How to quote a plumbing job

A professional plumbing quote should include: job description, labour costs, materials (with markup), VAT, timeline, and payment terms. Send it within 24 hours of the site visit to maximise your win rate. Tradespeople are expected to increase prices by 9.5% on average in 2026 (Jackson Woodturners, UK State of the Trades 2025-26).

The 6 elements every quote needs

1. Job description

Be specific. "Replace kitchen tap" is vague. "Supply and fit new monobloc mixer tap to existing kitchen sink, including isolation, removal of old tap, and testing" is clear.

2. Labour costs

Break it down:

Hourly rate work: "Estimated 3 hours @ £55/hour = £165"
Fixed price: "Boiler service - fixed price £95"

Always include a note: "Additional work required will be quoted separately before proceeding."

3. Materials (with markup)

List each item:

Worcester Bosch 25i Combi Boiler: £850
Flue and fittings: £120
Magnaclean filter: £145
Subtotal: £1,115
Markup (20%): £223
Total materials: £1,338

Note: A typical boiler service costs £80-£120 in 2026 (MyJobQuote, NimbleFins), while a full house rewire runs £3,000-£9,000 depending on property size (MyBuilder).

4. VAT

Show VAT separately if you're VAT registered:

Labour: £450
Materials: £1,338
Subtotal: £1,788
VAT @ 20%: £357.60
Total: £2,145.60

5. Timeline

Be realistic:

"Work to commence: Within 5 working days of acceptance"
"Estimated duration: 1 day"
"Working hours: 8am-4pm"

6. Payment terms

Standard terms:

"50% deposit required to schedule work"
"Balance due on completion"
"Payment methods: Bank transfer, card, or cash"
"Payment terms: 7 days from invoice date"

Professional quote template

QUOTATION Date: 3 May 2026 Quote #: Q-2026-0542 Valid until: 17 May 2026 To:

Mrs Sarah Johnson

14 Oakwood Road

Manchester M21 8AB

Job: Bathroom renovation - replace bath, sink, toilet, and tiling Description of works:

Remove existing bath, basin, toilet, and tiles
Supply and fit new P-shaped bath with screen
Supply and fit new vanity basin and monobloc tap
Supply and fit new close-coupled WC
Tile walls (approx 15 sqm) with customer-selected tiles
All waste removal included
12-month workmanship guarantee

Costs:

Item

Amount

Labour (2 days @ £325/day - Checkatrade 2026 plumber avg)	£650
Materials (bath, basin, WC, fittings)	£1,200
Tiles and adhesive (customer supply)	£0
Waste disposal	£80
Subtotal	£1,930
VAT @ 20%	£386
TOTAL	£2,316

Timeline:

Work to commence: Within 7 days of deposit
Duration: 2 days
Working hours: 8am-4pm

Terms:

50% deposit (£1,128) required to schedule
Balance (£1,128) due on completion
Payment by bank transfer or card
Quote valid for 14 days

Acceptance:

Signed: ___________________ Date: ___________

Common quoting mistakes

Vague descriptions. The customer should know exactly what they're getting. Specificity builds trust. No expiry date. Quotes should be valid for 14-30 days. Material costs change, your availability changes. Missing VAT. If you're VAT registered, show it. If not, state "VAT not applicable." No payment terms. Clear terms prevent awkward conversations later. Taking too long. Quotes sent within 24 hours win more jobs. After 3 days, you've lost to someone faster.

How to speed up quoting

Most plumbers spend 30-45 minutes per quote. Here's how to cut that to 5 minutes:

Use a template - Copy the structure above, customise the details

Standard rates - Know your day rate, hourly rate, and common job prices

Materials database - Keep a list of your most-used parts with prices

Voice notes - Dictate the quote on-site, type it up later (or use Qenn)

How Qenn helps with quoting

Message Qenn from the van: "Quote for bathroom reno at 14 Oakwood Rd - remove bath, basin, toilet, tiles. Fit new P-bath, vanity basin, WC. Customer supplying tiles. 2 days."

Qenn drafts the full quote with your standard rates, materials markup, VAT, and terms. You review and send.

Time saved: 30 minutes → 2 minutes. Jobs won: Faster quotes = more wins.

Qenn handles quotes, invoices, and admin through WhatsApp. Try it free for 1 month.