Plastering Estimate Template
Plaster and stucco are priced by the coat: lath, scratch, brown, finish. Write how many coats you apply and the finish texture, because a three-coat stucco wall and a one-coat patch are both "plastering" to a client comparing bids.
No sign-up. Totals, tax and deposit are worked out for you; print it or save it as a PDF.
Free download (no sign-up): Excel / Word
This estimate as a file you can fill in and send: the line items below, with amounts, tax and the total worked out by formulas.
How to use this file
- Download it and open it in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, Word or Google Docs.
- Put in your business details and the client, then replace the example lines and prices with your own. In Excel, amounts, tax and the total update as you type.
- Check the payment terms, then save it as a PDF and send it to the client.
Example line items
| Item | Unit | Qty | Example price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hack off loose plaster and clean back | sq ft | 150 | 1.5–4 / sq ft |
| Metal lath and moisture barrier | sq ft | 400 | 1.5–3.5 / sq ft |
| Scratch and brown coats | sq ft | 400 | 3–6 / sq ft |
| Finish coat, sand or smooth texture | sq ft | 400 | 2–4 / sq ft |
| Interior plaster patch and skim | sq ft | 120 | 4–9 / sq ft |
| Masking, protection and cleanup | job | 1 | 200–600 |
Amounts are examples before tax, not price advice. Add sales tax or VAT where it applies.
What to put on the quote
- System and number of coats, total thickness, and the finish texture agreed on a sample board.
- Area per elevation or room, with openings and corners counted.
- Condition behind the old finish, and what happens if cracks turn out to run into the structure.
- Curing time between coats and before painting, and the weather limits for exterior work.
Common mistakes
- Calling a cracked wall "patching" when the old coat is loose across the whole surface.
- Putting the next coat on early to save a day, then getting cracks the client blames on you.
- Not agreeing the texture on a sample, so the finished wall is "not what we meant".
Deposit, balance and validity
A 25% deposit on booking, a progress payment after the base coats and the balance when the finish coat is done. Exterior dates move with rain and freezing temperatures without penalty. Estimate valid for 30 days.
Questions people ask
Why does stucco need days between coats?
Each coat has to cure before the next goes on, or the wall shrinks and cracks; the schedule in the estimate allows for it.
Will a patch match the rest of the wall?
Texture can be matched closely, but color and sheen rarely match an old wall until the whole elevation is painted.
Is painting after plastering included?
Only if it is listed. Most plasterers hand over a coat ready for paint and say how long to wait before painting.