Free template · Excel · Estimates by trade
Free plumbing estimate template
A plumbing estimate for bigger jobs (water heaters, repipes, bathroom rough-ins) with the code upgrades the job triggers and room for options at different prices.
Plumbing estimate template
Excel workbook (.xlsx) · 20 KB · 4 sheets
| Item | Description | Qty | Rate | Amount | Tax? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 60 gal electric water heater | 1 | 1,250.00 | 1,250.00 | Y |
| Labour | Remove old heater, install and test (hours) | 4 | 115.00 | 460.00 | Y |
| Code upgrade | Expansion tank, required on closed systems | 1 | 210.00 | 210.00 | Y |
| Code upgrade | New shut-off valve and drain pan | 1 | 145.00 | 145.00 | Y |
| Permit | Municipal permit, at cost | 1 | 90.00 | 90.00 | Y |
| Disposal | Haul away and recycle old heater | 1 | 60.00 | 60.00 | Y |
| Subtotal | 2,215.00 | ||||
| GST | 110.75 | 5% | |||
| QST (Quebec) | 220.95 | 9.975% | |||
| ESTIMATE TOTAL | 2,546.70 | ||||
| Deposit required | 600.00 | ||||
| BALANCE ON COMPLETION | 1,946.70 |
Why a plumbing estimate needs its own layout
Plumbing estimates surprise customers when the job triggers code work they didn't know about: an expansion tank, new venting, a seismic strap, a shut-off valve. Listing those on the estimate, with a word on why, makes the price understandable and shows you know the code.
This template has lines for the fixture or equipment, labour, code upgrades and the permit, and space to offer a second option. The example is a water heater replacement for a homeowner in Quebec, with GST and QST.
What to include on a plumbing estimate, and why
- Code upgrades and why. One line of explanation ("required on closed systems") turns a surprise into a reason to trust you.
- Options at different prices. A good-better-best choice keeps the customer comparing your options, not your price with a competitor's.
- What's not included. Drywall repair after a repipe, electrical upgrades for tankless units: say who does them.
- Access assumptions. If the price assumes open access and it turns out to be a crawlspace, the estimate explains the change.
How to price it
Flat price per job
Customers want a firm price for a heater or a repipe. Build it from your parts and labour, plus a margin for the unexpected.
Options
Offer two or three levels: standard tank, high-efficiency tank, tankless. Put the base option in the lines and the others in the notes.
Time and materials for unknowns
For jobs you can't see, such as a hidden leak, estimate the hours and say the final bill follows the actual time.
Deposits and payment terms
- Deposit before ordering equipment
- Balance on completion
- Option changes after ordering may carry a restocking fee
- Price valid 30 days
Put the deposit and payment schedule on the estimate itself, so the customer signs up to them and they carry straight onto the invoice. For how to record a deposit you take up front, see customer deposits and retainers.
Sales tax, GST/HST and PST on plumbing work
United States
Plumbing installed in a building is often treated as a real property improvement: in many states the plumber pays tax on materials and doesn't charge it on the estimate. Other states tax the equipment, or the whole job, to the customer.
Check your state's rules and say on the estimate whether tax is included.
Canada
GST/HST applies to equipment and labour once you're registered. In Quebec, QST applies too.
In Saskatchewan, PST applies to repairs and renovations of buildings on the total charge. In British Columbia, the plumber generally pays PST on materials and doesn't charge it on the work.
Check a rate with the US sales tax calculator or the GST/HST calculator, then set it beside the tax lines in the template. Both tax lines can be renamed, so one estimate works for sales tax, HST, or GST plus PST or QST.
The example, filled in
The Estimate sheet opens filled in with the example in the preview: a Quebec plumber quoting a water heater replacement, estimate PE-0419 for an example customer. The lines come to a subtotal of $2,215.00 and a total of $2,546.70, with a deposit required of $600.00 and a balance on completion of $1,946.70. The price holds for 30 days. The figures are made up to show the layout; they are not market rates.
In Quebec, a plumber registered for both taxes charges 5% GST and 9.975% QST on equipment and labour.
The notes box reads: “Option B: tankless electric unit, add $1,850 (larger electrical supply needed; electrician quote separate). Price holds 30 days. 2-year workmanship warranty.”
Lines on the price list sheet
The Price list sheet starts with the lines plumbing businesses usually charge for. Add your rates once and copy them onto each estimate.
| Line | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater, tank | each | By size and fuel. |
| Water heater, tankless | each | Venting and gas or electrical upgrades extra. |
| Repipe | per fixture or flat | PEX or copper. |
| Fixture install | each | Toilet, vanity, tub. |
| Rough-in | per fixture | New bathrooms and moves. |
| Code upgrades | each | Expansion tank, valves, venting. |
| Excavation | flat or per ft | Sewer and water lines. |
| Permit | at cost | |
| Disposal | flat |
What's in the file
| Sheet | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Estimate | The printable plumbing estimate, filled in with the example on this page: your details, the customer, job, 15 lines, two tax lines, deposit required, scope and terms, and signature lines. |
| Price list | The lines plumbing businesses usually charge for, with the unit for each. Enter your own rates once and copy them onto each estimate. |
| Estimate log | One row per estimate: status (Pending, Accepted, Declined, Expired), the invoice number once billed, a follow-up date and your win rate. |
| Instructions | How to fill it in, plus the notes on this page about what to include. |
Pale yellow cells are for your entries; white cells calculate. Nothing is locked, so you can rename lines or change the layout. The Instructions sheet repeats the steps and the notes on this page.
Download the plumbing estimate template (.xlsx)
Or send it from AcboBooks
Need one estimate today? The free invoice generator makes a PDF in your browser. Sending them every week? AcboBooks keeps your plumbing price list, turns an accepted estimate into the invoice (see estimate software), tracks what each customer owes and adds up the tax you collected. It's Windows desktop software, bought once; try it free for 15 days.
Sources
Checked October 25, 2026. Tax rules change and differ by state and province; confirm with the tax agency or your accountant.
- Canada Revenue Agency: input tax credits (information an invoice needs)
- CRA RC4022, General Information for GST/HST Registrants
- CRA: GST/HST rates by province
- IRS Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records
- Federation of Tax Administrators: links to every state tax agency
- Revenu Québec: GST/HST and QST
- Government of Saskatchewan: provincial sales tax
- Government of British Columbia: provincial sales tax (PST)
Questions
How do I present options on a plumbing estimate?
Price the base option in the lines and describe the others in the notes, each with the price difference. Or send a separate estimate for each.
Should the permit be in the estimate?
Yes, as its own line. Customers who see it are less tempted by a cheaper quote that skips it.
How long is a plumbing estimate good for?
Thirty days is common. Equipment prices change.
What happens if I find more work once I start?
Stop, explain, and write a change order with a price before continuing.
Related
- Plumbing invoice template
- Customer deposits and retainers
- Estimate (glossary)
- Markup and margin calculator
- Accounting software for plumbers
- General estimate and quote template
- All invoice and estimate templates by trade
General information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Check with your accountant or the tax agency before relying on a template for tax.
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