How to Write a Job Estimate

by Nicole Vulcan Google

Before you land contract work or do a creative project for a client, that client will want to know how much it's going to cost. The traditional method of providing that information is to write up a job estimate, in which you detail the scope of work, the hourly rate, and the materials you're going to need to do the job. Once you've crafted a job estimate for one client, you can use it as a template for other job estimates in the future. Typically, any word processing software will allow you to format the document in the way it needs to be done.

Type "Job Estimate" or "Work Estimate" at the very top of the page, centering the words and typing them in all capital letters, so they're very visible.

Insert your logo, if you have one, a line or two below the top of the page. Depending on your style of logo, it can be centered in the middle of the page, or justified to the right side of the page. On the line under the logo, type your company name. On the line below, type your company address, and then your phone number and email address on the lines below.

Type today's date two lines below your logo and company information, justified to the left of the page.

Skip a line and then type "To:" and then include the recipient's name, address and phone number on separate lines, one below the other.

Type "Scope of Work:" or "Job Description:" and justify it to the left of the page. Then skip a line and create a bullet-point list of the various tasks that you will be doing for the client, including enough detail to describe each task, but not so much that it takes a long time for the client to read it. If you're building a dog house, for example, you can have one bullet point stating that you're building the frame and installing siding, and another bullet point stating that you're installing outdoor carpeting, but you don't need to detail every nail that you'll be nailing into the frame. If you'll be making a delivery of the product or doing any follow-up work, be sure to include those tasks in your bullet-point list.

Skip a line and then type "Materials:" and justify it to the left of the page. Then create a bullet point list of the materials you or the homeowner will purchase for the job, writing a short description for each item using one to five words to describe each item and its cost.

Skip a line, type "Labor:" and justify it to the left of the page. Then create a bullet point, estimating how many hours you think it will take you to complete the tasks. Just below that, create a bullet point with your hourly rate, and then below that, include a bullet point entitled "Total labor cost," which will be the hourly rate multiplied by the estimated number of hours. On each line of this section, be sure to type "Estimated hours," and "Estimated Labor Total," to make it clear that this is an estimate and not the total that the client will pay at the end of the completed work.

Skip two lines and then create a text box. Inside the text box, type "Total Estimated Cost" and include the combined total amount for the materials and the labor.

Skip two lines and then create a heading called "Terms." Type a sentence stating that this is an estimate only, and that the total cost may be different than what is stated here. Also, type a sentence stating that the client agrees to this estimate.

Use the line key on your keyboard to create a line under the "Terms" section, where the client can sign and date the estimate. Under the lines, type "Accepted By," and "Date" under the corresponding line.


  • Many office programs, including Microsoft Office, have templates for a variety of purposes, including work estimates. You can choose from the available templates when you create a new document in your program of choice.

Photo Credits

  • NA/ Images
Suggest an Article Correction