An <strong>estimate</strong> is an approximate figure that can move once the work starts — "They estimated £1,800 for the rewire." A <strong>quote</strong> (short for quotation) is a fixed price the supplier commits to for a clearly defined job — "Her quote was £2,050 including materials." If the final bill can legitimately differ from the number, it was an estimate.
The core difference
The distinction is about commitment, not about size or formality. An estimate is a considered guess made before every variable is known: what is behind the wall, how bad the corrosion is, how many revisions the client will want. A quotation is an offer. The trader has priced a defined scope and is telling you what they will charge to do it.
How each one behaves in practice
- Estimate: given early, often verbally or on a rough sketch; expressed as a range or an "around"; expected to move if the job turns out differently.
- Quote: given after a survey or a detailed brief; a single figure; usually valid for a stated period ("this quotation is valid for 30 days"); tied to a written scope of work.
In UK consumer practice, a quoted price is generally treated as binding unless the customer changes the job or something genuinely unforeseeable appears — and a reputable trader will issue a written variation before doing extra work. An estimate carries no such commitment, though a final bill wildly above an estimate can still be challenged as unreasonable. Take that as a rule of thumb rather than legal advice; the wording on the document matters.
The test
Ask the supplier one question: "Is that the price I will pay, or the price you expect?" If the honest answer is "the price you will pay", you have a quote. If it is "roughly, depending on what we find", you have an estimate — and you should ask what would make it rise, and by how much.
The written test is just as quick: look for the words estimate, approximately, from, or a range. Any of them signals a non-binding figure, whatever the document is titled.
Using the words in sentences
- Can you send me a quote for replacing the whole roof?
- Their estimate came in £400 under the next cheapest.
- We quoted for the six-week version, not the rush job.
- I estimate it will take three days, but I won't know until I lift the floor.
The common mistake
People use the two words as if they were synonyms for "a price", then feel misled when the invoice arrives. Ask for a quotation whenever the scope can be pinned down, and treat any number given over the phone as an estimate until it is in writing.
One grammatical note: quote began as a verb, and "quotation" is the older noun. Both "a quote" and "a quotation" are now standard in the pricing sense, though tender documents and formal contracts still prefer quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a quote legally binding in the UK?
Generally yes, once accepted, for the work described in it — the trader cannot simply raise the price afterwards. Changes to the job, or genuinely hidden problems, can justify a revised figure, which should be agreed in writing before the extra work goes ahead.
Can a builder charge more than the estimate?
Yes, because an estimate is not a commitment. Ask for the estimate in writing, ask what could push it up, and ask the builder to contact you before exceeding it by more than an agreed margin.
Should I say "quote" or "quotation" in a business email?
Both are understood. "Quotation" reads as more formal and is the safer choice in tenders and contracts; "quote" is completely standard in everyday business correspondence.