Guides

Electrical Estimate Template: What to Include + Sample

The fields an electrical estimate needs, a copy-and-paste template with electrical-only lines (load calc, panel, permit, code edition), license number rules and a filled-in sample.

Ijharul Islam October 21, 2026 8 min read

An electrical estimate template, in short, needs your business name, license number and contact details; the customer and job address; an estimate number, date and 30-day expiry; what you found (panel, amperage, load calculation); a plain-English scope with exclusions; one price per option; permit and inspection; deposit, payment terms and warranty; and a signature. Copy the template below.

More on this topic: Pricing, estimates and getting paid, every guide in one place.

Most electrical estimate templates online are generic invoice layouts with “electrical” in the title, and some of the top results are written for UK electricians, with VAT lines and UK scheme registrations. A US electrical estimate has its own lines: the service size and panel you found, the load calculation, the permit and code edition, and your state license number, which Texas and California both require on bids. This guide gives you the fields, a template to copy, a filled-in sample, and the license rules.

Key takeaways

Electrical-only lines win trust: panel and service size, the load calculation result, permit and inspection.
Texas requires the contractor's name, address, phone and license number on all proposals, invoices and written contracts.
California requires the license number on contracts, subcontracts and calls for bid; a first offense carries a $100 to $1,000 civil penalty.
Give options with one price each, and say what isn't included.
Date the expiry (30 days is common) and get a signature or online approval.
Sales made in the home can carry a 3-day right to cancel; our plumbing estimate guide covers how it works.

What should an electrical estimate include?

Field	What to put	Why
Business details	Name, address, phone, email	Required on proposals in Texas; customers need to reach you
License number	Your state contractor license	Required on bids in Texas and California
Estimate number, date, expiry	#1061, Oct 21, 2026, valid until Nov 20, 2026	Ties approval to the job; protects you from price changes
Customer and job address	Name, phone, email, service address	Billing and job address often differ
What we found	Service size, panel make, spaces free, wiring type	Shows the customer you looked, and records the starting condition
Load calculation	Method and result in one line	Explains why a panel upgrade is or isn't needed
Scope of work	Circuit size, wire, run length, devices, testing	The line that prevents most disputes
Code and permit	Code edition your city enforces; permit and inspection; who books them	The customer knows an inspector will look
Exclusions	Drywall, painting, trenching, utility fees, hidden conditions	What you won't do without a change order
Price per option	One total per option for flat-rate work	Lets the customer choose instead of haggle
Tax	Where your state taxes materials or labor	Rules differ by state
Deposit and payment terms	Deposit on approval; balance on completion	Matches what the invoice will say
Warranty	Workmanship term; manufacturer warranty on equipment	Answers the next question
Approval	Signature and date, or online acceptance	Your proof the customer agreed to this scope

Electrical estimate template (copy and paste)

[Business name] · License [number] · [Address] · [Phone] · [Email]
Estimate #[number] · Date: [date] · Valid until: [date + 30 days]
Customer: [Name], [phone], [email]
Service address: [address]
What we found: [Service size and panel make, spaces free, wiring type, anything unsafe.]
Load calculation: [Method, existing demand, new load, result.]
Option 1: [name] · [$X]
[Scope: circuit size, wire, run, devices, mounting, testing.]
Option 2: [name] · [$Y]
[Everything in Option 1, plus …]
Permit and inspection: [Included. We pull the permit and book the inspection.] Work to the [code edition] as adopted by [city or county].
Not included: [Drywall patching and paint. Trenching. Utility fees. Conditions hidden in walls or found on inspection, which we'll price before doing any work.]
Payment: [Deposit of X% on approval; balance due on completion by card or check.] Warranty: [1-year workmanship; equipment per manufacturer.]
Approval: I approve Option [ ] and the terms above. Signature [ ] Date [ ]

What does a filled-in electrical estimate look like?

Here is a sample for a level 2 charger, priced with the method in our guide on how to price EV charger installation ($115.27 per billable hour, 20% margin):

Estimate #1061 · Oct 21, 2026 · Valid until Nov 20, 2026
Customer: Dana Ortiz, 22 Birch Ln (garage)
What we found: 200 A service, panel in the garage with two free spaces; customer-supplied 40 A wall charger to mount 20 ft from the panel.
Load calculation (NEC 220.87): 12-month peak 60 A × 125% = 75 A; charger 40 A × 125% = 50 A; total 125 A on a 200 A service. No upgrade needed.
Option 1: Charger circuit · $989
New 50 A two-pole breaker, 6 AWG copper, about 25 ft surface run, mount and connect the charger, set it to 40 A, test with the customer's car.
Option 2: Charger circuit plus whole-home surge protection · $1,211
Everything in Option 1, plus a Type 2 surge-protective device at the panel.
Permit and inspection: included. Not included: the charger, drywall or paint, utility rebates paperwork. Payment: balance due on completion.

Bigger jobs follow the same layout with more lines in “What we found”; our guide on how to price a panel upgrade lists what a service upgrade estimate should spell out. To print one without a word processor, the free contractor estimate generator lays out the lines, keeps optional add-ons out of the total and adds a signature line.

Do you need your license number on an electrical estimate?

In some states, yes. Two examples from the licensing boards:

Texas: TDLR's compliance guide says the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number are required on all proposals, invoices and written contracts. Invoices and written contracts must also carry the “Regulated by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation” statement with TDLR's address, phone numbers and complaints website.
California: CSLB's advertising guidelines say licensed contractors must include their license number in all construction contracts, subcontracts and calls for bid, and in all advertising, which CSLB says includes a contract proposal. The civil penalty for a first offense is $100 to $1,000.

Other states have their own rules, and some differ by trade license, so check your board. Printing the number on every estimate, invoice and truck is the simple way to comply everywhere.

Should an electrical estimate be itemized?

Itemize what helps the customer decide, not your costs. For flat-rate work, show one price per option with a clear scope; a list of breaker and wire prices invites a trip to the hardware store. For time and materials work such as troubleshooting, show the hourly rate, a first-hour minimum and a not-to-exceed figure. Our guide to flat rate vs time and materials explains when to use which.

Does the 3-day cancellation rule apply to electrical estimates?

Sometimes. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule covers sales of $25 or more made at the buyer's home, but excludes repairs or maintenance the buyer asked you to come and do; extra goods or services sold during that visit aren't excluded. So a breaker repair the customer called about is exempt, while a surge device sold at the kitchen table may not be. Our plumbing estimate template covers the notice and the emergency waiver in detail. This is general information, not legal advice.

Mistakes that lose electrical jobs

No load calculation on the estimate, so the customer can't see why a panel upgrade is needed.
Vague scope: “install EV charger” with no breaker size, run length or permit.
No exclusions, so drywall repair becomes an argument.
No expiry date on a quote with copper and breakers in it.
No follow-up. See how to follow up on unsold estimates.

Where CrewRobin fits

CrewRobin builds this estimate from your price book: good, better, best quotes go out by text, the customer picks an option and signs online, and follow-up texts go out on day 2, 5 and 10. Ask for a deposit when the quote is approved, paid by card through your own Stripe account and taken off the final invoice. See how it works for electricians.

Frequently asked questions

What should be included in an electrical estimate?

Your business details and license number; the customer and job address; an estimate number, date and expiry; what you found, including the panel and load calculation; the scope with exclusions; a price per option; permit and inspection; tax; deposit and payment terms; warranty; and a signature line.

Do electricians have to put their license number on estimates?

In some states. Texas requires the license number on all proposals, invoices and written contracts, and California requires it on contracts, subcontracts and calls for bid. Check your state board.

How long should an electrical estimate be valid?

Thirty days is common. Write the actual expiry date on the estimate and re-check material prices before renewing an expired one.

What is the difference between an electrical estimate and a quote?

An estimate is usually approximate and can change with actual time and materials; a quote is a fixed price for a defined scope. Say on the document which one it is.

Should the permit be on an electrical estimate?

Yes. Say whether the permit and inspection are included, who books them, and which code edition the work follows.

Put it to work this week

Send electrical estimates with options the customer can approve and sign from their phone. CrewRobin is free until your first 10 booked jobs, no card up front. Start free or see pricing.

Sources

Figures from outside CrewRobin were checked against these pages in October 2026. Most industry benchmarks come from vendors and agencies, so treat them as ranges, not rules.

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