The rates above are starting points, not going rates — put your own in. If you have never worked out what an hour on the tools actually has to earn once the ute, the insurance and the unbillable hours are paid for, start with the charge-out rate calculator.
A worked example: hot water unit swap
Storage electric unit failed overnight. Customer wants it replaced today. Plumber registered for GST, supplies the unit.
| Line | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supply 250L electric storage hot water unit | 1 | $1,340.00 | $1,340.00 |
| Remove and dispose of old unit | 1 | $180.00 | $180.00 |
| Install, connect, commission and test | 3.5 | $135.00 | $472.50 |
| Tempering valve — replace (5-year service life) | 1 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Same-day call-out | 1 | $90.00 | $90.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,292.50 | ||
| GST (10%) | $229.25 | ||
| Total inc GST | $2,521.75 | ||
| Deposit to book in (20%) | $504.35 | ||
| Balance on completion | $2,017.40 |
The tempering valve is on its own line on purpose. Bundled into "install", it looks like padding when the customer compares three quotes; on its own line with a reason, it is a plumber who knows the job.
What to put on a plumbing quote
- Business name, ABN and plumbing licence number. Licensing is set by your state or territory regulator and most require the number on paperwork and advertising. Check what applies where you work.
- Customer name and the site address, which is often not the billing address on an investment property.
- Date and quote number. A quote with no date cannot expire.
- Line-by-line scope, with appliances named by make, model and capacity — "hot water unit" is not a price anyone can compare.
- Whether GST is included. If you are not registered, say the price carries no GST.
- Who supplies the appliance, and what that means for warranty. If the customer supplies it, say in writing that you warrant the installation and not the unit.
- Exclusions. Wall and tile make-good, asbestos, excavation through concrete, tree-root damage beyond the blockage, council or water-authority fees, and anything found behind the wall.
- Compliance certificate. Say whether the certificate of compliance is in the price.
- How long the price holds — appliance prices move.
- Deposit and payment terms, and days to pay.
- The variations sentence. Anything found once the wall or the ground is open is quoted separately before it goes ahead.
Common mistakes, and what each one costs
- No excavation or make-good exclusion. Coring a slab or reinstating tiles is somebody's cost. If it is not written down, it becomes yours.
- Installing a customer-supplied unit with no warranty wording. The unit fails in eight months and the phone call comes to you, not the retailer.
- Emergency work at the ordinary rate. If you are turning out at 9pm, the quote should say what after-hours costs — before you turn out.
- Materials at cost. You fronted the money, made the trip and warrant the part. See the markup and margin calculator — adding 30% is not a 30% margin.
- No deposit on an appliance job. A $1,300 unit ordered on your card for a customer who then goes quiet is the worst week of the quarter.
- Quoting from a photo. A picture of a leaking pipe does not show what is behind the wall, and a number given from one is a number you will be held to.
Three things that win the job
Price it before you leave. On a hot water failure the first plumber with a number usually gets the job, because the customer wants a shower tomorrow more than they want a third quote.
Give them two options where it is honest to. Like-for-like replacement versus the better unit with the longer warranty. Most people take the middle path when there is one, and they choose rather than shop.
Follow up twice. A quote is rarely lost — it is forgotten under a school run. The wording is in the quote follow-up templates.
Yamate keeps your rates, your licence details and your standard exclusions, so a quote is a few taps rather than a blank page — then turns the accepted quote into the invoice without retyping it. Sign up before 30 September 2026 and lock in the Founder plan at $19/mo — forever. It's $29/mo after that. No lock-in, cancel anytime. Prices in AUD.
FAQ
What should a plumber's quote include?
Business name, ABN and licence number; customer and site address; date and quote number; a line-by-line breakdown naming appliances by make and model; whether GST applies; exclusions; how long the price holds; and deposit and payment terms.
Who warrants a hot water unit the customer supplied?
Generally the manufacturer warrants the unit and you warrant the installation. Put that on the quote, along with a line saying a return trip to swap a faulty unit is chargeable — otherwise the free second visit is assumed.
Should I quote a blocked drain or charge hourly?
Quote the clearing attempt as a fixed price with a stated time limit, then quote the repair once the camera has shown what is wrong. One fixed price for an unknown blockage is how the tree roots become free.
How long should a plumbing quote be valid?
Thirty days is standard. Where the price hangs on one appliance, 14 days is reasonable — as long as the quote says so before they accept it.
Do I charge GST on a quote?
Only if you are registered, which is generally required once turnover reaches $75,000. See when a sole trader has to register.
Next steps
General information for Australian tradies, not tax, legal or financial advice. Every figure this page produces is an estimate based on what you type in. Licensing, compliance-certificate and deposit rules are set by each state and territory — check yours before relying on this page.