If you're searching for a fence quote template, you probably want one of two things: a clean document you can send a customer today, or a system that generates these for you on autopilot. This page gives you both.
Below is the structure of a quote that wins fence jobs in Canada — the sections that matter, the numbers customers look for, and the tax treatment that keeps you compliant. At the bottom, you can grab a working template free, or skip the template entirely and let FenceTracer build branded fence quotes from a drawing or a few line items.
What every fence quote needs
A good fence quote isn't a price — it's a document that answers every question a homeowner or property manager has before they have to ask. Miss any of these and you'll burn time on follow-up emails (or worse, lose the job to whoever wrote a clearer one).
- Header: your business name, address, license/WSIB number, contact, and a unique quote number.
- Customer block: name, install address, phone, email.
- Scope of work: fence type, height, gauge or grade, total linear feet, gate count and sizes, post type, removal of existing fence (yes/no).
- Line-item pricing: materials, labour, gates, removal, disposal — separated, not bundled into one mystery total.
- Subtotal, delivery, tax: HST 13% (ON) or GST 5% + QST 9.975% (QC). Show each line.
- Total: bold and unambiguous.
- Payment terms: deposit %, balance schedule, accepted payment methods.
- Validity: "Valid for 30 days" — protects you against material price swings.
- Scope exclusions: what's not included (permits, locates, hard digging, fence staining).
- Signature block: customer signature + date, your signature + date.
A real fence quote example
Here's a 100ft, 5ft tall, 11-gauge galvanized chain link install with one 4ft single walk gate, in Ontario:
| Line | Description | Qty | Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5ft 11ga galvanized chain link fabric | 100 ft | $3.63/ft | $363.00 |
| 2 | 5ft galvanized line post (1-5/8") | 11 | $6.20 | $68.20 |
| 3 | 5ft galvanized terminal post (2-1/2") | 4 | $22.00 | $88.00 |
| 4 | Top rail (1-3/8" x 21ft) | 5 | $24.00 | $120.00 |
| 5 | Tension bands, brace bands, post caps | 1 lot | $95.00 | $95.00 |
| 6 | 3'x5' single walk gate, 11ga | 1 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| 7 | Concrete (per post) | 15 | $12.00 | $180.00 |
| 8 | Labour & installation | 100 ft | $14.00/ft | $1,400.00 |
| 9 | Gate installation | 1 | $125.00 | $125.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,649.20 | |||
| Delivery (handling) | $75.00 | |||
| Freight (orders < $5,000) | $250.00 | |||
| Pre-tax total | $2,974.20 | |||
| HST (13% Ontario) | $386.65 | |||
| Total | $3,360.85 |
Material costs above use real numbers from the Toronto 2025 Fencing Catalogue. Labour rates vary by region — these are illustrative.
The HST/QST section most quotes get wrong
If you're working in Ontario, charge 13% HST on the full pre-tax total (materials + labour + delivery, all subject to HST).
If you're in Quebec, charge 5% GST + 9.975% QST — and yes, both apply to most fence installation services. Display them as two separate lines so the customer can verify against their bookkeeping.
If you cross a provincial line — say a Toronto contractor doing a job in Gatineau — the place-of-supply rule governs which tax applies. For real property services like fencing, it's the province where the property is located. Charge QC tax for QC jobs, ON tax for ON jobs, regardless of where your business is registered.
Read the full HST/QST guide for fence contractors →
Common mistakes that lose jobs
- One-line totals: "Fence install — $3,500." Customers can't compare you to the next quote, so they pick whoever was cheapest, not whoever was clearest.
- No validity date: 60 days later, lumber prices spike 12%, customer says yes, you eat the loss.
- Vague scope: "We will install a fence." Better: "Install 100 linear feet of 5ft galvanized chain link with one 4ft single walk gate. Includes removal of existing fence and disposal."
- Hidden tax: "Plus tax" at the bottom. Show the dollar amount. Always.
- Generic exclusions: Spell out permits, locates (Ontario One Call), large rocks, tree removal, post-hole rock-breaking. These are the most common change-order triggers.
Skip the template entirely
A blank Word template gets you maybe halfway. The hard parts are the math, the consistency, and the follow-up. FenceTracer was built for fence contractors specifically:
- Pull material prices from the Toronto 2025 Fencing Catalogue automatically
- Calculate posts, rails, fittings, gates from linear feet
- Apply HST or QST based on the install address — no manual lookup
- Generate a branded PDF quote your customer can sign electronically
- Track quotes through workflow (lead → estimate → sold → installed)
| Feature | FenceTracer | DIY Word/Excel template |
|---|---|---|
| Time to build a quote | 60 seconds | 20–40 minutes |
| Material pricing | Catalog auto-priced | Manual lookup |
| HST/QST math | Automatic by province | Manual |
| Branded PDF | Yes | Format manually |
| E-signature | Built in | Print and scan |
| Cost | $180/mo flat | Free (your time) |
Stop rebuilding the same quote in Word
Generate professional fence quotes in 60 seconds. Real material prices, automatic Canadian tax, branded PDFs your customers can sign. 30-day free trial — no credit card.
Start free trial →Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this fence quote template free?+
The structure on this page is free — copy the line items and headings into Word or Google Docs and you have a working template. The faster path is FenceTracer's 30-day free trial, which generates the same quote (with material pricing and tax math) in under a minute.
What's the difference between a fence quote and a fence estimate?+
A fence estimate is a ballpark — usually based on a phone call or quick site visit. A fence quote is a firm price commitment, signed by both parties, with itemized materials, labour, scope, and exclusions. In Canada, a signed quote is generally enforceable as a contract.
How long should a fence quote be valid?+
30 days is standard for residential. Material prices on chain link and pressure-treated wood can move 5–15% in a single quarter, so longer windows expose you to margin loss. Add a clause that allows for material price re-quoting if the customer signs after the validity period.
Should I show labour and materials separately?+
Yes. Separating labour from materials makes your quote easier to compare honestly, and it gives the customer transparency on where their money goes. It also makes change orders easier to price (you only need to recalculate the affected line).
Do I charge HST on the full quote or just on materials?+
On the full quote — materials, labour, delivery, gates, removal. Fence installation is a taxable service in every Canadian province with sales tax. The only exemption to know is small-supplier status (under $30,000/year revenue), which removes the obligation to register for and charge GST/HST.
Can I use this template for commercial fence quotes?+
Yes — the structure works for residential, commercial, and industrial. For commercial jobs, add a 'Specifications' section referencing site drawings or RFP documents, and consider line items for project management, mobilization, and bonding if applicable.