Painting quotation
Quotation template for painters and decorators: wall surface preparation, interior painting and protective covering removal. Download it as Excel or Word.
Templates by industry
- Wall surface preparation
- Interior painting
- Protective covering removal
Preparation guide
Example workflow
Confirm scope and quantities
Example: start with "Wall surface preparation", confirm the required quantity and client inputs, then agree completion criteria for each item.
Review and approve the quotation
Confirm acceptance evidence for "Protective covering removal", all line quantities, exclusions and quote validity with the customer, and retain the approved version.
Deliver and prepare billing
Confirm completed quantities, site photos, agreed test results and any remaining remedial work. When the agreed milestone is complete, prepare an invoice using actual quantities and approved changes.
Painters and decorators price interior work on the area to be painted, but the preparation decides the price as much as the painting does. This template separates filling and sanding the walls from the coats of paint, and lists taking down the protective sheeting at the end as its own step, so the customer sees that masking and cleanup are part of the work. Write the paint product and the number of coats: quotes with different coat counts cannot be compared.
Fields to prepare
- Deliverables and line items
- Wall surface preparation, Interior painting, Protective covering removal: specify the planned quantity and delivery scope for each item.
- Wall surface preparation
- Describe the condition you allowed for, such as filling small cracks, and price heavier repairs like replastering separately.
- Interior painting
- Give the area and the number of coats, and say whether ceilings, doors and trim are included or excluded.
- Protective covering removal
- This line covers lifting the sheets and tape and leaving the rooms clean; say whether moving furniture is part of it.
- Site and measured quantities
- Record the site, work zones, areas, lengths or counts, and access hours.
- Materials and work stages
- Specify materials, labor, removal, disposal and making-good allowances, and completion criteria for each stage.
- Scope to agree
- Specify surface area, preparation, paint and colors, coat count, protection and cleanup.
Before sending
- Does “Wall surface preparation” say what is included and what quantity the price assumes?
- Would the customer read “Interior painting” the way you do, including what it leaves out?
- Can you still honour the price of “Protective covering removal” on the last day the quotation is valid?
Show 3 more
- Agree how quantity changes following measurement or drawing revisions will be approved.
- Confirm client-supplied materials and work that other contractors must finish first.
- Check quote validity, the customer approval method and payment milestones.
Worked example with sample figures
The figures below are invented to show how the template adds up: 3 lines in USD, with an example tax rate of 8%.
| Item | Quantity × unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wall surface preparation | 8 × $650.00 | $5,200.00 |
| Interior painting | 4 × $80.00 | $320.00 |
| Protective covering removal | 12 × $750.00 | $9,000.00 |
| Subtotal | $14,520.00 | |
| Sales tax (8%) | $1,161.60 | |
| Total | $15,681.60 | |
Quoted net amount $14,520.00, sales tax $1,161.60, quoted total $15,681.60.
What the document must show
The details a quotation has to show, and why each one matters, are set out in the guide below.
The sales tax depends on where the work is supplied, so set the rate that applies to your customer before sending.
Official rate reference: US government: state and local taxes
Full requirements: How to write a quotation: format, example and checklist
Frequently asked questions
How do I quote a change from a dark color to a light one?
A strong change of color often needs a primer or an extra coat. Mention it on the painting line or add a line for the additional coat, so the customer understands why the price is higher than repainting in the same shade.
Who supplies the paint, and how does that show on the quotation?
Write it down either way. If the customer buys the paint, take the material out of your price and tell them the quantity to buy; if you supply it, name the product and finish so the customer knows exactly what was priced.
What if the customer adds a room after accepting the quotation?
Send a short revised quotation, or add the room as a new line, before you start on it. Give its area and number of coats like the other rooms, so the final invoice can be checked against what was agreed.
How is the sales tax worked out on this quotation?
The worked example above uses an example rate of 8%: $1,161.60 on a net amount of $14,520.00, for a total of $15,681.60. The editor recalculates all three when you change a quantity, a price or the country.
Can I use it in another language or currency?
Yes. The document language can be set to any of 33 languages, and changing the country setting updates the currency, the date format and the tax rate.
Read next
Reading for the Painting quotation: How to write a quotation: format, example and checklist and Quote to invoice: how to convert a quote, step by step. The VAT and GST calculator adds tax to your quoted prices.