The short version
A carpentry estimate often covers custom work, so it describes what will be built before the drawings are final. A good carpentry estimate separates the lines you are sure of from the ones that depend on what you find, and gives the client a range.
Open the cost estimator for carpentersCarpentry estimate lines and allowances
The estimate below is for a built-in cabinet and trim run, priced from a sketch before drawings are final. Each line is either firm or an allowance with a range of quantities. The rates are examples from the starter lines in the cost estimator, not market prices, so replace them with your own.
| Line item | Unit | Qty or range | Example rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom cabinetry build | job | 1 | $1,450.00 | Firm |
| Door hangingAllowance: door count is not final. | door | 0 to 6 | $85.00 | Allowance |
| Trim and baseboardAllowance: trim length is measured later. | linear foot | 0 to 120 | $4.20 | Allowance |
| LaborAllowance: install days depend on the walls. | day | 1 to 3 | $280.00 | Allowance |
Worked estimate range
Adding the firm lines to the allowances at their smallest and largest quantities gives a low end and a high end. The tax rate is an example only, so use your own and your local treatment.
| Estimate range | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Firm lines | $1,450.00 | $1,450.00 |
| Allowances (minimum and maximum quantities) | $280.00 | $1,854.00 |
| Subtotal | $1,730.00 | $3,304.00 |
| Sales tax at an example rate of 8% | $138.40 | $264.32 |
| Estimated total | $1,868.40 | $3,568.32 |
This is not a fixed price. It is a range the client can plan around until the unknowns are resolved.
Assumptions behind a carpentry estimate
- Basis. The range assumes the sketch and the dimensions given. Final drawings may change the cabinet price.
- Doors and trim. The count of doors and the length of trim are allowances until measured.
- Walls. It assumes walls that are reasonably straight. Out-of-square walls take extra scribing time.
What can change the price
Write these on the estimate so a revised figure is never a surprise:
- A change of wood or hardware.
- Final dimensions larger than the sketch.
- Walls that need extra scribing or repair.
When to send a quote instead
A carpenter gives an estimate from a sketch or a conversation, and a quote once drawings, materials and finish are approved. Once the scope is fixed, move to the carpentry quote template, which adds a fixed scope, exclusions, a payment schedule and a place to sign.
Start your carpentry estimate
Pick the trade, set the quantities and ranges for your own job, and download it. Nothing needs an account.
Open the cost estimator for carpentersRelated pages
Last reviewed by InvoiceTools, Houston, Texas, on 11 October 2026.