№ 012/Free tool
Free estimate generator.
Price the job before you take it.
Make a free estimate or quote as a PDF, in your browser: list the work, add tax, set a "Valid until" date, and download a document headed ESTIMATE — not an invoice with the word changed. No sign-up, no watermark, nothing uploaded. Built for anyone who offers customers a free estimate before the job.
- No sign-up
- No watermark
- Download the PDF
- Nothing uploaded
- 47 currencies
From
Bill to
Estimate №
Valid until
Currency
Tax %
Template
Line items
Discount (flat)
Notes (optional)
Payment details (optional)
Printed in its own block so your client knows exactly where to pay.
Totals
Runs in your browser; the draft stays on this device. It is only uploaded if you choose to save it to a free account. Never watermarked.
Tip
Want the client to accept online? In the free Inbill app they tap Accept or Decline on the estimate link, and you convert the accepted estimate into an invoice in one tap.
Start free — estimates don't count toward the limitThree steps to a written price.
01
Add your business and the customer
Your business name on top, the customer or prospect under "Bill to", with the job address in the notes if it matters.
02
Price the work line by line
Labour, materials and anything else, each with quantity and rate. Add tax if it applies and a discount if you are offering one.
03
Set "Valid until" and download
Pick how long the price holds — 14 to 30 days is common — then download a PDF headed ESTIMATE and send it.
Offering a free estimate? Put this on it.
A free estimate wins the job when the customer can see exactly what they are paying for and when the price expires. Six things do that:
- 01
Who it is from and for
Your business name and contact details; the customer's name and, for on-site work, the job address.
- 02
A number and two dates
An estimate number you can refer back to, the date you issued it, and the date the price stops being valid.
- 03
The scope, line by line
What you will do, split so the customer can see where the money goes — labour, materials, call-out, disposal.
- 04
What is not included
Exclusions and assumptions in the notes ("price assumes walls are sound"). This is what prevents arguments later.
- 05
The total, with tax shown
Subtotal, any tax and discount, and the total — so the number they agree to is the number you invoice.
- 06
How to say yes
Tell them how to accept and what deposit, if any, you need before starting.
Estimate, quote, or invoice?
The three documents mark three moments of the same job: an estimate opens the conversation, a quote closes the price, an invoice collects the money. The biggest practical difference is commitment — estimates are flexible, accepted quotes are binding, invoices are due.
| Feature | Estimate | Quote | Invoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it goes out | Early, while scope is still moving | Once scope and price are fixed | After the work is delivered |
| What it says | "It will cost roughly this" | "It will cost exactly this, if you accept" | "You now owe this" |
| Commitment | Not binding — an approximation | Binding once the client accepts | A payment obligation with a due date |
| Typical next step | Firm it up into a quote | Client accepts, work starts | Payment lands, receipt goes out |
Related tools and guides
Questions, answered plainly.
Is this estimate maker really free?
Yes. It creates and downloads a PDF estimate with no sign-up, no watermark, and no card, as often as you need. It runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded.
What should a free estimate include?
Your business and the customer, an estimate number, the issue date and a "valid until" date, the work broken into priced lines, what is not included, tax, and the total. Add how the customer accepts and any deposit you need. Every field is on the form above.
What is the difference between an estimate and a quote?
An estimate is an educated approximation sent while the scope still has unknowns; the final cost may move. A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope — once the client accepts it, you are expected to honor it. Use this tool for either: the "Valid until" date keeps old pricing from haunting you.
Is an estimate legally binding?
Generally no — an estimate is presented as an approximation, not an offer. An accepted quote or a signed contract is what creates the obligation. Rules vary by country, and drifting far beyond an estimate without warning the client invites disputes — flag changes early. (This is general information, not legal advice.)
How do I turn an estimate into an invoice?
Here, open the invoice generator and enter the same line items with a due date. In the free Inbill app, an estimate is its own document: you send a link where the client taps Accept or Decline, then convert the accepted estimate into an invoice in one tap. Estimates don't count toward the 10 free invoices a month.
Should my estimate have an expiry date?
Yes. Materials, rates, and your availability change — a "Valid until" date (14–30 days is common) makes that explicit and gives the client a gentle reason to decide.
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