Pricing building work is one of the hardest parts of being a builder.
You can be excellent on the tools, but if you get the numbers wrong, the whole job can end up costing you time, money, and reputation.
Most builders are forced to price work:
- Late at night
- After long days on site
- With no clear structure
- Guessing materials or day rates
- With no time to check merchant prices
- Using numbers from previous jobs that “seemed about right”
Sound familiar? You are not alone.
Underpricing is one of the biggest killers of profit for UK builders. It is usually caused by rushing, guessing, missing items, or simply not having enough time to calculate everything properly.
This guide will walk you through how to price building work accurately using a structured method used by professional estimators. Whether you are quoting an extension, brickwork, roofing, refurb, or general building work, this approach will help you price confidently and protect your margin.
Why Pricing Building Work Is Harder Than It Looks
Builders do not struggle because they are bad at the job. They struggle because pricing is a different skill.
Common challenges include:
1. Guessing material quantities
You know roughly what is needed but exact quantities take time to calculate.
2. Underestimating labour days
Two days becomes three. A week becomes ten days. Small jumps create big losses.
3. Missing items entirely
Fixings, waste removal, sundries, plant, transport all add up.
4. Merchant price changes
Timber, plasterboard, insulation, and cement fluctuate constantly.
5. Rushing quotes at night or weekends
Builders are exhausted by the time they sit down to quote.
6. No consistent process
Every job is quoted differently because there is no standard method.
7. Feeling unprofessional
Clients compare quotes, and unclear pricing loses work.
A structured system solves these issues.
Step 1 – Break the Job Into Work Packages
The biggest mistake builders make is pricing the job as one big block.
Professional estimators split every project into work packages:
- Demolition
- Groundworks
- Drainage
- Brickwork and blockwork
- First fix carpentry
- Second fix carpentry
- Roofing
- Windows and doors
- Plastering
- Plumbing
- Electrics
- Decoration
- Finishing
- Waste management
- Contingency
Even for small jobs (patios, chimneys, bathrooms), breaking the scope into sections stops you missing things.
Pro tip: Write each work package down before you start costing. You will instantly reduce forgotten items.
Step 2 – Calculate Labour (Realistic Day Rates)
Labour is where most quotes go wrong.
Builders often underestimate labour because they assume everything will run smoothly.
Typical UK day rates in 2024 to 2025:
- Bricklayer: 180 to 240 per day
- Carpenter: 180 to 250 per day
- Roofer: 180 to 230 per day
- Plasterer: 170 to 230 per day
- Groundworker: 160 to 220 per day
- General labourer: 120 to 150 per day
Then consider:
- Travel
- Setup time
- Delays
- Weather
- Extra hands
- Overruns
Example labour calculation
A bricklayer lays roughly 450 to 600 bricks per day.
For 3,000 bricks:
3000 divided by 500 per day is approximately 6 days.
6 days x 200 per day = 1200.
But:
- Scaffold slows work
- Height increases fatigue
- Complex bonding takes longer
A safer estimate is 7 to 8 days (1400 to 1600).
This prevents underpricing.
Step 3 – Calculate Materials (Accurate Quantities and Current Prices)
Material prices change constantly. Using numbers from past jobs loses profit.
What to check:
- Timber length and grade
- Brick and block quantities
- Insulation thickness
- Joists, rafters, plates
- Plasterboard count
- Roofing materials
- Screws, fixings, adhesives
- Concrete volume
- DPC, cavity trays, lintels
Pro tip for builders: Ask yourself, “If I was buying this at the merchant, what exactly would I need?”
Then check:
- Wastage
- Delivery costs
- Minimum order quantities
- Skips, scaffold, and grab lorries
Example:
50 square metres of plasterboard area
Board size: 2.4m x 1.2m = 2.88m²
50 divided by 2.88 = 17.36 boards
Round to 18 or 20 boards for cuts and waste.
At 12 to 15 per board = 216 to 300
Plus screws, tape, plaster, joint compound.
Accurate take-offs matter.
Step 4 – Add Overheads, Plant, Waste and Profit Margin
Most builders forget overheads. This destroys margin.
Overheads:
- Fuel
- Insurance
- Time spent quoting
- Van repair and maintenance
- Admin time
- Storage
- Accounting
- Tool replacement
- Website or marketing costs
Even 50 per day in overheads adds up quickly.
Plant and waste:
- Skip hire
- Grab lorry
- Scaffold hire
- Mini digger hire
- Drill bits, blades, sundries
Profit margin
Most small builders need:
- 20 to 35 percent margin to be sustainable
- More for risky jobs
- Less for repeat clients or simple tasks
Margin is essential. It covers:
- Mistakes
- Callbacks
- Unplanned issues
- Delays
- Risk
Step 5 – Present a Professional Quote Pack
Most builders send:
- A single number
- A few bullet points
- A simple email or basic PDF
Clients find this vague and risky.
A professional quote pack includes:
- Detailed breakdown
- What is included
- What is excluded
- Clear pricing
- Payment schedule
- Timeline
- Terms
- Optional upgrades
This makes you look more professional and helps win more work.
Professional estimate example structure:
A full estimate pack includes:
- Materials
- Labour
- Plant
- Waste
- Supplier rates
- Contingency
- Total cost
- Notes
- Payment terms
Clients trust detailed estimates more.
Pro Tip: Every estimate via TruTrade’s professional estimating service comes with a free personalised quote pack.
Real Example: Building Estimate Breakdown
Small extension example (anonymised):
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Groundworks | £4,800 |
| Brick and blockwork | £6,200 |
| First fix carpentry | £3,500 |
| Roofing | £3,000 |
| Windows and doors | £2,200 |
| Plastering | £1,400 |
| Electrics | £1,100 |
| Plumbing | £1,500 |
| Finishing | £2,400 |
| Waste and overheads | £1,200 |
| Profit | £3,000 |
Total Estimate: £30,300
This level of clarity builds trust instantly.
When Builders Should Use a Professional Estimating Service
Outsource estimating when:
- You are turning jobs down due to lack of time
- Jobs are getting bigger
- You are unsure of labour or material numbers
- You are losing money on underpriced work
- You want to present professional quotes
- You are quoting at night or weekends
- You want consistency and structure
- You want to win more jobs
Final Builder’s Checklist
Before sending any quote, consider:
- Have I broken the job into work packages
- Have I measured everything correctly
- Have I added realistic labour days
- Have I updated material prices
- Have I included scaffold, plant, and waste
- Have I added overheads
- Is my margin appropriate
- Is the quote written professionally
Ready to Price Your Next Job With Confidence
If you want an accurate, professional estimate that:
- Saves you hours
- Protects your margin
- Makes you look more professional
- Helps you win more work
Upload your drawings or project details and we will price the job for you.
