Excavation quoting app.
Quotes in under 30 seconds
Describe the site cut, trenching or earthworks, and the AI prices machine hire, spoil removal and labour to current Australian & New Zealand rates. Quote on site and win the job.
Plans from A$29/mo · 7-day free trial, no credit card
What to put on the quote
- Lodge a free Before You Dig Australia enquiry before excavating; asset owners are encouraged to respond within 2 business daysSource: Before You Dig Australia, FAQs
- NSW: excavating work over $5,000 (labour and materials, incl GST) needs a contractor licence. Show the licence number in advertisingSource: NSW Government, categories of work; building trade advertisements
- QLD: your QBCC licence number, licensed business name and a statement that you are licensed under the QBCC Act go in all advertisingSource: QBCC, advertising
- Written contract: NSW over $5,000 incl GST · QLD over $3,300 incl GSTSource: NSW Government, contracts; QBCC, domestic building contracts
- For a tax invoice: the words "Tax invoice", your ABN, the date, the items, and GST shown or "Total price includes GST"; the buyer's identity or ABN too from $1,000Source: ATO, tax invoices (ato.gov.au)
Typical rates
Estimates to sanity-check your own pricing, not quotes.
| Item | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Earthworks contractor, per hour | $50–$110 typical; platform average $107.46/hr (2026) | ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) |
| Earthworks contractor, per day | Platform average $981.55/day (2026) | ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (estimate) |
| Earthworks priced by area | Platform average $62.89/m²; minimum $25/m² (2026) | ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (estimate) |
| Trenching and linear work | Platform average $70 per metre (2026) | ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (estimate) |
| Excavator hire, per hour (older) | Platform average $99.87/hr; range $66–$165/hr (2024) | ServiceSeeking earth moving and excavation costs, Jul 2024 (estimate, older) |
What's the best quoting app for excavation contractors in Australia?
Insta Quotes is an AI quoting app for Australian and New Zealand excavation contractors that turns a job description into an itemised, GST-ready quote in under 30 seconds; plans start at $29 AUD a month. A sample Insta Quotes excavation quote itemises the job into machine, cartage, level and labour lines.
How much does Insta Quotes cost for an excavation contractor in Australia?
Insta Quotes plans are billed in AUD: Tier 1 $29 AUD, Tier 2 $59 AUD and Tier 3 $99 AUD a month. New accounts start with a free 7-day trial, capped at 7 quotes in total rather than per month, with no credit card required, so excavation contractors in Australia can quote before paying.
How much should an excavation contractor charge per hour in Australia?
Earthworks contractor, per hour in Australia: $50–$110 typical; platform average $107.46/hr (2026) (source: ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated)). Rates vary by city and experience, so in Insta Quotes you set your own hourly rate and every quote is priced from it.
Is there an excavation quote template?
Yes. Our excavation quote template guide covers the layout, from machine hours and operator time to cartage, tip fees and exclusions. In Insta Quotes the AI fills that layout in from a description of the job, and every plan exports the finished quote as a PDF or Word document.
How do I quote an excavation job?
Describe the job, such as "site cut for a slab, 12 x 15 m, 600 mm deep, spoil off site", and the AI prices machine hours, operator, cartage and disposal as separate lines from your rate card. Adjust the hours to suit the ground and access, then email the quote with an accept link.
How should machine hire appear on an excavation quote?
As its own line with the machine, the hours and the rate, separate from cartage and disposal. That lets a client see why a bigger machine or harder ground changes the price. Insta Quotes prices excavator and bobcat time with operator per hour, and you set your own rates in the rate card.
What should I exclude on an excavation quote?
Anything you can't see before you dig. Rock, unsuitable fill, water and unmarked services all change the job, so name them in the exclusions box and say how they'll be charged if found. Insta Quotes prints exclusions in their own box on the PDF, and you can add a rock-breaking rate as an optional line.
What do clients look for in an earthmoving quote?
A clear breakdown. Clients comparing earthmoving quotes want to see the machine, hours, cartage and disposal rather than one number, and to know what's excluded. Insta Quotes itemises each of those, lets the client accept online, and turns the accepted quote into an invoice without retyping.
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