What a powder coating estimate is for
Powder coating buyers usually see one number and wonder why it beats a rattle can by so much. A quote that names each part, shows blasting as its own step, counts the clear coat as a second trip through the oven and lists the setup fee explains the price before they ask. It also records the color code and finish they picked, which settles any question at pickup.
What to put on a powder coating estimate
- Each part or group of parts, with a count.
- Color name or code, gloss level and texture.
- Blasting, stripping or masking needed first.
- Extra coats such as clear or a candy stage.
- Oven batches when you show them.
- Setup fee, minimum charge and any rush.
- Drop off and pickup or shipping details.
A worked example
A customer drops off four aluminum wheels for gloss black with a clear coat. Tires are already off.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media blasting, wheel | 4 | part | Your price |
| Powder coat, gloss black, wheel | 4 | part | Your price |
| Clear coat | 4 | part | Your price |
| Masking and plugging, lug seats and hub bore | 4 | part | Your price |
| Oven cure | 2 | batch | Your price |
| Setup fee | 1 | each | Your price |
Two batches, because the clear goes on after the base coat cures. Showing both cure cycles makes the clear coat line make sense.
Line items powder coaters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Powder coat, one color | part | Name the part and the color code, gloss or texture. |
| Powder coat, by surface area | sq ft | For panels, gates and fence sections; count both faces. |
| Clear coat or second stage | part | Each extra trip through the booth and the oven. |
| Wheel, coat and finish | part | Rim size, color, and whether tires come off here. |
| Media blasting | part | Down to bare metal; say if heavy rust or old paint. |
| Chemical strip or burn-off | part | For parts with old powder or plating. |
| Masking and plugging | part | Threads, bearing seats and ground points kept bare. |
| Oven cure | batch | One cure cycle; parts that fit together share it. |
| Outgassing pre-bake | batch | Castings that trap oil or air, baked before coating. |
| Setup fee | each | Racking, color change and masking prep, once per order. |
| Minimum charge | each | Brings a small order up to the shop minimum. |
| Rush fee | each | When the order jumps the queue. |
Terms and deposit language for powder coating
- Deposit. Custom colors are ordered for the job and leftover powder rarely sells, so ask for a deposit before ordering a special color.
- Payment. Balance due at pickup, or before the parts ship.
- Warranty. You stand behind adhesion and finish on parts you prepped. Damage from impacts, chemicals, or prep the customer did themselves is not covered.
- Parts left more than a set number of days after the ready notice may be charged storage.
- Hidden cracks, porosity or filler found during blasting are reported before coating goes on.
- Color on screen and color chips can differ from the cured finish; a test panel is available on request.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for powder coating
The same estimate for other trades: 3d printing, appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, sign shop, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, welding, window cleaning, window and door.
More for powder coaters: how powder coaters run on Koira.
Shane Allen writes Koira's guides for trade business owners. How we check our numbers.