a per-sheet rate beyond it. The customer sees a real number up front, and replacing eleven sheets instead of four becomes an arithmetic conversation rather than an argument.

What is the difference between a manufacturer and workmanship warranty?

The manufacturer warranty covers the shingle defect and comes from the maker; the workmanship warranty covers your installation and comes from you. Customers routinely hear "50-year warranty" and believe you are on the hook for fifty years. Print the two separately with their own terms and you avoid that conversation entirely.

Should I collect a deposit on a roof?

Common practice is a deposit at material delivery rather than at signing, which is easier for a customer to accept because they can see what they paid for sitting in their driveway. Some states cap residential deposits, so check yours before setting a percentage.

Is an estimate legally binding?

Generally not, on its own — an estimate is an offer, and it usually becomes binding only once the customer accepts it and both sides act on it. What actually binds you is the language on the page: how you describe the scope, what you exclude, and whether you state that the price can change. This is general industry practice, not legal advice; if a job is large or unusual, have a lawyer look at your terms.

How long should an estimate stay valid?

Thirty days is the common default and it is short enough to protect you from material price swings. If you are quoting equipment with volatile pricing, shorten it — and say so on the page rather than in conversation.

Should I charge for estimates?

Many trades charge a diagnostic or assessment fee and credit it against the job if the customer proceeds. If you do, put it on the estimate as a line item with the credit spelled out, so it never reads as a surprise.