A practical method for finding current material prices, recording your source, and building that into a quote you can defend.
By Jake Turner · Published 21 August 2026 · Updated 21 August 2026
Price context dated 21 August 2026. Source: FirstPrice editorial — no live merchant prices in this article.
Material pricing goes wrong when the number used in the quote is days or weeks old by the time the job starts. A current price takes two minutes to check — the discipline is to do it each time.
Check the price on the day you quote
Use the merchant's website, trade counter, or a current price list. If you have a trade account, log in and check the account price rather than the list price. Note the price you see, the supplier, and today's date.
Record the source and date
A price without a source is a guess. If the customer questions a line, you need to show where the number came from. The source and date also protect you when supplier prices change between quoting and ordering.
State the VAT basis
Make it clear in the quote whether prices are ex-VAT or include VAT. Most trade pricing is ex-VAT at point of supply. If you are VAT-registered, show VAT as a separate line so the customer can see what they are actually paying.
Questions about this guide
What if the supplier price changes after I quote?
If the price changes materially before you order, you need to decide whether to absorb it, renegotiate, or reissue the quote. A dated price record shows the customer the context — it does not automatically protect you, but it does make the conversation easier.
Do I need to show every material line in the quote?
You do not have to itemise every fixing and consumable, but the customer should be able to see the main materials and their basis. A lump-sum 'materials' line with no breakdown makes it harder to check the quote and harder to defend if there is a dispute.