Tradie quote templates for Australian homeowners

Comparing two written quotes side-by-side is only useful when both quotes describe the same scope of work — same materials, same prep, same warranty, same paperwork. These plain-English templates show exactly what a complete written quote from your plumber, electrician, painter, roofer, cleaner, landscaper, builder or bathroom renovator should contain, with the Australian pricing ranges, licensing rules, GST treatment and warranty norms a reputable tradie will be happy to put in writing. Use any template before you post a job to compare quotes confidently — or post your job free and let verified local tradies quote against the same scope.

Why use a written quote template

Almost every dispute between an Australian homeowner and a tradie traces back to a quote that was not specific enough at the start. A vague one-line quote — "plumbing work, $450" — gives the tradie room to claim almost anything fits the description on invoice day, and gives you nothing to compare against the final bill. A complete written quote line-items the labour, the materials by brand and quantity, the warranty in writing, the GST treatment, the licence number where the trade is licensed, and the variation process if the job changes once work begins. None of that is unusual for a reputable Australian tradie. It is the baseline of an honest quote.

How to read a tradie quote

Open every quote with the same five questions: who is the tradie (full name, business name, ABN, licence number where applicable), what is the scope (described in plain English, with quantities), what is the price (fixed or hourly with a cap, GST clearly stated), what is the warranty (workmanship plus manufacturer parts, in writing) and what are the payment terms (deposit if any, milestones for larger jobs, final payment trigger). If any of those five answers is missing, the quote is incomplete — ask for the missing detail in writing before you compare it against anyone else’s.

Browse templates by trade

Each template below explains what a complete written quote should contain for that trade, the typical Australian price ranges, the compliance paperwork (Certificate of Compliance, AS 3740 waterproofing certificate, builder’s insurance) and the red flags that mean keep shopping. They are designed to be read in five minutes before you post a job and used as a checklist when the quotes come back.

• Plumber quote template (Australia)

  A good plumbing quote is more than a single dollar figure — it is the document you use to compare two or three plumbers on the same scope of work, confirm the labour and parts you are actually paying for, and protect yourself from surprise extras on invoice day. This Australian plumber quote template walks through every line item a complete written quote should contain, the typical ranges you should expect for call-out fees and hourly rates, and the warning signs that tell you to keep shopping. View the plumber quote template →

• Electrician quote template (Australia)

  All fixed-wire electrical work in Australia must be performed by a licensed electrician and signed off with a Certificate of Electrical Safety or Compliance. That is the law in every state and territory. Use this template to confirm you are getting both a fair price and the right compliance paperwork — and to spot the operators trying to do unlicensed work under the table. View the electrician quote template →

• Roofing quote template (Australia)

  Roofing quotes vary wildly because access, materials and the extent of damage differ so much between jobs. A repair on a single-storey tile roof in calm weather is a fundamentally different job to a metal roof restoration on a two-storey house that needs scaffolding. Use this template to make sure two roofing quotes are genuinely comparing the same scope of work — and to spot the storm-chasing operators who appear at your door after a hailstorm. View the roofer quote template →

• Bathroom renovation quote template (Australia)

  Bathroom renovations are one of the most disputed home-services jobs in Australia — and almost every dispute traces back to a quote that was not specific enough at the start. Use this template to lock the scope down in writing before any tile is broken: who is doing the waterproofing, what brand of fixtures, how variations are handled, and exactly how progress payments are released. View the bathroom renovator quote template →

• Painting quote template (Australia)

  Two painting quotes for the "same" job can differ by 50% or more because preparation work, paint brand and the number of coats vary so widely between operators. A cheap painting quote almost always means skipped prep — and skipped prep almost always means a paint job that fails inside two summers. Use this template to confirm you are buying preparation and durability, not just hours on a brush. View the painter quote template →

• Cleaning quote template (Australia)

  A cleaning quote that says "clean house — $250" is the start of a dispute. A complete cleaning quote spells out the type of clean, exactly which rooms and items are included, what is explicitly excluded, the products and equipment being used, and — for end-of-lease work — the bond-back guarantee, the insurance and the special items that catch out tenants every week. Use this template to keep your hours-and-dollars clear before the cleaner arrives. View the cleaner quote template →

• Landscaping quote template (Australia)

  Landscaping quotes are notoriously hard to compare because the scope can include almost anything — earthworks, drainage, paving, retaining walls, decks, turf, planting, irrigation, lighting and council compliance. Use this template to break the job into the same line items every reputable Australian landscaper would structure it around, so the two quotes you compare are talking about the same yard. View the landscaper quote template →

• Building / renovation quote template (Australia)

  Building quotes for extensions, decks, garages, granny flats and full renovations are the highest-stakes quotes most Australian homeowners ever sign — and the ones most likely to end in a tribunal if the paperwork is thin. Use this template to make sure your written quote includes the builder's licence, the right insurance, council approvals, provisional sums, progress payments and a workable variations process before you sign a contract. View the builder quote template →

How to compare quotes fairly

Line up two or three quotes column-by-column on the same line items. If one quote is materially cheaper, look at what is missing rather than what is included — a missing brand name on a fixture, a missing workmanship warranty paragraph, a missing call-out fee or a missing GST line almost always explains the gap. The TaskerAsker cost guides give you the typical Australian price ranges by trade so you can sanity-check whether the headline figures are even in the right ballpark before you go any further.

Red flags across every trade

A handful of warning signs apply to every trade and every job size: no ABN on the quote, no licence number where the trade is licensed, "cash only" pricing paired with "no GST", deposit requests above 10% (or the legal cap in your state), pressure to sign on the spot, refusal to put a workmanship warranty in writing, and door-knockers offering "free inspections" after a storm. Any one of these is a signal to slow down and get another quote. Two or more is a signal to walk away.

How TaskerAsker helps

TaskerAsker is a free Australian marketplace for home services. You post the job once and receive up to three written quotes from local tradies. Every provider has their ABN verified before they can quote, trade licences are surfaced where the trade is licensed, and reviews are tied to completed jobs only. Post your job free to start, or read how it works before you do. You can also browse verified tradies directly or explore services by trade.

Frequently asked questions

Why does TaskerAsker publish quote templates?

Because the single biggest cause of disputes between Australian homeowners and tradies is a quote that was not specific enough at the start. These templates show exactly what a complete, honest written quote should contain for each trade — so you can compare two quotes on the same scope before you sign.

How many quotes should I get for a home-services job?

For anything above a quick call-out we recommend at least two written quotes, and three for larger work like bathroom renovations, roof restorations and building work. Comparing one quote against itself tells you nothing about market price; comparing three usually surfaces the outlier on either end.

Should every tradie quote include GST?

Any Australian tradie registered for GST — required once turnover exceeds $75,000 a year — must charge GST and show it on the quote. A quote that does not mention GST at all, or that offers a discount "for cash, no GST", is a strong signal to keep shopping.

Is a verbal quote ever enough?

For an emergency, sometimes — you may need work done in the next hour and a phone quote is all you can get. For anything else, get a written quote with an ABN, licence number where relevant, scope of work and GST status. Without a written quote you have nothing to compare against the final invoice.

What licence and insurance details should appear on every Australian tradie quote?

Full name and business name, ABN, the state-issued trade licence number where the trade is licensed (plumbing, electrical, building, gasfitting, asbestos removal), and a public-liability insurance reference. Trades that require a Certificate of Compliance or AS-standard certification should also commit to issuing it on completion at no extra charge.

What happens if I accept a quote and then need to change the scope?

A reputable tradie will stop, explain what has changed, and issue a written variation — with a new line item, a new price and your sign-off — before continuing. Never accept a verbal "it'll be a bit more" without seeing the variation in writing. Verbal variations are the number-one cause of post-job disputes.

Ready to compare quotes? Post your job free and receive up to three written quotes from verified Australian tradies — or browse the cost guides, services hub or job description examples.