Scaffolding Estimate Template
Scaffolding estimates go to painters, roofers and general contractors who need access, not a finished product. The argument is almost always about time on site, so price erect and dismantle, the base hire period and each extra week as separate lines and the client can see what a delayed job costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erect and dismantle, frame scaffold | sq ft | 2,400 | 1.5–3.5 / sq ft |
| Debris netting / safety mesh | sq ft | 2,400 | 0.25–0.6 / sq ft |
| Delivery and pickup | trip | 2 | 150–400 each |
| Base hire, first 4 weeks | job | 1 | Included |
| Extended hire after the base period | week | 2 | 150–400 / week |
| Sidewalk permit and inspection tag | job | 1 | 150–600 |
Amounts are examples before tax, not price advice. Add sales tax or VAT where it applies.
What to put on the quote
- Elevations covered, wall height and length, and how the square footage was measured (face area, not floor area).
- Scaffold type, number of working platforms, ladder or stair access and load rating.
- Base hire period, the day it starts counting and the rate for each extra week.
- Netting, sheeting, sidewalk protection and permits, with who pays the permit fees.
- Who may alter the scaffold, and that tie points in the wall are patched by others.
Common mistakes
- A hire period that ends before the painter or roofer is done, followed by a dispute over the extra weeks.
- Measuring floor area instead of elevation area, which underprices tall, narrow buildings.
- Forgetting a second trip when the site has no room to unload in one go.
Deposit, balance and validity
Deposit 30% to book the crew and material, balance when the scaffold is handed over as erected; extended hire is billed weekly. Dismantle dates move only on written notice, and a wasted trip because the site was not ready is charged at the delivery rate. Estimate valid for 14 days.
Questions people ask
When does the hire period start?
On the day the scaffold is handed over as safe to use, not the day the truck arrives. The estimate states that rule.
Can my painter move a section to reach a window?
Only our crew should alter the scaffold. Ask and we will adjust it; small adjustments are charged per visit.
Do I need a sidewalk permit?
If the scaffold or its base sits on a public sidewalk or street, most cities require one. We can file it and show the fee as its own line.