How Long Should a Quotation Be Valid?

A price with no end date can come back to haunt you. A client may accept a months-old quotation after your material costs have risen. A validity period protects you and also gives the client a reason to decide.

Choosing a period

There is no single correct length. Base it on how quickly your costs change:

• 7 to 14 days: prices that move quickly, such as some imported goods, metals or fuel-dependent work.
• 30 days: a common default for many trades and services.
• 60 to 90 days: larger projects with longer decision times, if your costs are stable enough.

If your supplier only guarantees a price for two weeks, your quotation shouldn't promise longer than that without a margin to cover the risk.

How to state it

Use an actual date rather than making the client work it out. "Valid until 5 December" is clearer than "valid for 30 days from the date above".

When a quotation expires

Expired does not have to mean lost. Contact the client, check your current costs, and either confirm the same price or send an updated quotation. A quick message can restart a stalled conversation: "Your quotation expired last week. Would you like me to refresh it?"

Using the date to encourage a decision

A validity date gives you a natural reason to follow up. A few days beforehand, you could write: "Just a reminder that your price is held until Friday. Let me know if you'd like to go ahead."

Keep it honest. Don't invent false urgency, as clients soon notice when a "final deadline" keeps moving.

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