How to quote a carpentry job (decks, pergolas, floors and doors)
Decks, pergolas, flooring, doors and trim. How to measure, which units to price in, when approvals come into it, and a deck quote that adds up.
Updated
Carpentry covers a lot of ground, from a single hung door to a deck with stairs and balustrade. The good news: most of it can be measured and priced per unit, which makes quoting faster and more consistent.
Measure and ask on site
- Decks: length and width, height off the ground, board material and species, footings and ground conditions, stairs, balustrade, access for materials.
- Pergolas: size, flat or skillion or gable, attached or freestanding, roof sheeting, footings, how it ties to the house.
- Flooring: room sizes, subfloor condition, levelling needed, what's coming up, trims and scotia.
- Doors and trim: door sizes and type, hardware, skirting and architrave lengths, painting or not.
Note anything that needs approval or engineering. Height, size and how close it is to a boundary all matter.
How to price the common items
Rough starting prices for common carpentry items, ex GST. Use your own costs and rates; these are only a guide:
| Item | Rough starting price (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Deck supply and build | from $300 a m² |
| Balustrade | $350 a metre |
| Stairs | $180 a tread |
| Remove old deck and tip | $1,200 |
| Engineering or permit allowance | $800 |
| Pergola structure, flat or skillion | from $250 a m² |
| Roof sheeting upgrade to Colorbond | $40 a m² |
| Flooring supply and lay | from $90 a m² |
| Underlay | $10 a m² |
| Strip old floor | $15 a m² |
| Door supply and hang | $250 each |
| Handles and locksets | $90 each |
| Skirting or architrave | $25 a metre |
Board material makes a big difference on decks. Treated pine, hardwood and composite are very different prices, so give the customer a pick-one choice rather than three separate quotes.
A worked example
A 20 m² deck, about a metre off the ground, replacing an old one:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deck supply and build, 20 m² at $300 | $6,000.00 |
| Balustrade, 8 metres at $350 | $2,800.00 |
| Stairs, 4 treads at $180 | $720.00 |
| Remove old deck and tip | $1,200.00 |
| Subtotal (ex GST) | $10,720.00 |
| GST (10%) | $1,072.00 |
| Total including GST | $11,792.00 |
An optional extra could be oiling or sealing the new deck, which the customer can tick if they want it.
Approvals, licences and standards
- Approvals. Many low, small decks are exempt development, but higher or larger decks often need council or certifier approval. Check with the local council before you quote it as exempt.
- Balustrades. Under the National Construction Code, a barrier is generally required where the fall is more than 1 metre.
- Licences. In several states, carpentry and structural work above a dollar threshold is licensed residential building work (for example over $5,000 in NSW and over $3,300 in Queensland). Above set values you'll also need a written contract and possibly home warranty insurance.
- Deposits. Residential building work has deposit caps in several states. See deposits for tradies.
Quoting by job type
Decks
Price the deck per m² for frame and boards, then add balustrade, stairs, removal and approvals as separate lines. Give a pick-one choice for the board (treated pine, hardwood or composite) so the customer can see the price difference straight away. Ask about the finish: oiled, stained or left to weather.
Pergolas
Quote the structure per m², then roof sheeting, gutters and downpipes, and any footings. Say whether it's attached to the house (and how) or freestanding. Note whether approval is the customer's job or yours.
Flooring
Measure each room and add a waste allowance. Quote strip-out, levelling and underlay as their own lines, because the subfloor is where surprises hide. Say what happens to skirting and doors (trimmed, removed and refitted, or replaced).
Doors and trim
Count doors and measure skirting and architrave runs. Say whether painting is included. If the customer is supplying doors or hardware, quote hanging only.
Mistakes to avoid
- Quoting the deck but not the footings. Ground conditions change everything. Look and ask.
- Forgetting waste. Offcuts and defects are real material cost.
- Assuming exempt. If you're not sure, say approval is the customer's responsibility or quote it as an allowance.
- Leaving out removal. Old decks and floors take time and tip fees.
Make it quick to send
Karven brings up common carpentry items with starting prices as you type, works out m² from length and width, and lets the customer pick between options like board species before accepting online. See Karven for carpenters, or grab a free carpentry quote template. For your own rates, see how to price a job.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check your local council and your state's building regulator.
Common questions
- How do carpenters price a deck?
- Usually per square metre for the deck itself (frame and boards), then extra lines for balustrade per metre, stairs per tread, removal of an old deck, and any engineering or permit costs.
- Should a carpenter quote per hour or per job?
- Per job (or per m², per metre, per door) for work you can measure. Hourly suits small repairs and maintenance where the time is hard to predict.
- Does a deck need council approval?
- It depends on the state, the height and the size. Many low decks are exempt, but higher decks often need approval and must meet the National Construction Code, including balustrades where the fall is more than 1 metre. Check with the local council.
- What should a carpentry quote include?
- Measurements, materials and species, what's included (fixings, finishes, removal), what's not, any approvals, the total including GST, deposit and payment terms, and your licence number if your state requires one for the work.
- How do I allow for waste on timber?
- Add a waste allowance to board and flooring quantities for offcuts and defects. The right percentage depends on the layout and material, so use your own experience and the supplier's guidance.
Write and send the quote from your phone
With Karven, your customer gets a clear quote, you keep a private breakdown, and a follow-up is ready when a quote goes quiet.
- A clear quote on their phone
- Your private breakdown, kept for later
- Follow-ups Karven writes for you
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