How to Write a Scope of Work for a Contractor Estimate (With Example)

How to write a scope of work

The scope is the part of the estimate you'll point to when someone says "I thought that was included."

Published November 4, 2026 · by Settle

Quick answer

A scope of work says exactly what you'll do, what you won't, who supplies the materials, what you're assuming about the site, and what happens if you find something you couldn't see. For a small job it fits in a few short lines on the estimate. Write it in plain words the customer will read, name specific items instead of categories ("replace the toilet wax ring and supply lines," not "plumbing work"), and put the exclusions in writing every time.

The five parts

Included work. Each task, specific enough that someone else could check it was done. "Remove and dispose of existing vanity. Install customer-supplied 36-inch vanity and faucet. Connect to existing supply and drain."
Exclusions. What a reasonable customer might assume is included but isn't. "Does not include wall repair or painting behind the old vanity."
Materials. Who buys what, and whether your price includes it. "Customer supplies vanity, top and faucet. Contractor supplies supply lines, P-trap and fittings."
Assumptions. What has to be true for the price to hold. "Assumes existing shutoff valves work and drain is in usable condition."
Changes. What happens if an assumption is wrong. "If valves or drain need replacement, we'll stop, show you, and price it before continuing."

A worked example: bathroom vanity swap

Scope of work Remove and dispose of the existing 30" vanity, top and faucet. Install customer-supplied 36" vanity, top and faucet. Connect to existing supply and drain with new supply lines and P-trap. Caulk top to wall and test for leaks. Not included Drywall repair, paint or flooring behind or under the old vanity. Moving the supply or drain lines. Materials Customer supplies vanity, top and faucet. Contractor supplies supply lines, P-trap, fittings and caulk. Assumptions Existing shutoff valves close fully. Drain line is in usable condition. Changes If valves, drain or subfloor need work, we stop, show you, and price it in writing before continuing.

That's about 120 words. It takes a minute to read, and it answers most of the questions that turn into arguments.

Common mistakes

Writing categories instead of tasks. "Electrical work" could mean anything. "Replace two outlets in the kitchen with GFCI outlets" can only mean one thing.
Leaving out the exclusions. The most common dispute is over something neither side mentioned. If you're not patching the drywall, say so.
Not saying who supplies materials. A customer who bought the faucet expects a lower price. A customer who didn't may expect you to bring one.
No plan for surprises. If you open a wall and find rot, the scope should already say what happens next. That's what turns a fight into a change order.
Making it too long. For a small job, a page of legal language gets skipped. Short, plain lines get read.

Scope of work in Settle

When you describe a job out loud, Settle turns it into separate lines with quantities and prices, and you can add notes for exclusions and assumptions. Everything shows on the estimate and the PDF the customer approves, so the scope is part of what they said yes to.

What should a scope of work include?

The work you'll do, what isn't included, who supplies materials, what you're assuming about the site, and what happens if something unexpected turns up.

Is a scope of work the same as an estimate?

The scope describes the work; the estimate puts prices on it. On a small job they're usually one document: line items for the price, and a few lines of scope, exclusions and assumptions underneath.

How detailed should a scope of work be?

Detailed enough that someone else could check whether each item was done. For a small residential job that's usually a short list of tasks plus a few lines of exclusions and assumptions.

What if the job changes after the customer signs?

Write a change order: what changed, why, the price difference and the new total, signed before you do the extra work.

Say the job out loud and Settle writes the lines for you.

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