Quote vs estimate in the UK: what's the difference?

This is general information, not legal advice. Your rights and duties depend on the job and the contract. If you're unsure, ask Citizens Advice, your local Trading Standards service or a qualified adviser.

In the UK, customers often use "quote" and "estimate" as if they mean the same thing. In everyday talk they often mean different things, and the gap is where arguments start.

The short version

• A quote is usually understood as a fixed price for defined work. The customer expects to pay that amount for that job.
• An estimate is usually understood as your best guess. The final price may be higher or lower.

Those are the common meanings, not a legal test. What matters is what you wrote, what you said and what the customer reasonably understood.

Why it matters

If you give a rough figure on the doorstep and the customer hears a fixed price, the final bill feels like a surprise, even if you were upfront. If you give a fixed price and then ask for more because the job was harder, the customer may feel misled.

Clear wording protects both sides. Most disputes about price start with unclear wording.

When to give a fixed quote

A fixed quote suits jobs where you can see and measure everything:

• a like-for-like swap, such as a tap, radiator or consumer unit you can inspect;
• a defined piece of work with a clear start and end;
• work where the materials and access are known.

A fixed price means you carry the risk of anything you missed. Build in a sensible margin, and use exclusions for what you can't see.

When to give an estimate

An estimate suits jobs where the scope can change:

• repairs where you won't know the cause until you open things up;
• renovations with hidden work behind walls or under floors;
• work paid by time and materials.

If you give an estimate, say what could change the price and how you'll tell the customer. Agree with them before you go beyond it.

How to word it

Say which one it is, in plain words, at the top of the document.

For a fixed quote:

> This is a fixed price for the work described below. It does not include the items listed under "Not included".

For an estimate:

> This is an estimate based on what I could see today. The final price may change if I find problems or the work changes. I will tell you before doing anything that adds to the cost.

Then back it up:

• list what's included in plain words;
• list what's not included;
• say how long the price stands;
• say how extra work will be agreed, for example "in writing, before I start".

Don't call something a "quote" and then treat it as an estimate. Pick the word that matches what you mean.

Keep a record

Keep a copy of what you sent and when. Texts and emails count. If the customer accepts by tapping a link or replying, that's your record. A clear, itemised quote the customer can accept on their phone gives you something solid to point back to. See how to quote a job for what to include. If you price up jobs from the van, our guide to sending a quote by text walks through it.

TradiesMate lets you draft an itemised quote, set VAT and send an SMS link to view and accept. It doesn't give legal advice, and it can't tell you whether a given wording is right for your job. See how TradiesMate works.

Changes after the quote

If the job changes, agree the change before you do the work. A short follow-up message with the extra cost, and a yes from the customer, is much better than a bigger bill at the end. If a customer goes quiet on a revised price, our follow-up text templates can help.

Questions

Last checked 4 November 2026.

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