Whether you're a newly qualified plumber or a Gas Safe engineer with years of experience, the way you present your quotes directly affects how many jobs you win. Homeowners compare 2–3 quotes before choosing a plumber, and a vague, handwritten price on the back of a receipt won't cut it. A professional, itemised plumbing quote builds trust, protects you from disputes, and sets you apart from the competition.
What Every Plumbing Quote Should Include
- Your business details — Name, address, phone, email
- Gas Safe registration number — Essential for any gas work (boilers, gas cookers, gas fires)
- Customer details — Name and property address
- Quote number and date — For your records and theirs
- Detailed scope of work — Describe every task, not just "fit boiler"
- Itemised pricing — Break down labour and materials separately
- VAT — If registered, show VAT clearly on a separate line
- Total price — Bold and easy to find
- Validity period — Typically 30 days
- Payment terms — When payment is due and accepted methods
- Warranty / guarantee — Manufacturer warranty on the boiler plus your workmanship guarantee
Pro Tip: Always display your Gas Safe registration number on every quote that involves gas work. It's a legal requirement and instantly reassures customers that you're qualified to carry out the work safely.
Sample Quote 1: Boiler Installation
Here's how a combi boiler installation quote might look:
| Item | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | Remove old boiler, install new combi boiler, connect pipework, commission & test (1.5 days) | £1,200.00 |
| Boiler | Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i combi | £850.00 |
| Flue kit | Horizontal flue kit with extension | £95.00 |
| Pipework | Copper pipe, fittings, modification to existing runs | £120.00 |
| Magnetic filter | MagnaClean Pro2 system filter | £85.00 |
| Power flush | Full system power flush with chemical treatment | £180.00 |
| Gas Safe cert | Gas Safe notification & certificate | Included |
| Subtotal | £2,530.00 | |
| VAT | N/A (below threshold) | |
| Total | £2,530.00 |
Pro Tip: If you're below the VAT registration threshold (£90,000 in 2026), state "Not VAT registered" clearly on the quote so customers understand why there's no VAT charge. It can actually be a selling point — your price is the final price.
Sample Quote 2: Bathroom Plumbing — First & Second Fix
Here's what a full bathroom plumbing quote might look like:
| Item | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Labour — First fix | Run hot & cold feeds, waste pipes, soil pipe connection (2 days) | £600.00 |
| Labour — Second fix | Fit bath, basin, toilet, shower valve, towel rail, test & commission (1.5 days) | £500.00 |
| Materials | Copper pipe, pushfit fittings, waste traps, isolation valves, flexi connectors | £420.00 |
| Sundries | Silicone, PTFE, pipe clips, fire collars, solvent weld cement | £80.00 |
| Testing | Pressure test all pipework, check for leaks | Included |
| Subtotal | £1,600.00 | |
| VAT (20%) | £320.00 | |
| Total | £1,920.00 |
Sanitaryware (bath, basin, toilet, shower) is usually supplied by the customer or quoted separately. Always make this clear on your quote to avoid misunderstandings. For a full breakdown, see our guide on how to price a bathroom refit.
What Your Quote Template Should Look Like
Here's the exact structure your plumbing quote should follow:
- Header — Your business name, logo, Gas Safe registration number, contact details
- Quote number & date — Sequential numbering (e.g., PQ-2026-083)
- Customer details — Name, property address, phone/email
- Scope of work — Detailed description of every task
- Itemised pricing table — Labour, materials, each on separate lines
- Subtotal, VAT, Total — Clear and bold
- What's included — Testing, Gas Safe certificate, power flush, etc.
- What's excluded — Making good, tiling, decoration, sanitaryware (if customer-supplied)
- Validity — "This quote is valid for 30 days"
- Payment terms — When payment is due, accepted methods
- Warranty details & your signature — Manufacturer warranty period, your workmanship guarantee
Pro Tip: With TradeQuoteAI, you can build quotes following this exact structure in under 60 seconds — type or speak your line items, and it generates a professional PDF ready to send via WhatsApp before you leave site.
Common Plumbing Pricing (2026)
To help you benchmark your prices, here are typical UK rates:
| Job | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Boiler installation (combi swap) | £1,800 – £3,500 |
| Bathroom suite plumbing (full) | £800 – £2,000 |
| Radiator installation (per radiator) | £250 – £400 |
| Power flush (full system) | £300 – £500 |
| Burst pipe repair (emergency) | £150 – £300 |
| Outside tap installation | £120 – £200 |
For a full breakdown of what to charge, see our plumber day rate UK 2026 guide.
Mistakes That Lose You Jobs
- Texting a price — "2300 for the boiler mate" is not a quote. It's unprofessional and leaves room for disputes about what's included
- No Gas Safe number — For any gas work, omitting your Gas Safe registration is a red flag. Customers will assume you're not registered
- Slow response — If you take a week to send a quote, the customer has already hired someone else. Aim for within 24 hours
- No breakdown — A single lump sum like "£2,500 for the job" looks suspicious. Show labour, materials, and each component separately
- Forgetting exclusions — State what's NOT included (e.g., making good plasterwork, tiling, sanitaryware supply)
How to Stand Out From Other Plumbers
Want to win more jobs? Do these things that most plumbers don't:
- Send quotes within 24 hours of the site visit — speed wins work
- Display your Gas Safe number prominently on every quote
- Include manufacturer warranty details — "10-year Worcester Bosch guarantee when installed by an accredited installer"
- Add a personal note — "Thanks for showing me the boiler, Mr Jones. I've included a power flush to get the best performance from the new system"
- Follow up if you haven't heard back in 3–5 days
- Use professional quoting software instead of Word docs or texts — it shows you run a serious business
- Offer finance options for larger jobs like boiler installations — it removes the price objection
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a plumber include in a quote?
Every plumbing quote should include your business details, Gas Safe registration number (for any gas work), customer details, a detailed scope of work, itemised pricing for labour and materials, VAT (if registered), total price, validity period (usually 30 days), payment terms, and warranty or guarantee details. The more detail you include, the more trust you build — and the fewer disputes you'll face.
How much does a plumber charge for a boiler installation?
A combi boiler installation in the UK typically costs between £1,800 and £3,500 depending on the boiler brand, complexity of the install (e.g., moving the boiler location, pipework modifications), and your region. This usually includes the boiler unit, flue kit, pipework, a magnetic filter, power flush, and Gas Safe certification. Premium brands like Worcester Bosch and Vaillant sit at the higher end.
Should plumbers send quotes as text messages?
No. Texting a price like "2300 for the boiler mate" is unprofessional and leaves room for disputes about what's included. Always send a written, itemised quote as a PDF with your business details, Gas Safe number, breakdown of labour and materials, warranty details, and payment terms. Customers choose the plumber who presents themselves professionally — even if they're not the cheapest.
Related Guides
- How Much Should You Charge as a Plumber? (2026 Day Rates)
- How to Write a Professional Plumbing Quote
- How to Price a Bathroom Refit
- How to Grow Your Plumbing Business
- Invoice Tips for UK Tradesmen
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