Best Quoting Software for Roofers UK 2026: m² Rates, Scaffold, Materials and Deposit Invoicing
A roofing quote has more variables than almost any other trade job — roof pitch, tile type, felt specification, lead or GRP detailing, scaffold hire duration, and whether the guttering needs replacing while you are up there. Getting the quote right upfront prevents the most common dispute in roofing: the customer who claims the price should have included something it did not. The right quoting app helps you build thorough, professional quotes quickly, and issue deposits before you order a single tile.
This guide compares the best quoting apps for UK roofers in 2026 — looking at AI quoting, material templates, scaffold line items, deposit invoicing, and whether measurement tools actually work on UK pitched roofs.
What Roofers Need in Quoting Software
- Quick m² calculation with pitch factor adjustment
- Material line items: tile type and price per m², felt roll count, lead per linear metre, ridge, verge and hip tiles
- Scaffold hire line item (fixed cost or provisional sum)
- Labour: day rate or fixed price per phase
- Deposit invoice generated directly from the quote
- VAT toggle if VAT-registered
- Professional PDF output the customer can sign off
Quoting Software Comparison for UK Roofers 2026
| App | Cost | Free Plan | AI Quoting | Material Templates | Deposit Invoice | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleepless Tradesman | Free + Pro | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes | Manual |
| Tradify | £39–49/mo | No | No | Custom | Yes | Manual |
| ServiceM8 | £9–89/mo | No | No | Custom | Yes | Manual |
| Hover | £99/mo + per scan | No | No | No | No | 3D photo scan |
| Quotient | £19–49/mo | No | No | Custom | No | Manual |
Sleepless Tradesman
Sleepless Tradesman's AI quoting generates a draft from a plain-English job description — for example, "replace concrete interlocking tiles on a 3-bed semi, re-felt throughout, new lead to chimney stack, 2-week scaffold hire included" — and builds a structured quote you adjust for your actual material costs and scaffold quote. The free tier covers unlimited quotes, so sole trader roofers can use it without a monthly subscription. Deposit invoicing from the accepted quote is a single click.
The homeowner marketplace brings in roofing enquiries from customers actively looking for a roofer in their area, which means quoting tools are paired with a lead source. The current material template system is basic compared to Tradify — you add line items manually rather than pulling from a pre-built parts library — but this suits roofers whose material costs change with every merchant price update.
Tradify
Tradify lets you build custom quote templates with full material line items — tile type, quantity, unit cost and markup — which you can reuse across similar jobs and update as merchant prices change. Once a template is built for a standard re-roof, quoting becomes a case of adjusting quantities to the measured roof area and scaffold duration. The output is a professional PDF the customer can sign and return.
Deposit invoicing is supported — you can issue a percentage deposit invoice directly from an accepted quote. The main weaknesses are cost (£39–49/month per user) and the absence of AI quoting or any measurement tool, meaning you still need to measure manually and build the first template from scratch.
ServiceM8
ServiceM8 suits roofing businesses with field teams rather than sole traders. Operatives can quote from their phone on site, select from a parts and labour library, and send the quote to the customer for approval before the job is booked. Per-job pricing on the lower tiers keeps costs manageable for businesses that have a predictable job volume.
The cost rises quickly once job volume grows — the higher tiers are comparable to Tradify on a monthly basis. There is no AI quoting and no measurement tool. Like Tradify, it relies on manual measurement and a pre-built parts library that you maintain yourself.
Hover
Hover generates a 3D model of a roof from a smartphone walkround — the homeowner or the roofer walks around the property taking photos, and Hover produces a dimensioned roof model with area and pitch calculations. It was designed primarily for the US market where asphalt shingle roofs dominate and roof profiles are relatively simple.
On UK pitched tile roofs — particularly those with complex hip configurations, chimney stacks, dormers, valleys and multiple pitches — accuracy is less reliable. The quote output is not integrated with UK job management tools, so measurements need to be exported and re-entered elsewhere. At £99/month plus a per-scan fee, the cost is hard to justify for UK roofers when manual measurement with a tape and sketch remains standard and accurate.
Quotient
Quotient produces polished, professional quote documents that clients receive via email and can e-sign online. The quote builder supports custom line items, optional extras clients can add themselves, and images of products or areas of work. The acceptance flow — email, e-sign, instant notification — is cleaner than most trade apps.
The significant limitation for roofers is that Quotient is quote-only. There is no invoicing, no deposit invoice, no scheduling, no job management, and no measurement tool. You need a separate system for everything that happens after the quote is accepted, which creates admin overhead.
UK Roofing Material Costs to Build Into Your Template (2026)
The indicative prices below are a starting point — always check current merchant prices before finalising a quote, as tile prices in particular have risen with energy and transport costs.
| Material | Indicative Cost |
|---|---|
| Concrete tiles (supply only) | £8–14/m² |
| Clay plain tiles (supply only) | £12–25/m² |
| Natural slate (supply only) | £20–45/m² |
| Roofing felt (per roll) | £20–40/roll |
| Lead flashing (fitted, per linear metre) | £30–60/m |
Prices are indicative only. Check current merchant prices before quoting — they vary by region and supplier.
Verdict
For sole trader roofers in the UK, Sleepless Tradesman is the standout choice for getting started — the free tier with AI quoting removes the blank-page problem and gets a professional draft quote on screen in seconds. You adjust the materials and scaffold to match your actual costs, issue a deposit invoice from the accepted quote, and move on. There is no monthly fee on the free tier.
For roofing businesses that quote multiple similar jobs per week and want a reusable parts library, Tradify's custom templates pay back the monthly fee quickly. ServiceM8 suits businesses with multiple operatives quoting in the field. Hover remains a niche US-focused tool that does not translate well to UK pitched tile roofs. Quotient is polished but quote-only — you will need additional tools alongside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best quoting software for roofers in the UK?
For sole trader roofers wanting fast, professional quotes with an AI assist, Sleepless Tradesman's free tier generates quote drafts from a job description which you adjust for materials and scaffold. For roofers wanting custom material templates (tiles per m², felt rolls, lead per metre), Tradify and ServiceM8 let you build reusable quote templates. Hover offers 3D roof measurement from photos but is US-focused and less accurate on UK roof profiles — manual measurement remains standard.
How do roofers include scaffold costs in quotes?
Scaffold hire is typically listed as a separate line item in the quote — either as a fixed cost (e.g. £800 for 2-week scaffold hire) or as a provisional sum if the scaffold company has not quoted yet. Be explicit about whether scaffold hire is included in your price or priced separately. If you are arranging scaffold on the customer's behalf, add a markup (typically 10–20%). If the customer is arranging their own scaffold, state access requirements clearly in the quote. Always confirm scaffold dates before committing to a start date.
Should roofers take a deposit before starting work?
Yes — a deposit of 25–50% before ordering materials is standard practice for roofing work. Materials for a typical roof replacement (tiles, felt, lead flashing, ridge tiles) can cost £1,500–5,000+ before you have done a day's work. A deposit protects you against material costs if a customer cancels. Your quoting app should let you issue a deposit invoice from the quote in one click — Sleepless Tradesman, Tradify and ServiceM8 all support this. State deposit terms clearly in your quote.