Fence Estimate Template
This is the estimate structure working fence shops actually use — the one that survives a customer asking "what am I paying for?" and a crew lead asking "is this what we're building?" Copy the structure, fill it with your supplier's prices, and it will out-perform any lump-sum number.
The template
1. Header block
[Your company name] · [phone] · [email]
Estimate #FT-2026-### · Date: [date]
Prepared for: [customer name]
Site: [address]
Valid for 30 days.
2. Scope of work
Two or three sentences, written so a stranger could build from them:
Supply and install 100 linear feet of 6 ft pressure-treated board-on-board privacy fence with one 4 ft walk gate. Includes removal and disposal of the existing chain link fence. All posts set in concrete to frost depth. Locates called by [shop]; permits are the customer's responsibility.
3. Line items
| Description | Qty | Unit | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remove existing fence + haul | 90 | ft | 5.00 | 450.00 |
| Locate requests (before dig) | 1 | flat | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 4×4 posts, set in concrete | 14 | each | 95.00 | 1,330.00 |
| 6×6 gate posts, set in concrete | 2 | each | 145.00 | 290.00 |
| 2×4 rails (3 per bay) | 39 | each | 18.00 | 702.00 |
| 1×6 pickets, board-on-board | 268 | each | 6.50 | 1,742.00 |
| 4 ft walk gate, hardware included | 1 | each | 680.00 | 680.00 |
| Subtotal | 5,194.00 | |||
| Tax (HST 13%) | 675.22 | |||
| Total | 5,869.22 |
4. Terms block
Deposit: 50% on acceptance ($2,934.61) — covers materials ordered on signing.
Balance: due on completion, before final walkthrough.
Included: site cleanup, haul of construction waste.
Not included: permits, tree removal, landscape repair beyond the fence line.
Schedule: installation begins [week of]. Weather delays extend the schedule
but not the price. Price is fixed for 30 days from the date above.
Accepted: ______________ Date: ______________
Why this structure works
- Quantities turn the price into proof. A customer comparing two quotes can't compare "100 ft fence" against this table — and yours is the one that looks understood.
- The deposit is tied to a real expense (materials ordered on signing). It's not a fee; it's how the job starts.
- Included / not included kills the end-of-job negotiation. Permits, trees, landscape — whatever you don't do is written down before you don't do it.
- Fixed for 30 days protects you from material price moves between measuring and signing.
Fill it with real numbers
The quantities above come from the fence calculator at 8 ft spacing — swap in your run. The rates should come from your supplier's current pricebook, not the starter numbers. That's the entire difference between a template that estimates and a template that prices.
FenceTracer
This template, generated from the drawing
FenceTracer produces this exact structure — quantities from the takeoff, prices from your catalogue, tax by province or state — as a branded PDF in under a minute. Free for 3 months.Frequently asked questions
Is there a free fence estimate template?
The structure above is free to copy, and FenceTracer generates it filled-in as a branded PDF during the free trial — quantities from the drawing, your prices, and tax defaults included.
What's the difference between a fence estimate and a fence quote?
An estimate is informational — a number to compare. A quote is an offer with scope, terms, and a signature block that becomes the contract when accepted. Send quotes; estimates are what you do in your head.
How long should a fence estimate be valid?
30 days. Material prices — especially treated lumber and vinyl — move on supplier schedules, and the validity window is what lets you re-price without an awkward conversation.
