How to Write a Quote for an Electrical Job

Electrical quotes need to be precise. Clients want to know exactly what's being installed and what it costs. Here's how to structure them.

Electrical work is technical, regulated, and often invisible once it's done. That makes the quote one of the most important documents in the entire job. It's how the client understands what they're paying for, and it's the only record of what was promised before the cabling disappears behind the walls.

A good electrical quote also positions you as a qualified professional in a trade where unqualified competitors are common. The way you present a quote separates you from the cowboys before the client has even read the price.

List every fixture and fitting

Don't write 'install lighting' as a single line. List each light fitting, switch, socket, and accessory separately. The client can see exactly what's going in, and you have a clear record if anything is queried later.

Detailed line items also let the client make informed choices. If they want to upgrade a $20 switch to a $50 designer one, they can see exactly which line item changes and by how much. This makes the conversation about choices, not about price.

Separate labour from materials

Electrical materials vary in price depending on brand, quality, and supplier. Quoting them as separate line items, totalled in a free quote calculator, lets you adjust if a client wants a different fitting without having to redo the entire quote.

It also protects you from material price increases. If copper goes up between quoting and starting, you can have a sensible conversation with the client about adjusting the materials line. Try having that conversation when everything is bundled into a single 'install' line.

Include certification and compliance

If you're issuing a Certificate of Compliance, electrical safety certificate, or any other regulatory document, add it to the quote as a line item. Clients often forget that compliance documents have a cost attached, and showing it on the quote prevents awkward conversations later.

Compliance is also a selling point. Many cheap competitors skip it. Listing your compliance work explicitly shows the client they're hiring someone who does the job properly.

Specify cable runs and circuit details

For larger jobs, include detail about the wiring itself. Number of circuits, distribution board work, isolation, testing. Even if the client doesn't fully understand the technical detail, the level of precision tells them you know what you're doing.

Note what's not included

Are you supplying the cabling but not the conduit? Are wall repairs after the work the client's responsibility? Be explicit. 'This quote excludes any wall or ceiling repair after installation.'

Other common exclusions: removal and disposal of old fittings, rewiring beyond the affected area, testing of pre-existing wiring, replacement of damaged plasterwork. List them explicitly. It saves arguments later.

Add a safety note

Including a brief safety statement, like 'All work will be carried out by a qualified electrician in accordance with local regulations', reassures the client that they're hiring someone professional and reduces the chance of being undercut by unqualified competitors.

Reference your qualifications and licence numbers. Clients increasingly check these, especially after stories of unqualified electricians causing fires. Make it easy for them to verify you're the real thing.

Address insurance and warranty

State your warranty period for workmanship. Most electricians offer 12 months on workmanship and pass through manufacturer warranties on parts. Include this in the quote. Warranty is one of the biggest reasons clients choose a qualified tradesperson over a cheaper alternative.

Mention disruption

For jobs that require shutting off power, mention it in the quote. 'Power will need to be off for approximately 2 hours during the install. Best done during the day for minimal disruption.' This lets the client plan around it and prevents complaints about lost food in the freezer.

Quote scheduling considerations

Some electrical work needs to happen at specific times. After-hours rates apply for evenings and weekends. Note this on the quote: 'Standard business hours quoted. Evening and weekend rates available on request.' This protects you from clients who later ask for out-of-hours work at standard pricing.

QuoteGenio is built for this kind of work. It handles quotes and invoices for electricians and the wider electrical and energy trades in minutes: itemise the scope, send via WhatsApp, and convert accepted quotes to invoices in one tap.