Woodworking Quote Template
Most woodworkers lose money on custom furniture because their quotes miss things. Here is every section a professional woodworking quote needs, in the order it should appear, with the line items that matter.
The Six Sections of a Professional Quote
A quote that wins jobs and protects your margin covers six areas. Anything shorter leaves the client guessing. Anything longer loses them. This structure works for dining tables, cabinets, beds, shelving units, and any other custom piece.
Project Header
- ▸Client name and contact information
- ▸Quote date and quote number
- ▸Quote validity (typically 30 days)
- ▸Brief project description
Project Specifications
- ▸Furniture type and dimensions
- ▸Wood species selection
- ▸Finish type and sheen level
- ▸Joinery method and complexity tier
- ▸Special features (inlay, carving, custom hardware)
Materials Breakdown
- ▸Lumber: board feet per species at price/bf
- ▸Waste factor (add 15 to 20 percent)
- ▸Hardware (slides, hinges, legs, fasteners)
- ▸Finish materials (oil, wax, lacquer, stain)
- ▸Consumables (sandpaper, glue, tape)
Labor Breakdown
- ▸Design and client communication (hours)
- ▸Material sourcing (hours)
- ▸Milling and prep (hours)
- ▸Joinery (hours)
- ▸Assembly (hours)
- ▸Finishing (hours)
- ▸Cleanup and delivery (hours)
Cost Summary
- ▸Total materials cost
- ▸Total labor cost (hours × shop rate)
- ▸Overhead allocation
- ▸Subtotal
- ▸Profit margin (percentage)
- ▸Final quote total
Terms and Next Steps
- ▸Deposit amount required to start
- ▸Payment schedule
- ▸Estimated lead time
- ▸Revision and change order policy
- ▸Accept or decline action for client
Sample Quote: Walnut Dining Table
Here is a complete example using the template above. This is a standard 72-inch by 36-inch walnut dining table with mortise-and-tenon leg construction and an oil-wax finish.
Materials
| Item | Qty | Unit Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut (tabletop, FAS grade) | 34 bf | $12.50/bf | $425.00 |
| Walnut (legs and aprons) | 18 bf | $12.50/bf | $225.00 |
| Waste factor (15%) | — | — | $97.50 |
| Hardware (table buttons, bolts) | 1 set | — | $45.00 |
| Finish (Rubio Monocoat oil, applicator) | 1 set | — | $55.00 |
| Materials Subtotal | $847.50 | ||
Labor (Shop Rate: $65/hr)
| Category | Hours | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Design and client calls | 3.0 | $195.00 |
| Material sourcing | 1.5 | $97.50 |
| Milling and prep | 5.0 | $325.00 |
| Mortise-and-tenon joinery | 8.0 | $520.00 |
| Assembly and glue-up | 4.0 | $260.00 |
| Finishing (3 coats, sand between) | 6.0 | $390.00 |
| Final inspection and delivery | 2.0 | $130.00 |
| Labor Subtotal | 29.5 hrs | $1,917.50 |
Cost Summary
This example used the CraftQuote builder. The math is automatic once you enter dimensions and select a species.
How to Write the Quote
Step 1: Calculate board feet first
Start with the lumber. Break the piece into its components, estimate dimensions for each, and calculate board feet using the formula: (Length × Width × Thickness) ÷ 144. Add a 15 percent waste factor. That is the number you price. Our board foot calculator does this in seconds.
Step 2: Break labor into categories
Never write "labor: 30 hours." Break it into categories: design, material runs, milling, joinery, assembly, finishing, and delivery. Clients who see the breakdown rarely question it. Clients who see a single number always do. And you will catch undercounting when you itemize.
Step 3: Add overhead before margin
Overhead is not profit. It is the cost of running your shop whether or not you are building. Divide your monthly overhead by your monthly billable hours to get a per-hour rate. Multiply by project hours. It shows up as its own line before the margin calculation. For help setting these numbers, see the pricing guide.
Step 4: State your terms clearly
A quote with no terms is a verbal agreement. Write your deposit requirement, payment schedule, validity date, and lead time. State that changes after acceptance require a change order. Clients who accept a complete quote rarely dispute scope later.
What Most Templates Get Wrong
No overhead line
The most common omission. If your template does not have an overhead allocation separate from labor, you are working for less than your shop rate implies. Overhead belongs in the cost section before margin.
Single "materials" line with no breakdown
One number with no detail is easy for a client to push back on. An itemized list is not. Show lumber by species and board foot, hardware as a line, and finish as a line. Clients see the work, not the total.
No validity date
Lumber prices move. Your schedule fills. Without a validity date, a client can come back six months later and expect your quote to hold. Thirty days is standard. Print it prominently.
No deposit requirement on the document
If the deposit amount is not in the quote, you will negotiate it separately for every job. Write the amount and the timing on the document. It sets expectations before the client accepts.
Sending it as a plain email
A plain-text email quote looks like a guess. A formatted document with your name, project specs, and itemized costs looks like a professional business. The difference in client perception is significant and requires no extra work if you use the right tool.
Skip the template. Build the quote automatically.
CraftQuote produces a complete, itemized quote from a reference photo. Upload an image of the piece, enter dimensions, pick your species, and the builder handles board-foot calculations, labor breakdown, overhead, and margin. Your customer gets a professional link to view and accept it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should a woodworking quote include?
- A professional woodworking quote should include: a project description with dimensions and species, an itemized materials list with board-foot quantities and pricing, labor broken down by category (design, milling, assembly, finishing, delivery), hardware and consumables, overhead allocation, your profit margin, total price, quote validity date, deposit amount, and estimated lead time. Quotes that show this level of detail close at a higher rate and reduce scope disputes after the job starts.
- How do I write a quote for custom furniture?
- Start with the project description: dimensions, species, finish, and any special features like inlay or carved details. Then work through materials (lumber by board foot, hardware, finish), labor (every hour by category, not a flat total), overhead, and margin. Use a consistent format so clients can read it easily and you can duplicate it for similar jobs. CraftQuote automates this from a reference photo.
- How do I calculate the price for a custom furniture quote?
- Add up material costs (lumber at board-foot pricing plus a 15 percent waste factor, hardware, finish, consumables), labor (every hour times your shop rate), and overhead (monthly shop costs divided by billable hours, multiplied by project hours). Add your profit margin, typically 20 to 35 percent, on top of the total. That final number is your quote price.
- What is a fair deposit for custom woodworking?
- Most custom woodworkers require a 40 to 50 percent deposit to start, with the balance due on delivery. Some shops use a three-part structure: 33 percent to start, 33 percent at a midpoint milestone, and 34 percent on delivery. The deposit covers your materials and initial labor so you are not financing the project out of pocket.
- How long should a woodworking quote be valid?
- Most woodworkers set a 30-day validity window on quotes. Lumber prices change, your schedule fills, and a quote you sent three months ago may no longer reflect your current costs. State the validity date clearly in the quote document. If a client comes back after expiry, requote from current numbers.
- Should I use a spreadsheet or software for woodworking quotes?
- Spreadsheet templates work but require manual upkeep of material prices, recalculation of board feet, and reformatting for each client. Quoting software like CraftQuote automates the math, stores species pricing, and produces a professional customer-facing output in a fraction of the time. For woodworkers quoting more than a few jobs per month, software pays for itself in time saved.
Related Resources
The full methodology: material costs, shop rate formula, overhead allocation, and profit margin targets.
Calculate lumber volume and estimated material cost for 12 common furniture hardwoods and softwoods.
Answers to common questions about the CraftQuote builder, pricing database, and sending professional quotes.