Carpenter Estimate Template
A carpenter estimate forecasts the price before work starts: 8 lines for install crown molding and baseboard in a living room and hang two interior doors, totalling $2,258.00, with labour the largest share (59%). It states its assumptions and stays valid for 30 days. Edit the lines and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a carpenter: install crown molding and baseboard in a living room and hang two interior doors. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Maple Row Carpentry
891 Market Street
Salem, MA 01970
billing@example.com
(978) 555-0191
Estimate
Prepared for
Jamie Ortiz
9 Willow Court
Springfield, IL 62704
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish carpentry labor, living room trimCope and miter crown, scribe baseboard to floor | 14 hr | $72.00 | $1,008.00 |
| Paint-grade crown molding, 4-1/4 in | 72 linear ft | $3.10 | $223.20 |
| Primed MDF baseboard, 5-1/4 in | 68 linear ft | $1.85 | $125.80 |
| Hang prehung interior doorShim, plumb, set casing and strike plate | 2 each | $165.00 | $330.00 |
| Prehung 30 in interior door, primed | 2 each | $185.00 | $370.00 |
| Passage lever sets | 2 each | $38.00 | $76.00 |
| Fasteners, adhesive, caulk and wood filler | 1 lot | $45.00 | $45.00 |
| Floor protection and daily cleanup | 2 day | $40.00 | $80.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,258.00
- Estimate total
- $2,258.00
Notes
A carpentry estimate should list linear footage by profile, the number of doors or openings, who supplies the material and whether painting or staining is included.
Made with Billwise - invoice-pdf-maker-app.web.app
Preview of the PDF. Everything stays in your browser: nothing is uploaded.
Carpenter estimate at a glance
| Scope estimated | Install crown molding and baseboard in a living room and hang two interior doors |
|---|---|
| Estimate total | $2,258.00 before tax |
| Valid for | 30 days from the estimate date |
| Deposit | Many carpenters ask for the material cost up front when they buy trim or doors before the job starts. |
| Labour (2 lines) | $1,338.00, 59% |
| Materials (5 lines) | $840.00, 37% |
| Services (1 line) | $80.00, 4% |
| Priced in | hr |
Estimate breakdown for install crown molding and baseboard in a living room and hang two interior doors
| Item | Type | Est. quantity | Est. amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish carpentry labor, living room trim | Labour | 14 hr | $1,008.00 |
| Paint-grade crown molding, 4-1/4 in | Materials | 72 linear ft | $223.20 |
| Primed MDF baseboard, 5-1/4 in | Materials | 68 linear ft | $125.80 |
| Hang prehung interior door | Labour | 2 each | $330.00 |
| Prehung 30 in interior door, primed | Materials | 2 each | $370.00 |
| Passage lever sets | Materials | 2 each | $76.00 |
| Fasteners, adhesive, caulk and wood filler | Materials | 1 lot | $45.00 |
| Floor protection and daily cleanup | Services | 2 day | $80.00 |
| Estimated total | $2,258.00 |
What to write on a carpenter estimate
A carpentry estimate should list linear footage by profile, the number of doors or openings, who supplies the material and whether painting or staining is included.
Materials and products are $840.00 of this $2,258.00 estimate (37%), so say how long those prices hold: supplier prices can move before the job starts.
Usually bills finish and repair work by the hour or the day, with trim, doors and hardware passed through at cost plus a handling markup.
Assumptions behind each line
Write these next to the 8 lines so the customer sees what the $2,258.00 depends on.
- Finish carpentry labor, living room trim: 14 hr at $72.00 per hr ($1,008.00); extra hr at the same rate.
- Paint-grade crown molding, 4-1/4 in: 72 linear ft at $3.10 ($223.20); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Primed MDF baseboard, 5-1/4 in: 68 linear ft at $1.85 ($125.80); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Hang prehung interior door: 2 each at $165.00 per each ($330.00); extra each at the same rate.
- Prehung 30 in interior door, primed: 2 each at $185.00 ($370.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Passage lever sets: 2 each at $38.00 ($76.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Fasteners, adhesive, caulk and wood filler: 1 lot at $45.00 ($45.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Floor protection and daily cleanup: 2 day, $80.00.
Changes, overruns and change orders
If the customer adds work, put it on a signed change order first. Here one more hr of "Finish carpentry labor, living room trim" adds $72.00, or 3.2% of the estimate.
A 10% rise in material prices would add $84.00 to this job, which is why many carpenters limit how long an estimate stays valid.
Tips from carpentry work billing
- Bill trim in linear feet with the profile and width written out; a customer who later wants a matching run in the hallway will use your invoice as the shopping list.
- Be open about waste: buying 10-15% extra molding for miter and cope cuts is normal, and saying so on the invoice heads off questions about why the order exceeds the room's measurements.
- If you return unused doors or trim for credit, note who receives that credit, because customers who paid for the material generally expect the refund to come back to them.
- Log time by task when repairs and new installs are mixed on one visit, since an old house can turn a one-hour door adjustment into three and you will need to show why.
Checking the labour rate
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Carpenters $28.51 (employees, not contractor rates).
The sample's $72.00 per hour for "Finish carpentry labor, living room trim" is 2.5 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Turning the carpenter estimate into an invoice
-
Get it approved
Ask Jamie Ortiz to sign or reply in writing to estimate EST-4700.
-
Record the changes
Update quantities to what was actually used across the 8 lines.
-
Switch the document type
Change Estimate to Invoice in the tool; the lines and parties stay.
-
Deduct what was paid
Enter any deposit as amount paid so the balance due is correct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a carpenter estimate?
Describe the job (Install crown molding and baseboard in a living room and hang two interior doors), list each line with an estimated quantity and rate, total it ($2,258.00 in the sample), state how long it is valid and what it assumes, then send it as a PDF for approval.
Is a carpenter estimate binding?
An estimate is a forecast, not a fixed price, so the final invoice can differ when the work or materials change. Rules vary by country and state; to stay safe, get written approval before billing noticeably more than the $2,258.00 you estimated.
How long should a carpenter estimate be valid?
Thirty days is common and is what this template uses. With 37% of the price in materials, a shorter validity protects you if supplier prices rise.