Top tips on quoting electrical jobs
Quoting is where professionalism meets profitability. A clear, accurate quote wins trust, protects your margin, and sets the tone for the entire job. Whether you are just starting out or tightening up your pricing process, use these practical steps, examples and templates to quote confidently and get paid for the value you deliver.
If you are new to the trade, build strong foundations with level 2 electrical installation, then progress to nvq level 3 electrical so you can work unsupervised and sign certificates. To explore formats and dates, see our electrician courses, including local cohorts via Electrician courses Birmingham.
1) Start with a structured site assessment
Turn every survey into repeatable data:
- Scope: what e xactly is included, what is excluded.
- Environment: construction type, access, working at height, parking, permits.
- Electrics: board type and condition, earthing arrangement, spare ways, Zs, bonding.
- Risks: damp, asbestos, fragile décor, pets, vulnerable clients, noisy hours.
Take geo-tagged photos of key points and note any assumptions you will rely on in your quote.
2) Build a simple pricing formula you always use
A consistent structure keeps you profitable across different jobs:
Price = Labour + Materials + Plant/Equipment + Travel/Disposal + Overhead Recovery + Contingency + Profit
- Labour: hours × charge-out rate per person.
- Materials: list with unit cost and wastage (typically 5–10%).
- Plant/Equipment: tester calibration, access equipment, tool hire.
- Travel/Disposal: mileage, parking, WEEE disposal.
- Overhead recovery: 10–20% to cover insurance, software, accountancy, training.
- Contingency: 5–10% for unknowns.
- Profit: 10–20% depending on competition and risk.
Write these headings into your template so nothing gets missed.
3) Time your tasks, not just the job
Break labour into discrete activities and time them honestly:
- Survey and planning
- Isolation and protection setup
- First fix
- Second fix and termination
- Testing and certification
- Client handover and documentation
- Cleanup and travel
Small, realistic blocks beat a s ingle guess every time.
4) Two worked examples
- A) Consumer unit upgrade (domestic)
- Labour: 1.5 days × £320/day = £480
- Materials: Type A RCBO board with SPD, tails, glands, labels = £310
- Plant/Equipment: test kit wear & tear, dust protection = £25
- Travel/Disposal: parking, old CU disposal = £20
- Overhead recovery (15% of direct costs £835) = £125
- Contingency (5%) = £42
- Profit (15%) ≈ £135
Quote total: £1,137
Notes in the proposal: bonding upgrades if required are additional; remedials to circuits failing tests billed separately at agreed hourly rate.
- B) EV charge point (domestic, single-phase)
- Labour: 0.75 day × £320 = £240
- Materials: unit, fixings, cable/containment, earth rod if required = £535
- Plant/Equipment: SDS bits, test kit wear & tear = £15
- Travel/Disposal: £15
- Overhead recovery (15% of £805) = £121
- Contingency (5%) = £40
- Profit (15%) ≈ £132
Quote total: £1,098
Include manufacturer, app setup, DNO notification scope, and photos in the handover pack.
5) Quote options, not ultimatums
Offer a base scope plus add-ons:
- Good / Better / Best boards (dual-RCD, RCBO + SPD, RCBO + SPD + AFDD where appropriate).
- Cable routes: s urface mini-trunking vs. concealed chase and make good.
- Smart controls, emergency lighting, surge protection, carbon-monoxide/smoke interlink.
Clients like choice; options also anchor value and protect margin.
6) Nail the paperwork
A professional quote should include:
- Scope and drawings/photos showing agreed routes and positions.
- Inclusions/exclusions in plain English.
- Assumptions you priced on.
- Programme with start date, working hours, and milestones.
- Price breakdown at summary level.
- Variations process and hourly/day rates.
- Payment terms (deposit, stage payments, final on certificate issue).
- Validity (usually 30 days).
- Warranties for labour and materials.
Attach a sample certificate so clients see what they will receive at handover.
7) Use tech to save hours
- Estimating software or spreadsheets with assemblies for repeat jobs.
- Snag/notes apps to turn site photos into annotated PDFs.
- E-signature for fast acceptance and a digital paper trail.
- Templates for emails: acknowledgement, acceptance, variation approval, completion.
Automation is there to reduce errors and admin, not to replace judgement.
8) Price your risk, not just your time
Add margin where uncertainty is higher:
- Old properties with unknown circuits
- Night work or tight access
- Other trades on top of you
- Client-supplied materials (no quality control)
Either increase contingency or ring-fence items as PC Sums (provisional) with a clear mechanism to reconcile actuals.
9) Communicate early, often and in writing
- Confirm the survey notes in an email the same day.
- Send the quote within 48 hours while you are fresh in mind.
- Call to walk the client through options; note any changes and re-issue promptly.
- Log every agreed variation in writing before you lift a screwdriver.
Clear, human communication wins more than a £50 discount ever will.
10) Track your win rate and tweak
Review monthly:
- Average hours quoted vs. actual
- Most common overruns and why
- Which options clients choose
- Acceptance time (quote sent to approved)
Use the data to adjust times, assemblies and margins. Your quoting will get sharper every quarter.
Training that strengthens your quoting
- If you are new, level 2 electrical installation builds the science and safe working you need to price confidently.
- Completing nvq level 3 electrical lets you sign work off, widening the jobs you can quote and improving your rate.
- Explore formats and local delivery on our electrician courses page, including Midlands dates via Electrician courses Birmingham.
Quick quote template (copy/paste)
Project: Address + brief description
Scope: Bullet list of included tasks
Exclusions: e.g., plastering/decoration, client-supplied fittings warranty
Programme: Start date, working hours, duration
Price:
- Labour £___
- Materials £___
- Plant/Equipment £___
- Travel/Disposal £___
- Overhead Recovery £___
- Contingency £___
- Total (ex VAT) £___
Payment terms: 40% booking, 40% on second fix, 20% on certification
Validity: 30 days
Notes: Assumptions + variation process
Use this structure consistently and you will quote faster, win better work, and protect your profit without surprises for the client.
