Guide
What should a flooring quotation include?
What a clear flooring quotation should itemise, the difference between an estimate and a quotation, what is often left out, and the questions worth asking before you accept.
By Maximum Flooring
A clear flooring quotation itemises the flooring, underlay, trims and door bars, any subfloor preparation, uplift and disposal of the old floor, and the fitting, for named rooms and quantities. It should say what is not included, how VAT is treated and whether it is a firm quotation or an estimate, so you can compare quotes like for like.
A good quotation is easy to read and leaves little room for surprises on the day. Two quotes for the “same” floor can look very different in total simply because one includes preparation, trims or removal and the other doesn’t. Here’s what to look for.
What’s the difference between an estimate and a quotation?
The words are often used loosely, but there is a useful distinction:
- An estimate is a best guess based on the information available, such as room sizes and photos. It helps you budget and compare options, but the final figure can change once the job is seen.
- A quotation is generally a set price for a defined scope of work, usually given after a measure. If the scope changes, for example you add a room or the subfloor needs work nobody could have seen, the price can change, but it shouldn’t change for the work already described.
If a document doesn’t make clear which it is, ask. A figure given before anyone has seen the rooms should be treated as indicative.
What should be itemised on a flooring quote?
- The flooring: product name or range, colour, quantity (in m², packs or roll lengths) and which rooms it covers.
- Underlay: type and quantity. With laminate and LVT the right type depends on the subfloor; see do you need underlay beneath laminate.
- Gripper, adhesive and fixings for carpet, sheet vinyl or glue-down LVT, where relevant.
- Trims and thresholds: scotia or beading, door bars, stair nosings and edgings. The guide to skirting, scotia and laminate explains the options.
- Subfloor preparation: smoothing compound, plywood overlay, damp-proof membrane or repairs. This is often the line that varies most between quotes; see LVT subfloor preparation.
- Uplift and disposal: lifting the old floor and taking it away, if you’ve asked for it. See who removes and disposes of old flooring.
- Fitting: the installation itself, including stairs as a separate line where relevant.
- Extras: door trimming, moving furniture or appliances, and anything else specific to your home.
What should a quotation make clear?
- The scope: which rooms and areas are covered, and which are not.
- Exclusions: what isn’t included, so you can compare quotes fairly. Common ones are furniture moving, door trimming, skirting work and unexpected subfloor repairs.
- The waste allowance: whether quantities include extra for cutting and pattern matching. See how much extra flooring to allow for waste.
- VAT: whether figures include or exclude VAT, if it applies.
- Validity: how long the price stands for. Flooring prices can change, so quotes are usually valid for a set period.
- Payment terms: when payment is due and whether a deposit is needed for materials.
- Who supplies what: especially if you are buying the flooring yourself and only want it fitted.
Questions worth asking before you accept
- Is this an estimate or a firm quotation after a measure?
- Does it include uplift and disposal of the old floor?
- What subfloor preparation has been allowed for, and what happens if more is needed once the old floor is up?
- Are underlay, trims and door bars included?
- Will doors need trimming, and is that included?
- Who moves the furniture? See does a carpet fitter move furniture.
- How long is the quotation valid, and when is payment due?
Why the measure matters
Quantities and preparation can only be pinned down on site. Rooms are rarely square, stairs vary, and the condition of a subfloor is often unknown until it has been seen, sometimes until the old floor is lifted. That is why an indicative estimate becomes a firm quotation after a home measure. Sending clear room sizes and photos at the start helps; see what to send for a flooring estimate.
What if you’re supplying the flooring yourself?
A fitting-only quotation should still list the rooms, the type of flooring, any preparation, trims and disposal, and say what materials you need to provide, such as underlay, adhesive or door bars. Check the quantity you’ve bought before the fitting date; the guide on buying flooring before finding a fitter covers the common pitfalls.
Common questions
Should a flooring quote be in writing?
Yes. A written quotation sets out what was agreed and makes comparing quotes much easier. If anything is agreed verbally later, such as an extra room, ask for it to be added in writing too.
Why is one quote so much cheaper than another?
Usually because the scope is different: one may leave out preparation, underlay quality, trims, uplift or disposal. Line up the itemised lists before comparing totals.
Can the price change after I accept?
For the work described, it shouldn’t. It can change if the scope changes, which is why a good quotation explains how unforeseen subfloor problems will be handled.
Next step
Send your room details for an indicative estimate, then request a home measure to turn it into a clear, itemised written quotation. For a whole-house project, our supply-and-fit page explains how the flooring and fitting come together.