This free fence estimate template gives you a clean, itemized layout you can copy into Google Docs or Word and reuse on every job. It covers the customer block, job details, a line-item table with quantities and unit prices, tax, deposit terms, exclusions, an expiration date and signature lines. Below the blank version you will find instructions for filling it in, the mistakes that cost contractors money, and a filled-in example.
What should a fence estimate include?
A good fence estimate answers every question the homeowner would otherwise call you about. At minimum it should have:
- Who and where: your company name, license number, contact info, the customer’s name and the job address.
- What you are building: fence type and material, height, style, total linear feet, number and width of gates, and whether old fence removal is included.
- Itemized pricing: materials, labor, gates, demo and haul-off, permits, concrete and hardware, each with a quantity, unit and price.
- Totals and terms: subtotal, tax, total, deposit amount, payment schedule, exclusions and how long the price is valid.
- Approval: signature and date lines for both parties.
If you are still working out what to charge, start with how to bid a fence job and the fence calculator for material quantities.
Free fence estimate template (blank)
Copy everything from here to the signature lines, paste it into Google Docs or Word, and replace the blanks. Tables generally paste as editable tables.
[Your Company Name]
[Street address] | [City, State ZIP] Phone: [] | Email: [] | License #: [___]
Estimate #: [] Date: [] Valid until: [___]
| Customer | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Job address | |
| Phone | |
Job details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fence type / material | (e.g., wood privacy, vinyl, chain link, aluminum) |
| Height | |
| Style | |
| Total linear feet | |
| Gates (qty, width, type) | |
| Remove existing fence? | Yes / No (type and footage) |
| Property line / survey | Located by: ______ |
| Utility locate (811) | Requested by: ______ |
Line items
| # | Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fence materials (posts, rails, panels or pickets) | LF | |||
| 2 | Installation labor | LF | |||
| 3 | Gates, installed | ea | |||
| 4 | Remove and haul off existing fence | LF | |||
| 5 | Permit and filing | ea | |||
| 6 | Concrete | bag | |||
| 7 | Hardware (hinges, latches, fasteners, caps) | lot | |||
| 8 | Other: ______ |
| Subtotal | |
| Tax | |
| Total | |
| Deposit due at signing | |
| Balance due | (e.g., on completion) |
Deposit and payment terms: A deposit of ____ is due at signing to order materials and reserve a start date. The balance is due ________. Accepted payment methods: ________.
Exclusions: This estimate does not include: land survey, removal of trees, roots or rock, grading, relocation of sprinklers or private (non-811) lines, HOA application fees, or anything not listed above.
Validity: Prices are valid until the date above. After that, pricing may be revised to reflect current material costs.
Customer signature: ______________________ Date: __________
Contractor signature: ____________________ Date: __________
How do you fill in a fence estimate template?
Work top to bottom and fill in the job details before you price anything. Pricing a fence you have not fully defined is how scope arguments start.
1. Measure and define the job first
Walk the line, record total linear feet by run, and mark corners, ends and gate openings. Note slope, obstructions and soil conditions. Confirm the fence type, height and which side faces the neighbor. Use the fence picket calculator if you need picket counts for wood or vinyl.
2. Price each line from your real costs
Use current supplier prices for materials, a labor rate per linear foot that reflects your crew’s actual production, and separate prices for gates, removal and concrete. If you are unsure where to set your numbers, see how much to charge for fence installation.
3. Put responsibilities in writing
State who handles the utility locate, the permit, HOA approval and finding property lines. In the US, 811 is the free national call-before-you-dig service, and it asks for notice a few business days before digging (811). Permit and licensing rules vary by state and city, so check locally (SBA).
4. Set clear terms and an expiration date
Write the deposit amount, when the balance is due, and how long the price holds. Some states limit how large a home improvement deposit can be, so check your state’s rules before you set a percentage.
What are the most common fence estimate mistakes?
| Mistake | What it costs you | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| One lump-sum price | Customer cannot see value; hard to adjust | Itemize every line |
| Forgetting removal and haul-off | Unpaid labor and dump fees | Add a removal line, even if it is $0 |
| No gate details | Wrong width or hardware on install day | List qty, width and type |
| No expiration date | Honoring old prices after material increases | Print a “valid until” date |
| Vague exclusions | Free rock digging and root removal | List what is not included |
| No property line language | Fence built on the wrong side of the line | Say who locates the line |
| Unsigned estimate | No clear approval before you order materials | Get a signature and deposit |
If the customer signs at their home, federal and state cancellation rules may also apply. The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule can give buyers three days to cancel certain sales made at home (FTC). Our fence contract template covers that in more detail.
Example: a filled-in fence estimate
Illustrative example only. The numbers below are made up to show how the template works. They are not recommended prices. Your costs, labor rates and tax rules will be different.
Job: 150 LF, 6 ft wood privacy fence, one 4 ft walk gate, remove 150 LF of existing chain link.
| # | Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fence materials, 6 ft wood privacy | 150 | LF | $18.00 | $2,700.00 |
| 2 | Installation labor | 150 | LF | $14.00 | $2,100.00 |
| 3 | 4 ft walk gate, installed | 1 | ea | $425.00 | $425.00 |
| 4 | Remove and haul off chain link | 150 | LF | $3.00 | $450.00 |
| 5 | Permit and filing | 1 | ea | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| 6 | Concrete, 80 lb bags | 42 | bag | $7.50 | $315.00 |
| 7 | Hardware (hinges, latch, fasteners) | 1 | lot | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Subtotal | $6,260.00 |
| Tax (illustrative 7% on materials lines 1, 6, 7 = $3,135.00) | $219.45 |
| Total | $6,479.45 |
| Deposit due at signing (30%) | $1,943.84 |
| Balance due on completion | $4,535.61 |
Valid until: 30 days from the estimate date.
Exclusions: Survey, rock or root removal, sprinkler relocation, HOA fees.
How do you turn this fence estimate template into a faster workflow?
A copied fence estimate template works, but you still retype measurements, look up prices and do the math by hand on every job. Fencefox builds estimates, proposals and contracts automatically from your measurements, layout and price list, so line items, totals and deposit terms come out consistent each time. See how it works on the fence quoting software page.