Quoting landscaping jobs accurately is crucial for profitability. Quote too low and you'll lose money. Quote too high and you'll lose the job. This guide shows you how to create professional quotes that win work at profitable prices.

Why Quoting Matters

Poor quoting is one of the main reasons landscaping businesses fail. Common mistakes include:

Underestimating time - Jobs always take longer than expected
Forgetting costs - Waste disposal, travel, contingencies
No profit margin - Covering costs isn't enough
Vague scope - Leads to disputes and scope creep

A good quote protects both you and your customer by clearly defining what's included, what it costs, and when it will be done.

Good to Know

Research by the Federation of Master Builders suggests that 60% of trade disputes arise from unclear quotes or contracts. A detailed quote prevents problems.

Free Landscaping Quote Template

Use our free quote generator to create professional quotes instantly. Enter your details and we'll generate a branded PDF ready to send.

What Your Quote Should Include

Every landscaping quote needs:

Your business details - Name, contact, insurance info
Customer details - Name, property address
Quote number and date - For reference
Detailed scope of work - Exactly what you'll do
Materials list - What's included
Timeline - When work starts/finishes
Price breakdown - Labour, materials, total
Payment terms - Deposit, schedule, methods
Validity period - How long the quote is good for
Terms and conditions - Your standard terms

Step-by-Step Quoting Process

Step 1: Site Visit and Assessment

Never quote sight unseen for landscaping work. During your site visit:

Measure everything:

Total area in square metres
Lawn/planting areas
Paving/decking areas
Fence/wall lengths
Access points and widths

Note challenges:

Access restrictions (narrow gates, steps)
Ground conditions (slopes, drainage issues)
Existing features to work around
Skip placement options
Parking for vehicles

Understand requirements:

What the customer actually wants
Their budget (if they'll share)
Timeline expectations
Future phases or plans

Pro Tip

Take photos of everything. They're invaluable when writing the quote later and help prevent "that's not what I meant" conversations.

Step 2: Calculate Material Costs

List every material needed with quantities and costs:

Example - Garden Patio Project:

Material	Quantity	Unit Cost	Total
Paving slabs (600x600mm)	45	£12.50	£562.50
Sharp sand (bulk bag)	2	£45.00	£90.00
Cement (25kg bags)	15	£6.50	£97.50
Sub-base aggregate (bulk bag)	3	£65.00	£195.00
Jointing compound	2	£35.00	£70.00
Edging strips	20m	£4.50/m	£90.00
Materials subtotal			£1,105.00

Add 10-15% waste allowance - Cuts, breakages, and errors happen.

Materials total with waste: £1,270.75

Step 3: Calculate Labour Costs

Estimate hours for each task:

Task	Hours	Rate	Total
Site preparation/clearance	8	£35	£280
Excavation and levelling	12	£35	£420
Sub-base installation	6	£35	£210
Paving laying	16	£35	£560
Pointing and finishing	4	£35	£140
Site clearance/cleanup	4	£35	£140
Labour subtotal	50 hours		£1,750

Job Cost Estimator

Calculate accurate job pricing in seconds

Lawn Size

m²

Rate Per Square Meter

Additional Services

Travel Time (mins)

Travel Rate Per Hour

Estimated Job Cost

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Step 4: Add Other Costs

Don't forget:

Cost	Amount	Notes
Skip hire	£250	8-yard skip
Equipment hire	£80	Plate compactor (2 days)
Travel	£40	Multiple trips
Other costs	£370

Step 5: Calculate Total and Add Profit

Component	Amount
Materials (inc. waste)	£1,270.75
Labour	£1,750.00
Other costs	£370.00
Subtotal	£3,390.75
Profit margin (20%)	£678.15
Quote total	£4,068.90
VAT (if registered)	£813.78
Total inc VAT	£4,882.68

Watch Out

Your profit margin isn't optional - it's what keeps your business sustainable. A 15-25% margin is standard for landscaping work. Dropping below 15% leaves no room for unexpected issues.

Sample Landscaping Quote

Here's how a complete quote might look:

[Your Company Name] [Address] | [Phone] | [Email] Public Liability Insurance: £5,000,000

QUOTATION

Quote #: Q-2025-047 Date: 13 January 2025 Valid until: 13 February 2025

Customer: Mr James Wilson Property: 42 Oak Road, Manchester, M20 3AB

Project: Rear Garden Patio Installation

Scope of Work:

We will supply and install a new patio area in your rear garden, including:

Excavation of existing lawn area (approx. 20m²)
Installation of compacted sub-base (Type 1 aggregate, 100mm depth)
Laying of Marshalls Argent paving in Dark Grey (600x600mm)
Soldier course edging around perimeter
Pointing with resin-based jointing compound
Connection to existing drainage where required
Full site clearance and removal of all waste

Exclusions:

Planting or turf work
Lighting installation (can be quoted separately)
Furniture or accessories

Pricing

Description	Amount
Materials (paving, sub-base, sand, cement, jointing)	£1,270.75
Labour (50 hours estimated)	£1,750.00
Skip hire and waste removal	£250.00
Equipment hire	£80.00
Travel and sundries	£40.00
Subtotal	£3,390.75
Profit and contingency	£678.15
Total (ex VAT)	£4,068.90
VAT @ 20%	£813.78
Total (inc VAT)	£4,882.68

Timeline

Start date: Week commencing 3 February 2025 (weather permitting)
Estimated duration: 5-6 working days
Completion: 10 February 2025

Payment Terms

Deposit: 30% (£1,464.80) due on acceptance
Stage payment: 40% (£1,953.07) on completion of sub-base
Final payment: 30% (£1,464.81) on completion

Payment by bank transfer or card. Bank details provided on invoice.

Terms and Conditions

This quote is valid for 30 days from the date above
Work is subject to suitable weather conditions
Any variations to scope must be agreed in writing
Standard payment terms apply
All work guaranteed for 12 months

To accept this quote, please sign below or reply confirming acceptance, and we'll be in touch to arrange the deposit and start date.

Signature: _________________ Date: _________________

Pricing Different Landscaping Services

Paving and Patios

Surface Type	Material Cost/m²	Labour Cost/m²	Total/m²
Concrete slabs	£25-50	£35-50	£60-100
Natural stone	£60-150	£50-70	£110-220
Porcelain	£50-100	£50-70	£100-170
Block paving	£30-60	£40-60	£70-120
Resin bound	£50-80	£30-50	£80-130

Fencing

Fence Type	Material Cost/m	Labour Cost/m	Total/m
Closeboard (6ft)	£30-50	£25-35	£55-85
Panel (6ft)	£20-40	£20-30	£40-70
Featherboard	£25-45	£25-35	£50-80
Trellis	£15-30	£15-25	£30-55

Turfing and Lawn Work

Service	Material Cost/m²	Labour Cost/m²	Total/m²
Basic turf laying	£4-8	£5-10	£9-18
Premium turf	£8-15	£5-10	£13-25
Seeding	£1-3	£3-6	£4-9
Soil preparation	-	£5-10	£5-10

Planting

Service	Rate	Notes
Shrub planting	£15-30 per plant	Plus cost of plants
Tree planting (small)	£50-100 per tree	Plus cost of tree
Tree planting (large)	£150-300+ per tree	Plus cost of tree
Bedding plants	£5-10 per m²	Plus plants

Pro Tip

For regular lawn care pricing, see our guide on how much to charge for lawn mowing.

Common Quoting Mistakes

1. Underestimating Time

The fix: Track actual time on jobs and compare to estimates. Build a database of how long tasks really take. Add 20% buffer for unforeseen issues.

2. Forgetting Hidden Costs

Things people forget:

Waste disposal/skip hire
Travel time and fuel
Tool/equipment wear
Insurance and admin time
Contingency for problems

3. Not Defining Scope Clearly

The fix: Be specific. Instead of "install patio," write "excavate 20m² to 150mm depth, install 100mm compacted sub-base, lay 45 Marshalls Argent slabs in stretcher bond pattern..."

4. Quoting Too Quickly

The fix: Take time to calculate properly. Tell customers "I'll have a detailed quote with you within 48 hours." Rush quotes lead to mistakes.

5. No Terms and Conditions

The fix: Always include:

Quote validity period
Payment terms
What happens with variations
Weather contingency
Guarantee/warranty terms

When to Walk Away

Not every job is worth quoting. Red flags:

"Can you match this price?" - Price shoppers rarely become good customers
Unrealistic budget - If they want £10k work for £3k, save everyone's time
Vague requirements - "Just make it nice" leads to disputes
Payment concerns - Hesitation about deposit or payment terms
Difficult access - Sometimes jobs aren't worth the hassle

Good to Know

It's better to politely decline unsuitable jobs than take on work that will lose money or cause stress. Your time has value—spend it on good customers.

Converting Quotes to Jobs

Getting quotes accepted:

1. Follow Up Promptly

If you don't hear back within a week, send a polite follow-up:

"Hi [Name], just checking you received the quote I sent for your patio project. Happy to answer any questions or discuss the details. Let me know if you'd like to proceed or need anything clarified."