Quote or estimate: why a tradesperson's figure can rise — or must not

Two words that mean quite different things in the UK: quote and estimate. A tradesperson can name the same figure, but how it is named decides whether you pay exactly that or twice as much. Here is the difference and how to protect yourself.

A quote is a firm price

A quote is a fixed, binding price for the work. Once you accept it, it is a contract: the trader cannot charge more unless you agree to extra work or a change of scope. For important and expensive jobs you want a quote, and in writing.

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An estimate is only a guess

An estimate is a rough assessment of the likely cost, not a fixed price. The final figure may be higher or lower. An estimate binds nothing firmly — it is a guide, not a promise.

What the law says if the price is not fixed

If there is no firm price (only an estimate), the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies. Section 51 says plainly that where the contract does not fix a price, the consumer must pay "a reasonable price and no more", and what is reasonable is a question of fact. So a bill that has swollen far beyond the estimate for no good reason can be challenged as unreasonable.

How to protect yourself

Get the price in writing and insist it says clearly whether it is a quote or an estimate. For a big job, insist on a written quote (a firm price). If you are only given an estimate, ask what could push the price up and by how much. If extra work comes up during the job, agree the new price BEFORE it is done, not after. And if the final bill is far above an estimate with no good reason, you can dispute it under the "reasonable price" rule.

In short

A quote is a fixed price that cannot be raised without your agreement; an estimate is only a guess and the final figure may differ. If the price is not fixed, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you pay only a reasonable price. Get the price in writing, check whether it is a quote or an estimate, and for costly work insist on a firm written quote.