Free Construction Quote Template (Ontario 2026)
Free Construction Quote Template for Ontario Contractors
A proper construction quote protects you from scope creep, late payment, and disputes over what was agreed. Under the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, any home renovation contract over $50 must be in writing. Your quote is usually that written contract once the homeowner signs it.
This post gives you a free construction quote template you can copy into Word, Google Docs, or any quoting tool. It covers every section that matters for Ontario jobs: scope, inclusions and exclusions, GST/HST, validity, payment terms, and warranty.
What a construction quote must include
Every quote you send should have these sections. Miss one and you are leaving yourself open.
- Your business info: legal name, business address, phone, email, WSIB clearance number, HST number, and licence number if the trade requires one
- Client info: full name, property address where work will happen, phone, and email
- Quote number and dates: unique quote number, date issued, and the date the quote expires (30 days is standard)
- Project description: one to two sentences summarizing the job in plain language
- Scope of work: detailed list of what you will do
- Exclusions: what you will NOT do (this is the section most contractors skip, and the one that saves you from disputes)
- Line items: labour, materials, equipment, subtrades, each with a dollar amount
- Subtotal, HST (13% in Ontario), and total
- Payment terms: deposit, progress payments, final payment
- Validity period: how long the price holds
- Warranty: what you stand behind and for how long
- Signatures: yours and the client's, with date
Free construction quote template
Copy this directly. Fill in the square brackets with your info.
[YOUR BUSINESS NAME] [Street Address, City, ON, Postal Code] Phone: [(XXX) XXX-XXXX] Email: [you@business.ca] HST #: [XXXXXXXXX RT0001] WSIB Clearance #: [XXXXXXX] [Master Plumber / Electrical Licence / Other Trade Licence #, if applicable]
CONSTRUCTION QUOTE
Quote #: 2026-001 Date Issued: [Date] Valid Until: [Date + 30 days]
Prepared for: [Client Name] [Property Address] [City, ON, Postal Code] [Phone] [Email]
Project: [Short project description. Example: Bathroom renovation at the above address, including demo, plumbing rough-in, tile, fixtures, and finish work.]
Scope of Work (Inclusions)
- [Specific task 1. Example: Demolition of existing bathroom including tub, toilet, vanity, tile, and drywall. Disposal of debris included.]
- [Specific task 2]
- [Specific task 3]
- [Specific task 4]
Exclusions
The following are NOT included in this quote unless added in writing:
- Permits (client to pay any required permit fees directly or reimburse at cost)
- Work outside the defined project area
- Changes to plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems beyond what is listed above
- Repairs to pre-existing damage discovered during demo
- Appliances, fixtures, or finishes supplied by the client
Pricing Breakdown
| Item | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | [Hours estimate x rate] | $[X,XXX.XX] |
| Materials | [Major materials list] | $[X,XXX.XX] |
| Equipment / Rentals | [If applicable] | $[XXX.XX] |
| Subtrades | [Electrical, gas, etc.] | $[X,XXX.XX] |
| Subtotal | $[X,XXX.XX] | |
| HST (13%) | $[XXX.XX] | |
| Total | $[X,XXX.XX] |
Payment Terms
- Deposit: 25% of total due at signing ($[X,XXX.XX])
- Progress payment: 50% due upon completion of demo and rough-in ($[X,XXX.XX])
- Final payment: 25% due within 7 days of substantial completion ($[X,XXX.XX])
Late payments accrue interest at 2% per month (24% annually). All payments by e-transfer or cheque.
Validity
This quote is valid for 30 days from the date issued. Material prices may change after that date.
Warranty
Workmanship warranty: 1 year from date of completion. Manufacturer warranties on fixtures and materials pass through to the client.
Change Orders
Any change to the scope above will be documented in a written change order and priced separately before work begins. No verbal changes accepted.
Acceptance
By signing below, the client accepts this quote as the scope, price, and terms of the project.
Client signature: _______________________ Date: _________ Contractor signature: ___________________ Date: _________
How to fill out each section
Business info block. Every quote needs your HST number if you are registered, and your WSIB clearance number. Homeowners in Ontario increasingly ask for both before signing.
Scope of work. Be specific. "Renovate bathroom" is not scope. "Demo tub, toilet, vanity, tile, and drywall to studs. Install new 32x60 tub, low-flow toilet, single vanity, subway tile to ceiling on tub wall, porcelain tile floor" is scope.
Exclusions. This section saves jobs. If the client wanted hardwood floors across the whole house but you only quoted the living room, write it down. If you did not include permit fees, write it down. Every dispute you will ever have comes from something that was not clearly in or out of scope.
Payment terms. Ontario standard is 25/50/25 or 30/40/30 with a deposit. Never start work on a renovation without a deposit. Final payment tied to substantial completion, not absolute completion, stops clients from holding you hostage over a missing cabinet handle.
Quote versus estimate: know the difference
Contractors use these words interchangeably. Clients should not.
- Estimate: rough price, not binding. Useful early in a project when scope is unclear.
- Quote: a firm price for a defined scope. Becomes a contract once signed.
If you send a quote, you are bound to the price unless the client changes the scope. If you send an estimate, you can revise. Always label the document correctly. Writing "Estimate" when you mean "Quote" creates room for dispute.
Common mistakes on construction quotes
- No exclusions section. Every quote needs one.
- No validity period. Lumber prices, tile prices, and labour availability move weekly. A 30-day validity protects you.
- No deposit clause. Starting work without a deposit is how you lose five figures.
- No change order clause. Verbal changes are the number one reason contractors do not get paid in full.
- Mixing labour and materials into one line. Break them out so the client sees where the money goes.
- Missing HST. Register for a GST/HST number once you cross $30,000 in revenue. See the CRA GST/HST for businesses page for registration details.
After the job: send an invoice
Once the job is done, your invoice should reference the quote number and the signed scope. The contractor invoice template for Ontario has the full format.
See where your pricing, quoting, and profit stand against Ontario benchmarks. Take the 2-minute Contractor Profit Score: grizzli.app/score