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Free roofing estimate template
A roofing estimate that's ready to fill in: priced by the square, with each tear-off layer, shingles with the waste factor, underlayment and flashing, a decking allowance per sheet, the permit, and the dumpster on their own lines. The sample prices are made up, so change them to yours. Edit it here, then print it or save it as a PDF. No signup, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
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Below is a working estimate with a sample roofing job filled in. Type over anything, add your business details once (they're saved in this browser and shared with the invoice maker), and print it. Jump to what a roofing estimate should include, how to figure squares, waste, layers, and decking, or the sample text to send with it. For the texts before and during the job, see the roofing text templates.
1. Your business
2. Customer and job
3. Estimate number and dates
4. Line items and totals
Leave Qty blank for a flat price line, like a trip charge. Units are up to you: ea, hr, sq ft, ln ft, visit, lot.
5. Notes and terms
6. Your estimate
Preview. This is what prints. Empty fields are left off.
7. Send it
Save the estimate as a PDF, then send it with one of these. Your customer's name, the job, the total, and the valid-until date are filled in from the estimate. Anything still in [brackets] is yours to finish.
Heard nothing back? Use the three-text quote follow-up plan. Not sure your price is right? Check it with the free pricing calculator before you send. For reminders, invoices, and review requests with your details filled in, use the free text generator.
What a roofing estimate should include
Every estimate needs your business details, the customer, an estimate number, the date, the line items, the total, and how long the price holds. The estimate maker above handles those. These are the lines that matter most for roofing work:
- Roof size in squares. One square is 100 sq ft of roof surface. Put the squares on the tear-off, underlayment, and shingle lines so the customer can compare your bid with others line for line.
- Tear-off, by layer. Price each layer on its own line. A second or third layer means more labor and more weight in the dumpster, and many homeowners don't know it's there until you tell them.
- Shingles with the waste factor. Order and price 10% to 15% over the roof area for cuts, hips, ridges, and starter. Show it ("24 sq + 10% waste") so the bigger number doesn't look like a mistake.
- Underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing, and vents. Name what goes under and around the shingles. Low bids often skip these, so spelling them out helps you win on more than price.
- Decking as an allowance, per sheet. You can't see rotted decking until tear-off. Include a set number of sheets at a per-sheet price, and say that unused sheets come off the final bill and you'll ask before going over.
- Permit and inspection. List the permit at what the city or county charges, and say who schedules the inspection.
- Dumpster and cleanup. The dumpster, haul-off, and a daily magnetic nail sweep. Homeowners worry about nails in the driveway, so say how you handle them.
- Warranty, deposit, and how long the price holds. The shingle maker's warranty, your workmanship warranty, the deposit to schedule, and a valid-until date, since material prices move.
How to figure squares, waste, layers, and decking
Squares: measure each roof plane (length times width), add them up, and divide by 100. The sample house has two 30 × 40 ft planes: 2,400 sq ft, or 24 squares. A pitched roof has more surface than the house footprint, so measure the roof itself, or multiply the footprint by a pitch factor (about 1.12 for a 6/12 pitch).
Waste: add about 10% for a simple gable roof and 15% or more for hips, valleys, and dormers. 24 squares plus 10% is 26.4 squares of shingles, the number on the shingle line.
Layers: lift a shingle at the edge or look at the rake to count layers before you price the tear-off, and give each layer its own line.
Decking: a 4 × 8 ft sheet covers 32 sq ft, so 6 sheets cover about 192 sq ft, roughly 8% of this roof. Size the allowance to the roof's age and what you saw in the attic.
The sample roofing estimate, line by line
Here is the sample above as plain numbers, so you can check the math or copy the line names. The prices are made up for this example.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tear-off, first layer of shingles, to the deck | 24 | sq | $70.00 | $1,680.00 |
| Tear-off, second layer | 24 | sq | $35.00 | $840.00 |
| Architectural shingles, installed (24 sq + 10% waste) | 26.4 | sq | $330.00 | $8,712.00 |
| Synthetic underlayment, ice and water shield at eaves and valleys | 24 | sq | $50.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Drip edge, step flashing, pipe boots, and ridge vent | 1 | lot | $1,250.00 | $1,250.00 |
| Decking allowance: replace rotted 7/16 in. OSB, up to 6 sheets, billed per sheet used | 6 | sheet | $85.00 | $510.00 |
| Building permit (city fee, at cost) | $185.00 | $185.00 | ||
| 30-yard dumpster, delivery and haul-off | 1 | ea | $525.00 | $525.00 |
| Total | $14,902.00 | |||
| Deposit due to schedule (30%) | $4,470.60 | |||
| Balance due on completion | $10,431.40 | |||
Sample text to send with a roofing estimate
Save the estimate as a PDF, then send it with a short text like this one. Step 7 above fills it in from your estimate. Here it is with blanks:
Sending the roofing estimate (text)Text
Hi [first name], it's [your name] with [business]. Here's the estimate for your [job]: [link]. Total is [$]. Each tear-off layer, the decking allowance, the permit, and the dumpster are on their own lines, so you can compare it with other bids. It's good until [date]. Questions? Call or text [phone].
Tip: Save the estimate as a PDF first, then attach it or paste a link where the [link] is. No answer in two days? Send the check-in from the quote follow-up texts.
Job done? Edit this estimate, then open the free invoice maker and click "Start from my last estimate": the customer, job, line items, and deposit come over. Scope changed mid-job? The free change order maker starts from this estimate and shows the new contract total. Not sure your price is right? Check it with the free pricing calculator before you send. More texts for roofing jobs: roofing text templates.
Estimate templates for other trades
Each one starts with that trade's usual line items: painting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, handyman, landscaping, house cleaning. See them all on the estimate templates page, or use the blank estimate maker.
Roofing estimate questions
What should a roofing estimate include?
Your business name, phone, and license number if your state requires one, the customer and property address, an estimate number, the date, and how long the price holds. Then the roof size in squares, tear-off priced by layer, shingles with the waste factor, underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing and vents, a decking allowance per sheet, the permit, the dumpster, the total, the deposit, and your warranty.
How do roofers price an estimate per square?
A square is 100 square feet of roof. Measure the roof planes, divide the total by 100, and price the tear-off, underlayment, and shingle lines per square. Add 10% to 15% to the shingle line for waste. The sample on this page is 24 squares with 26.4 squares of shingles. Use your own prices per square, since they vary a lot by region, pitch, and material.
How do I handle rotted decking on a roof estimate?
Use an allowance. Include a set number of sheets at a per-sheet price, such as up to 6 sheets at $85 each, and say in your terms that the customer pays only for the sheets you use and that you'll show them before going past the allowance. The total stays honest, and there's no surprise bill after tear-off.
How much deposit should a roofer ask for?
Many roofers take a deposit to order materials and hold the date, often somewhere between 10% and 50%. Some states cap deposits on home improvement work. California, for example, limits most to 10% or $1,000, whichever is less. Check your state's rules before you pick a number. The sample uses 30%, and you can change it in the deposit box.
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