Is a quote legally binding in the US?

There's no federal rule making a quote automatically binding the way there is in the UK. In practice, a quote a client accepts in writing functions as an offer-and-acceptance agreement under ordinary contract principles — which is why the FTC recommends getting everything in writing regardless of whether it's strictly required.

Can I charge more than my quote once it's accepted?

In the UK, not without a valid reason like a change in scope — that's the point of a quote versus an estimate. If a job has no fixed price agreed at all, UK law defaults to requiring only a reasonable price, not an arbitrary one.

How long should a quote stay valid?

There's no legal requirement, but 15 to 30 days is common practice. Stating an expiry date on the quote itself protects you if material costs change before the client responds.

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Is a quote legally binding?

In the UK, yes — once your client accepts it, a quote becomes a binding agreement at that price. In the US, there's no equivalent statute, but a written, accepted quote still functions as a contract under ordinary offer-and-acceptance principles.

UK: quotes, estimates, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015

A quote is a fixed price the tradesperson commits to once the client accepts it — that's what separates it from an estimate, which is a non-binding best guess that can move within a reasonable range as the job unfolds. If a service is agreed without a price being fixed at all, UK law doesn't leave that open-ended: Section 51 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that “the contract is to be treated as including a term that the consumer must pay a reasonable price for the service, and no more,” with what counts as reasonable being “a question of fact” ( legislation.gov.uk — Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 51). In practice: send a quote, not a vague verbal number, if you want the price you stated to actually hold.

US: no binding-quote statute, but the FTC's advice still applies

The US has no federal equivalent to the UK's quote/estimate distinction. The FTC's consumer guidance on hiring contractors recommends a written estimate that includes a description of the work, materials, completion date, and price, and advises comparing multiple bids rather than defaulting to the cheapest one (FTC Consumer Advice — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam). Several states go further and require a written contract above a set dollar threshold — check your state's contractor licensing board if you work in a regulated trade.

Turning a quote into an invoice

Once the work is done, convert the accepted quote into an invoice with the same line items and pricing, plus your payment terms and due date. For the full breakdown of when to send which document, see invoice vs quote.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Once a client accepts a quote — in writing, by text, or by authorizing you to start — it becomes a binding agreement at the stated price. You generally can't charge more afterward without a good reason, such as the client requesting extra work.