Free Estimate Maker
Win the job before it starts: a clear, professional estimate your client can say yes to — built in seconds, valid-until date included, one switch away from becoming the invoice.
How to write an estimate that wins work
- Break the job into lines. “Kitchen repaint — $1,050” gets questioned; “Preparation and masking”, “Two coats, walls and ceiling”, “Materials” each priced separately gets approved. Itemized estimates read as honest.
- Show the tax now. A client comparing your $1,000 + HST against a competitor's vague $1,000 learns the real difference at invoice time — and remembers it. Transparent tax on the estimate builds trust.
- Set a validity date. Material prices move. Every estimate here prints a “Valid until” date so old pricing can't come back to bite you.
- State your terms. Deposit required? Payment on completion? Net 14? Put it in the terms box — agreement now prevents the awkward conversation later.
Estimate → invoice in one click
The most useful thing about making your estimate here: when the client approves, you do not start over. Switch the document type to Invoice and the client, line items, taxes, and terms carry straight across — numbered automatically as your next invoice. Job done, money asked for, no retyping. When payment arrives, the receipt maker closes the loop with the same details.
Estimate, quote, bid, proposal — what's what?
Clients use these words loosely; your paperwork shouldn't. An estimate is an informed approximation that may shift with actual hours and materials. A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope. A bid is a competitive fixed price, usually for larger or tendered work. A proposal wraps pricing in approach and options. For most trades and service jobs, an itemized estimate with clear terms — exactly what this tool produces — is the right document, and you can simply retitle the terms line if the client asked for a “quote.”
Speak it on the way to the next job
Estimates die when they wait until evening. Tap the microphone in the truck and say the whole thing — the AI turns your words into structured line items while the calculator handles every number. Send it before your competitor has found a pen.
Frequently asked questions
Is this estimate maker free?
Yes — build, preview, and download unlimited estimates as PDFs with no signup and no watermark. Your business details and numbering are remembered on your device.
What is the difference between an estimate and a quote?
In everyday use they overlap, but an estimate is your best approximation of cost and may change with the actual work, while a quote is usually a fixed price. Say which one you mean in the terms — for example, “Estimate valid 30 days; final billing based on actual hours and materials.”
How do I turn an estimate into an invoice?
When the client approves, switch the document type from Estimate to Invoice at the top — your client, line items, and taxes carry over, and the tool assigns the next invoice number automatically.
How long should an estimate stay valid?
Thirty days is the common default; use less if your material costs move quickly. This tool prints a “Valid until” date on every estimate so there is never an argument about old pricing.
Should an estimate include tax?
Yes — showing GST/HST or sales tax on the estimate avoids surprises at invoice time. Pick your province for automatic Canadian rates or set a custom rate, exactly like on the invoice.
Can I ask for a deposit on an estimate?
Absolutely, and for larger jobs you should. State it in the terms — for example, “25% deposit to schedule the work, balance due on completion” — so payment expectations are agreed before you start.
Can I speak my estimate instead of typing?
Yes. Tap “Speak your estimate” and describe the job — “Estimate for Dana, kitchen repaint, labour eight hundred, materials two-fifty” — and the AI structures it into line items. All totals are computed by the calculator, never by the AI.