Typical validity periods
| Type of work | Common validity | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Trades and repairs | 7–14 days | Material prices and diary availability move quickly |
| Services and consulting | 30 days | Enough time for the client to approve internally |
| Product supply | 14–30 days | Stock and supplier prices |
| Construction and projects | 30–90 days | Longer decision cycles; often with a price-adjustment clause |
| Exports and proforma invoices | 30 days, or tied to an exchange rate | Currency movement |
State a date, not a number of days
“Valid for 30 days” makes the customer count from a date they may not have. “Valid until 14 October 2026” is unambiguous. The quotation maker takes the number of days in the settings and prints the date.
What happens when a quote expires
You are no longer bound by it. If the customer accepts late you can honour it, reissue it at current prices with a new number, or extend it in writing. Extending is usually the right call for a good customer; reissuing is right when your costs have moved.
Need the quote now? The free quotation maker does the arithmetic and downloads a PDF. No signup.
Wording the validity clause
Three sentences cover almost every case. Pick the ones that apply and put them in the terms box:
- “Prices valid until 14 October 2026.” — the plain expiry.
- “Prices are based on supplier costs at the date of this quotation; if accepted after the valid-until date they may be revised.” — when materials are volatile.
- “Acceptance after the valid-until date is subject to our availability at the time.” — when your diary, not the price, is the constraint.
Extending or reissuing a quote
To extend, reply in writing: “QUO-0042 is extended to 31 October 2026 on the same terms.” Keep the number. To reissue, create a new quotation with a new number, reference the old one (“Replaces QUO-0042”) and state what changed. Never edit and resend the original under the same number — two documents with the same number and different prices is exactly what a dispute feeds on.
Shorter is not always better
A seven-day validity on a quote that needs board approval will simply expire, and the customer will have to ask for a new one. Match the period to how the customer decides, and use the deposit and the lead time — not the expiry — to encourage a quick yes.
Invoice & Quotation Generator for AndroidQuotations with a validity date, on your phone.
Install free
Questions
Is a quote valid if it has no expiry date?
It stays open for a “reasonable time”, which is exactly the kind of phrase that ends in a dispute. Always print a date.
Can I withdraw a quotation before it expires?
Generally yes, until it is accepted — tell the customer in writing. Once accepted, it is an agreement.
Should the validity date be on the invoice too?
No. The invoice carries a due date instead. Reference the quotation number on the invoice so the two match.
Keep reading
Make the document: invoice creator · receipt maker · quotation maker · waybill maker · Word templates