Construction quote template: an itemised example for contractors, and what to watch for with reverse-charge VAT

A construction quote works well when the client can see item by item what they're getting, and you know afterwards what was agreed and what wasn't. This template is built on that: materials and labour separate, terms, warranty, and correct handling of reverse-charge VAT.

What's different about a construction quote compared to a simple service?

Three things.

More items, more uncertainty. In a home renovation, the condition of the subfloor often only becomes clear after demolition. That's why the terms section of a construction quote matters as much as the prices: what's certain based on the survey, and what might change after demolition.

Materials and labour kept separate. The client often buys materials themselves, or only wants a quote for part of the job. Without separating them, you can't amend the quote later, and some grants require materials and labour costs to be shown separately.

It needs a contract behind it. An accepted quote creates a contract under Hungarian civil law, but government decree 191/2009 (IX. 15.) on construction works requires a written construction contract with mandatory content. For smaller repairs, the accepted quote is usually enough in practice; for larger jobs, put it into a written contract.

Filled-in construction quote example (living room renovation)

Supplier: Horváth Építő Kft. · 6000 Kecskemét, Példa út 5. · Tax number: 23456789-2-03 Client: Gábor Tóth · 6000 Kecskemét, Minta utca 17. Quote number: AJ-2026-118 · Date: 21 September 2026 · Valid until: 12 October 2026

Job: Renovation of an approx. 24 m² living room based on the on-site survey of 18 September 2026: removal of old flooring, levelling the subfloor, laying laminate flooring, skimming and painting the walls, installing two new power sockets.

(roughly EUR 2,350 at current exchange rates)

Excludes: laminate flooring, underlay and skirting (supplied by the client, approx. 26 m² needed including waste), moving furniture, removing rubble (on request, HUF 25,000 + VAT).

Terms: Start no earlier than 6 October 2026 after acceptance, expected duration 6 working days. Payment: 30% deposit before starting, 70% on handover. Subfloor condition will only be clear after demolition; if levelling over 5 mm is needed, this will be carried out at HUF 1,200 + VAT per m², after prior agreement. 2-year warranty on the work.

VAT: Standard taxation at 27% for private individual clients. For VAT-registered clients, VAT is charged based on the client's declaration (under reverse charge, the client pays the VAT).

Reverse-charge VAT in brief, from a quote-writer's point of view

Under Section 142 (1)(b) of the Hungarian VAT Act, reverse charge applies to construction, installation and related work aimed at creating, extending, altering or demolishing a property, where the activity is subject to official permit or notification. According to Hungarian Tax Authority (NAV) guidance 2026/4, the permit doesn't need to have construction content, it could, for example, be a townscape notification. A further condition is that both parties must be domestic VAT payers.

What does this mean for your quote?

• Working for a private individual → always standard VAT, 27%.
• Working for a company on permit- or notification-required work (such as an extension or alteration) → typically reverse-charge VAT, the quote shows a net amount with a note that the client pays the VAT.
• Working for a company on work that doesn't need a permit (such as painting or floor replacement) → standard VAT.

The assessment also depends on the project as a whole, so it's worth getting a written declaration from the client, and checking with your accountant in doubtful cases. Always state on the quote which basis you used for VAT, because once accepted, this becomes part of the contract.

What else is worth including in a contractor's quote

• Survey date, "based on the on-site survey of 18 September 2026". If the client later asks for something different, it's clear that it wasn't part of the original scope.
• How extra work is handled, how and at what price you'll carry out anything not included in the quote. Without this, every bit of extra work becomes a negotiation.
• Materials price clause, if weeks may pass between the quote and purchasing materials.
• What the client provides, electricity, water, staging area, keys.
• Warranty, on what and for how long.

You'll find templates for other trades here: Quote template hub, and we've also made a dedicated page for electricians, where ready-made items let you build a quote by voice: Voice-based quoting for electricians.

An itemised quote on site, dictated

A 10-item quote like this takes 30 to 40 minutes in Word in the evening. In the Ajánlatra app, you save your common items (demolition, levelling, skimming, painting) once as templates with your prices, then on site you just say the quantities out loud, and the quote is ready with your branding, materials and labour broken down, and set up according to your VAT settings. You can also attach photos per room, so the client can see exactly what the price covers.

3 quotes a month free, no installation required. You can try it on the homepage without registering, with your own line items.