For UK drainage contractors

Drainage quote template (UK)

A clear layout for a drainage quote that diagnoses with a CCTV survey first, then sets out scope, terms and VAT properly, so the customer knows what is included before you break ground.

Last updated 15 July 2026 · 6 min read

What a drainage quote should include

Drainage quotes go wrong in one predictable place: the problem is below ground and you cannot see it. A blockage that clears in ten minutes and a collapsed run that needs excavation can look identical from a gully. A good drainage quote diagnoses with a CCTV survey first, prices the defined work firmly, and handles the hidden extent honestly, so the customer is not surprised and you are not out of pocket.

Your business. Trading name, address, contact, and your VAT number if registered.
The customer and the site. Their name, the property address, and where the drainage run or manhole is.
A CCTV survey to diagnose first. The true fault is hidden until you survey. State that a camera survey identifies whether the issue is a blockage, root ingress, a displaced joint or a collapse before any repair is priced.
A specific scope. Clearance by high pressure jetting, then the repair method, whether that is a no dig reline or patch, or excavation and replacement of a collapsed run.
Labour, plant and materials. Days by your rate, the jetting unit and camera, plus liner, patch resin, pipe and fittings named where it helps the customer trust the price.
VAT. If registered, subtotal, 20% VAT and total. If not, say so.
Timeline. Days on site and whether the drain will be out of use at points.
Payment terms. When you expect payment and any deposit against ordered materials.
Exclusions. Reinstatement of the surface, whether tarmac, block paving or landscaping, is often excluded. Say so clearly.
Validity period. "Valid for 30 days" so a price does not follow you around after supplier and plant costs move.

A drainage quote example

The figures below are illustrative and shown only to demonstrate the layout. They are not market rates. Price every job from your own supplier prices, plant costs and day rate.

Section	Detail	Amount (example only)
CCTV survey and diagnosis	Camera survey of the run, locate and identify the fault, supply report	£X
Jetting and clearance	High pressure jetting to clear the blockage and prove the line	£X
Repair or reline	No dig patch or cured in place liner to the defective section	£X
Excavation and replacement	Dig down, remove and replace a collapsed run, backfill	£X
Subtotal		£X
VAT (20%, if registered)		£X
Total		£X

Scope note: "CCTV survey to diagnose the fault, high pressure jetting to clear the run, then repair by the method the survey confirms. Excludes reinstatement of the surface finish." Terms note: "Price assumes the fault matches the CCTV survey findings. Any further defect, greater depth or collapse found on excavation will be surveyed and quoted, and agreed in writing before proceeding. Valid for 30 days."

The mistakes that cost drainage contractors money on a quote

Quoting a repair before a CCTV survey. Committing a firm repair price before a camera survey is how a jetting job turns into an excavation you never priced. Survey to diagnose, then quote.
Pricing the hidden extent. The full length of a collapse or the reach of root ingress is not clear until you survey and open up. Add a clear variations line.
Ignoring access and depth. A deep run under a driveway or a manhole with no easy access changes the plant, the labour and the day. Note access and depth on the quote.
Missing build over and adoption rules. Work near a public sewer can need a build over agreement, and some runs are adopted by the water authority. Flag where their rules apply.
Leaving out reinstatement. If you are not relaying block paving or making good landscaping after excavation, exclude it plainly.

Should a drainage contractor send a quote or an estimate?

For a defined repair, a relining job or a replacement to a scope the CCTV survey has confirmed, quote it firmly. For work where the true extent is hidden until you survey or excavate, a suspected collapse or root ingress of unknown reach, an estimate with a firm quote to follow once the survey is done is the honest approach. Put the scope and variations in writing either way. Our guide to quote vs estimate for UK trades explains when each is fairer.

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This page is practical quoting guidance, not legal advice. Build over agreements and connections to public sewers are governed by the applicable water authority rules. For a serious dispute or a large sum, take proper advice.

Drainage quote FAQ

What should a drainage quote include?

Your business details, the customer and site, a CCTV survey to diagnose the problem, a specific scope for clearance and any repair, a breakdown of labour, plant and materials, VAT, a timeline, payment terms, exclusions and a validity period.

Why survey a drain before quoting a repair?

The true extent of a drainage fault is hidden below ground. A CCTV survey shows whether the problem is a blockage, root ingress, a displaced joint or a collapse, so you can price the right work instead of guessing. Unblocking is not the same as repair.

Should a drainage contractor quote or estimate the work?

Once a CCTV survey has defined the fault and the repair method, quote it firmly. Where the extent is unknown until you survey or excavate, an estimate with a firm quote to follow once the survey is done is the honest approach.

Do drainage contractors charge VAT on a quote?

If you are VAT registered, show subtotal, 20% VAT and the total. If you are not registered, say so clearly on the quote.