How long should a contractor quote stay valid?
Most contractor quotes should stay valid for 30 days. That's long enough for a client to decide without locking you into outdated pricing. We'll walk through how to set the right window for your business, when to shorten it, and when to extend it.
Thirty days is the standard benchmark
Thirty days works because it's long enough for a homeowner to get financing, gather multiple bids, or just think it over. It's short enough that your material costs and labor rates probably won't shift dramatically. If you're in concrete or roofing and material prices swing week to week, consider 14 days instead. In slower trades like interior painting or general handyman work where costs are stable, you can comfortably go 45 days. Write it on every quote. Don't leave it vague. A client who sees "valid for 30 days" knows exactly when they need to decide. A quote with no expiration date signals you're either desperate or disorganized.
Shorten it when material costs are volatile
Steel, lumber, aluminum, and copper move fast. If you're quoting a roofing job or framing work in a market where material prices shift 5-10 percent month to month, drop to 14 days. A HVAC contractor quoting compressors or refrigerant today might face 20 percent markup in two weeks if prices spike. Plumbers dealing with copper fittings face the same issue. Get explicit. Say "Valid for 14 days from quote date. After that, we'll reprice materials." Clients understand this. It's not a negotiating tactic—it's honesty. Most will appreciate it more than discovering a surprise charge when they finally call you back on day 28.
Extend it for big projects or slow markets
A $50,000 commercial job or a multi-phase residential project needs more breathing room. Clients legitimately take longer to approve, get bids from three other contractors, or wait for funds. Sixty or even 90 days makes sense here. In slow months—winter for some trades, summer for others—extending validity to 45 days can actually close more jobs because clients feel less time pressure. The trade-off: you're holding risk longer. Counter it by adding a line like "Materials and labor rates subject to change. Final quote valid for 30 days from confirmation." That protects you without yanking the rug out from under them.
Make expiration dates clear and automatic
Put the exact expiration date on the quote itself, not just the validity period. "Valid through March 15, 2024" beats "valid for 30 days." Clients forget. They'll call you on day 32 thinking the quote still stands. Use a job management system to track which quotes are expiring. Send a reminder email two days before expiration: "Your estimate for the kitchen remodel expires Thursday. Let us know if you want to move forward." This second touch closes a surprising number of jobs. It signals professionalism and gives the client one last nudge without being pushy.
Bottom line
Set 30 days as your default, adjust down for volatile materials and up for complex jobs, and always print the exact expiration date. Follow up before quotes expire to turn fence-sitters into jobs.