For UK garage conversion specialists

Garage conversion quote template (UK)

A clear layout for a garage conversion quote that covers the structural work, insulation, services, building regulations and VAT so the client sees exactly what turning their garage into a room involves.

What a garage conversion quote should include

A garage conversion touches structure, insulation, services and finishes, so a vague quote invites arguments later. A complete garage conversion quote should set out each of these stages:

• Removing the garage door and building up the new wall, including the lintel, cavity closer and any new window opening
• Damp proofing and floor insulation, since a garage floor is often lower and colder than the rest of the house
• Wall and ceiling insulation to bring the room up to a habitable standard
• New flooring, screed or a suspended floor build up to reach the finished level
• Electrics and heating extension, such as sockets, lighting and adding a radiator to the existing system
• Plastering and decoration, with the exact finish stated
• Windows or doors, including any new opening or French doors to the garden
• Building regulations sign off, since converting a garage into a living space is building work that must be signed off
• How VAT is shown, whether your figures include or exclude it

It is worth noting on the quote that planning permission is usually not needed for a garage conversion that stays within the existing footprint, but building regulations approval is required. Making that distinction clear reassures the client and manages expectations.

A garage conversion quote example

The figures below are illustrative placeholders only, to show how the quote reads. Your own rates and the condition of the garage will decide the real numbers.

• Structural infill of the garage door opening, new wall, lintel and window opening: [amount]
• Damp proofing and floor works, including membrane, insulation and screed: [amount]
• Wall and ceiling insulation: [amount]
• Electrics and heating extension, sockets, lighting and radiator: [amount]
• Plastering and decoration: [amount]
• Building control application and sign off: [amount]
• Subtotal: [subtotal]
• VAT at the applicable rate: [VAT amount]
• Total: [total]

Laying the quote out stage by stage like this lets the client see where the money goes, and it makes any later variation easy to price against the original scope.

The mistakes that cost garage conversion specialists money on a quote

• Not allowing for floor level and damp differences. A garage floor often sits lower than the house floor and has little or no damp protection, so pricing it as a simple overlay can wipe out your margin once the real build up is needed.
• Leaving out building regulations. If the sign off and any structural calculations are not in the quote, the client assumes they are included and you absorb the cost.
• Being vague on heating and electrics extension. Adding a radiator to an existing system or running new circuits can be straightforward or awkward depending on the boiler and consumer unit, so spell out exactly what is included.
• Not clarifying decoration scope. State whether you are supplying a plastered finish ready for the client to decorate, or a fully painted and finished room, so there is no assumption of extra work.

Should a garage conversion specialist send a quote or an estimate?

Send a quote once you have inspected the garage, checked the floor level and damp, and confirmed how the door opening and services will be dealt with. A quote is a fixed price the client can rely on, and for a conversion where you can see the existing build it is usually the stronger, more professional option.

Send an estimate where the existing structure is still unknown, for example if the foundations, wall condition or drainage cannot be confirmed until work starts. Label it clearly as an estimate, explain what could change the figure, and turn it into a firm quote once the unknowns are settled.

Send a garage conversion quote in two minutes

QuoteSmith lets you type the job and your prices in plain words, then turns them into a branded, professional PDF quote in minutes, with the scope, terms and VAT set out clearly. Instead of rebuilding a document for every garage, you describe the structural infill, insulation, services and finishes once and let the tool format it.

It is £19.99 a month, cancel anytime, and it is also on iPhone so you can send a quote from the client's garage before you leave. See how it works

Garage conversion quote FAQ

Do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?

In most cases planning permission is not required, as converting an attached garage within its existing walls usually falls under permitted development. There are exceptions, such as listed buildings, some flats and properties where permitted development rights have been removed, so it is worth checking with the local planning authority before you commit.

Do you need building regulations approval for a garage conversion?

Yes. Turning a garage into a habitable room is building work, so it must meet building regulations covering structure, insulation, damp, ventilation, fire safety and electrics, and the work needs to be signed off by building control.

Should the quote include VAT?

If you are VAT registered you must charge VAT, and the quote should make clear whether your figures include or exclude it. If you are not VAT registered, state that no VAT applies so the total on the quote is the total the client pays.

How long should a garage conversion quote stay valid?

Set a validity period on the quote, commonly around 30 days, so the price is not open ended while material and labour costs move. State the expiry date on the document and note that a fresh quote can be provided after it lapses.