Free quote checker · September 2026 prices
Is your quote fair?
Pick the job, add your postcode, type the builder's total and say whether it includes VAT and any fees. You'll see straight away whether it sits below, within or above the typical price for that job in your area, from the Estiquote 2026 UK cost model. Free, with no sign-up. Your quote and postcode stay on your phone or computer: we only count that a check was made, and for which kind of job.
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How to read the result
Within the range: the price is in line with what that job typically costs where you live. Your decision should now rest on what each quote includes, the builder's references and the payment terms.
Above the range: not automatically a rip-off. A higher specification, harder access or more work than another quote all add cost. Ask for a breakdown by section; it usually shows where the money goes, or that this quote includes work another one left out. Under your verdict, the checker's own How to read the result gives examples for your job.
Below the range: check what is missing. Common gaps are items marked by others or excluded, and large provisional sums for things that get priced later. VAT is a likely gap only when the quote doesn't say whether it is included, and the checker tells you when that is the case.
Compare like with like
- VAT. Most building work carries VAT at 20%. Ask each builder to confirm whether their price includes it. £65,000 plus VAT is £78,000, so compare what each quote will cost you including any VAT. Tell the checker what the quote says and it does this for you. See do builders' quotes include VAT?
- Scope. Same size, same finish, same items. A quote that includes the kitchen, flooring and decoration is not comparable with one that stops at plaster.
- Fees. Drawings, a structural engineer and building control usually sit outside the builder's price, so budget for them separately. If your quote includes any of them, tick each one in the checker and it adds a typical fee for that item to the range. A party wall surveyor is never part of the comparison.
- Labour only. The range is for the whole job, labour and materials, so a labour-only price would always look cheap against it. For kitchen fitting and a bathroom refit in the same layout, the checker compares a labour-only quote with a typical labour-only price instead, adjusted for your region (and for a kitchen, its size). For other jobs it gives no verdict on a labour-only quote.
- Several quotes. Line them up item by item with the free quote comparison spreadsheet. It keeps VAT, exclusions and anything a quote doesn't mention visible.
Typical quotes for common jobs
For reference, these are the typical building work prices behind the checker, for a mid-range finish. A 25 m² single storey extension, for example, typically costs £63,500 to £78,000 including VAT outside London.
| Job (mid-range finish, including VAT) | Typical quote, UK average | Typical quote, London |
|---|---|---|
| Single storey extension, 25 m² | £63,500 to £78,000 | £86,000 to £105,000 |
| Double storey extension, 40 m² | £91,000 to £115,000 | £123,000 to £156,000 |
| Rear dormer loft conversion, 30 m² | £47,000 to £58,000 | £63,500 to £78,500 |
| Integral garage conversion | £14,400 to £20,500 | £19,400 to £27,500 |
| Whole-house renovation, 90 m² | £86,500 to £130,000 | £117,000 to £175,000 |
| New kitchen, supplied and fitted | £9,000 to £16,000 | £10,600 to £18,800 |
| Bathroom refit | £6,000 to £9,000 | £7,300 to £10,900 |
| Rewire, three-bedroom house | £5,400 to £7,200 | £6,900 to £9,200 |
Before you sign
Read what a builder's quote should include, then line your quotes up with the quote comparison worksheet. If the cheapest is tempting, read should I accept the cheapest quote? first.
Questions
Is this a quote?
No. Estiquote is a planning guide. It shows the typical price for a job like yours in your area, so you can tell whether a builder's quote is in line. Always get at least three written quotes for the same scope of work.
What should I type in?
The builder's total, as the quote gives it. Then say what the quote says about VAT, and tick any of drawings, a structural engineer or building control that the quote prices or says is included: each tick adds a typical fee for that item to the range, so you compare like with like. A party wall surveyor is never part of the comparison, so if the quote includes one, take that amount off the total before you type it in.
Why is my quote outside the range?
A quote can sit outside the typical range for good reasons, such as difficult access, steelwork, a higher specification or a short programme (a tight timetable), or because it covers more or less work than another quote. Ask for a breakdown by section.
Where do the prices come from?
From the Estiquote 2026 UK cost model, built from published UK price guides, trade rates and council fee schedules and reviewed every quarter (latest review 25 September 2026).
Does a quote include VAT?
Most building work carries VAT at 20%. Ask each builder to confirm whether their price includes it. In the checker, say whether the quote includes VAT, adds it on top or doesn't say, or whether the builder charges no VAT. The checker only suggests VAT may be missing when the quote doesn't say.