How to Write a Plumbing Quote (Step-by-Step Guide for AU Plumbers)

Quick answer: A good plumbing quote lists your business and the customer's details, a plain-English scope of work, itemised materials and labour, a clear total (with GST shown), and your terms — payment, validity and what's excluded.

For most Australian plumbers, the quote is where the job is won or lost. A scribbled figure on the back of a docket makes you look casual; a clean, itemised quote makes you look like the professional you are — and gives the customer confidence to say yes. This guide walks through exactly what goes into a plumbing quote and how to price it.

What to include in a plumbing quote

• Your business details — name, ABN, licence number, phone and email.
• The customer's details — name, site address and contact.
• A quote number and date — so you can track it later.
• Scope of work — what you'll actually do, in plain English (e.g. "Supply and install new hot water unit, remove and dispose of old unit").
• Itemised materials — fittings, pipe, the unit itself, with quantities.
• Labour — hours and your rate, or a fixed price for the task.
• The total — clearly showing whether GST is included.
• Terms — how long the quote is valid, payment terms, and what's excluded.

How to price labour and materials

Start with your hourly rate. Work out what you need to charge to cover wages, vehicle, tools, insurance, super and a profit margin — then estimate the hours the job will realistically take, including travel and clean-up. For materials, price what you'll actually buy and add a sensible markup to cover the time spent sourcing and the risk of price changes.

Where a job is predictable — a tap replacement, a hot water swap — a fixed price is easier for the customer to accept than an hourly estimate. For jobs with unknowns (digging up a blockage, old pipework), be upfront that the quote is an estimate and explain what could change the price.

GST on a plumbing quote

If your business is registered for GST (required once your turnover hits the $75,000 threshold), you charge 10% GST on top of your prices. On the quote, make it obvious — either show prices including GST, or list the subtotal, the GST amount, and the total. Don't leave the customer guessing whether the figure is the final number. See our guide to GST on quotes for the detail.

A simple plumbing quote template

At a minimum, your quote should flow like this:

• Header: your business + ABN + licence, customer + site address, quote number and date
• Scope: a short paragraph describing the work
• Materials: itemised list with quantities and prices
• Labour: hours × rate, or a fixed amount
• Totals: subtotal, GST, total
• Terms: valid for 30 days, payment on completion, exclusions

Send it fast — that's the part that wins the job

The plumber who quotes first usually wins. The hard part isn't the format — it's finding the time to write it up after a long day on the tools. That's exactly what EasyQuote AI does: describe the job in plain English and it writes a professional, itemised plumbing quote — materials, labour and a clear GST total — in seconds, ready to send as a branded PDF.

Frequently asked questions

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