What goes on a roofing estimate
A roofing estimate wins or loses on clarity. Homeowners compare two or three bids, and the one that shows what’s included (tear-off, underlayment, ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys, ridge vent, pipe boots) looks more careful than a single lump sum.
This template lists those lines in the units roofers actually use: squares for shingles, tear-off and labour, linear feet for drip edge, starter, ridge and ice and water, and each for boots, dumpsters and permits. Decking replacement is its own per-sheet line, so the price of rotten wood found during tear-off is agreed before anyone climbs up.
The lines in this template
| Line | Unit | Taxable by default |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and disposal of existing roofingNumber of layers to be confirmed on site | sq | No |
| Dumpster / haul-away | each | No |
| Synthetic underlayment | sq | Yes |
| Ice and water shieldEaves, valleys and penetrations | lf | Yes |
| Architectural shinglesBrand, line and colour | sq | Yes |
| Starter strip and hip & ridge cap | lf | Yes |
| Drip edge | lf | Yes |
| Ridge vent | lf | Yes |
| Pipe boots and flashing | each | Yes |
| Roofing labour | sq | No |
| Decking replacement (if needed)Only for rotten sheets found during tear-off | sheet | Yes |
| Permit | each | No |
12 lines, prices left blank for yours. “Taxable” is only the starting tick, so match it to your state’s rules.
Tips from the trade
- Quote decking per sheet, not as an allowance, and photograph every sheet you replace.
- Put the shingle brand, line and colour in the detail field: it is what the homeowner remembers.
- Mark materials taxable and labour not taxable where your state taxes them differently.
- Ask for a deposit on the estimate; it carries over to the invoice as “deposit received”.
Need the squares first? The roofing squares calculator turns a footprint and pitch into squares and a materials list, and the roof cost calculator shows typical installed prices by material, with sources, so you can sanity-check your total before you send it.
Questions people ask
What should a roofing estimate include?
Your business details and licence number, the job address, the scope line by line (tear-off and layers, underlayment, ice and water shield, shingles with brand and colour, starter and ridge, drip edge, ventilation, flashing and boots, labour, disposal, permit), how extra decking is charged, the total, the deposit, how long the price is valid, and the warranty terms.
How do I measure squares for the estimate?
One roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Measure each plane, add them, and add waste for cuts, hips and valleys. If you want a quick roof area from footprint and pitch, our roof calculator does that, and its numbers can go straight into this template.
How long should a roofing estimate stay valid?
Only as long as you can hold the material prices. The template’s terms say 30 days; change it to suit your supplier. Shingle and underlayment prices move, so a short validity protects you if the customer signs late.
How do I charge for rotten decking found during tear-off?
Agree a per-sheet price on the estimate, as this template does, and say in the notes that sheets are replaced only where needed and photographed. The customer then knows the rule before work starts, and the invoice simply shows the number of sheets used.
Can I turn the estimate into an invoice when the job is done?
Yes. Click “Turn into invoice”. The client, scope and prices carry over, the estimate number is noted on the invoice, and any deposit you asked for is shown as received so the invoice shows the balance due.