Electrical estimate template
An estimate built the way electrical work is actually priced: service and panel, rough-in by circuit, devices and fixtures, permits, and an exclusions line. The example below is filled with sample figures — overwrite them with your rates and download a PDF your client can sign.
- Subtotal
- $0.00
- Tax
- $0.00
- Total
- $0.00
- Deposit due
- $0.00
- Balance
- $0.00
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What an electrical estimate should include
Most bad estimates are not priced wrong — they are missing a line. The client then treats the missing work as included, and you either eat the cost or argue. Five sections cover almost every residential job:
1. Service and panel
The service upgrade, the panel itself, the meter base and mast, and the grounding electrode system. This is where the largest single line usually sits, and where material prices move most, so quote it as one clearly named block.
2. Rough-in, measured by circuit
Price rough-in per circuit rather than as a lump sum. A number the client can check — “8 circuits” — is easier to approve than “rough-in”, and it protects you when the job grows a circuit in the middle.
3. Devices and fixtures
Outlets, switches, can lights, fixtures and their installation labour. Count them. Device counts are the most common source of “I thought that was included”.
4. Permits and inspection
Put the permit fee and the inspection coordination on their own line, with a name. If you bury it in labour, the client thinks permits are free, and the next jurisdiction's fee becomes your problem.
5. Exclusions and validity
State what the price does not cover — drywall patching, painting, fixture selection, asbestos abatement in older homes — and how long the number holds. Thirty days is standard.
How to price electrical work
Three numbers drive almost every electrical estimate: labour units per device or circuit, material markup (higher on devices and breakers, lower on panels), and a minimum service charge that covers the truck and the first hour. Build the line items from those three and the total stops being a guess.
A deposit of 25–35% on residential work is normal — you are ordering a panel and a service before you start. Put it in the estimate so nobody is surprised on day one.
Example: 200A service upgrade with a kitchen rewire
Sample figures for illustration only — replace them with your market rates. Tax is left at 0% because many states do not tax residential electrical labour; set it if yours does.
| Line | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200A service & panel upgrade | 1 | 2,850.00 | 2,850.00 |
| Permit & inspection coordination | 1 | 350.00 | 350.00 |
| Meter base, mast & grounding electrode | 1 | 420.00 | 420.00 |
| AFCI / GFCI breakers | 12 | 58.00 | 696.00 |
| Rough-in labour (per circuit) | 8 | 145.00 | 1,160.00 |
| Devices: outlets & switches | 24 | 28.00 | 672.00 |
| Fixture installation (labour) | 6 | 65.00 | 390.00 |
| Final inspection, labelling & clean-up | 1 | 180.00 | 180.00 |
| Subtotal | 6,718.00 | ||
| Deposit (30%) | 2,015.40 | ||
| Balance on completion | 4,702.60 | ||
Three mistakes to avoid
- No exclusion line. “Patch and paint by others” prevents the most common dispute on a rewire.
- No validity date. Copper and panel prices move; an estimate without an expiry invites a client to accept it eight months later.
- Pricing the panel as a lump sum with labour. Split them, and you can show the client exactly what the equipment costs when they ask.
FAQ
What should an electrical estimate include?
The service and panel scope, rough-in measured per circuit or per fixture, devices and fixtures, permits and inspection fees, and a clear exclusions list. Add how long the price is valid — electrical material prices move, and an open-ended estimate is a promise you cannot keep.
How do you price electrical work?
Most electricians price from labour units per device or per circuit, then add a material markup. Devices and breakers carry a higher markup than panels; labour is priced per opening, per circuit run, or per fixture. A minimum service charge covers the truck and the first hour.
How much deposit should I ask for?
A deposit of 25–35% is common on residential work because panel and service materials are ordered up front. Put the percentage on the estimate so the client knows what is due when they approve it, and let the remaining balance land on the invoice.
Can I turn this estimate into an invoice?
Yes. Once the client approves, switch the document type at the top of the tool to Invoice — the line items, client and totals stay, and you only change the number and the due date. When the job is paid, switch to Receipt.
Is this template free to use in my business?
Yes. Download the PDF and send it to clients under your own business name. No account, no watermark, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
Does it work for commercial work?
The structure holds, but commercial jobs usually need a scope-of-work narrative, a schedule and a breakdown by phase. Add those lines manually and keep the same totals section.
Also working in plumbing? The plumbing estimate template uses the same structure. Or start from a blank page with the general quote generator.