Quote vs estimate: what's the difference for UK trades?
Customers often use the two words as if they mean the same thing. They don't, and mixing them up is behind many arguments about the final bill. Here's the difference, which one to give when, and how to word each one clearly.
Updated 9 October 2026 · DeskKit Tools, Belfast
The short answer
| Question | Quote | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A fixed price for a defined job | Your best guess at what the job will cost |
| Can the price change? | Not unless the job changes, and changes are agreed | Yes, but the final bill should be reasonably close |
| Best for | Jobs you can fully see and specify | Jobs with unknowns, such as repairs or older buildings |
| Binding? | Yes, once accepted it is part of the contract | Not a fixed price, but it still sets expectations |
What a quote means
A quote (or quotation) is an offer to do a defined job for a fixed price. When the customer accepts, that price becomes part of the contract. If the job takes you longer than you thought, that's normally your risk, not the customer's.
The price can only change if the job changes: the customer asks for extra work, or you find something genuinely outside what was described and they agree to the extra cost. Get any change agreed in writing before you do the work, with a price.
What an estimate means
An estimate is your informed guess. It tells the customer roughly what to expect when you can't be sure until you start. A burst pipe behind a wall, an old electrical installation, or a roof you can only fully inspect from scaffolding are typical examples.
An estimate is not a fixed price, but it isn't meaningless either. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, information you give a consumer, including about price, can be binding if they rely on it when deciding to go ahead. And if no price is fixed, the law says the consumer must pay a reasonable price. So an estimate of £800 followed by a bill for £2,000 without warning is likely to end in a dispute you could lose.
Which should you give?
- Give a quote when you can see everything and specify the work: fitting a new kitchen to a plan, replacing a boiler like-for-like, decorating a room.
- Give an estimate when there are real unknowns, and explain what they are.
- Combine them where it helps: a fixed quote for the known work plus a clear day rate or price list for the unknowns. Customers generally prefer this to a vague estimate for the whole job.
How to word an estimate
ESTIMATE (not a fixed price)
Repair leak under kitchen floor: estimated £350 to £500.
This is our best estimate. We can't see the pipe until we lift the floor. If the repair is more involved, for example replacing a longer section of pipe, we'll stop, explain and give you a price before we carry on. We won't go over £500 without your agreement.
The final line is the key one. Promising to check in before going over a set amount keeps the customer in control and keeps you on the right side of the law.
How to word a quote
Use the word "Quote" or "Quotation", list exactly what is and isn't included, say how long the price is valid, and state that extra work will be agreed in writing. Our guide on how to write a quote for a job has a full template layout.
What about a "price" or "ballpark"?
Rough figures given on the phone or on a first visit ("probably about two grand") can still shape what a customer expects. If you give one, follow it up in writing as either a quote or an estimate, and make clear which it is.
When the job changes
Changes are where both quotes and estimates go wrong. Use a simple variation note every time:
- what's changed and why
- the extra cost (or saving) and any change to timings
- the customer's agreement, in writing, before you start the extra work
A text message the customer replies to is far better than nothing. Our sister site explains quotes, invoices and variation notes in more detail, with templates.
A note on business customers
The Consumer Rights Act protects consumers. With business customers, the contract terms matter even more, so put the scope, price basis and payment terms in writing. If a business pays late, the late payment rules let you claim statutory interest and a fixed recovery sum.
Frequently asked questions
Is an estimate legally binding in the UK?
An estimate is not a fixed price, but under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a consumer can rely on what you told them, and if no price is fixed they must pay a reasonable price. A final bill far above the estimate without warning is likely to be challenged.
Can a tradesman charge more than the quote?
Only if the job changes, for example extra work the customer asks for, and the extra cost is agreed. Running over your own time on the quoted work is normally your risk.
Should I give a quote or an estimate for a repair?
If you can't see the full problem until you start, give an estimate with a clear upper limit you won't go over without agreement, or quote for the known work plus a day rate for the unknowns.
More guides
General information for small businesses, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above before you rely on them.