Estimates in Spain: How to Read a Presupuesto
A presupuesto records the work a business will do and what it will charge. The more specific it is, the less room there is for confusion later. Here is what to check before you accept it.
Last updated: 6 August 2026
Get the quote in writing
A price mentioned in passing is not an offer, it is a guess. Insist on a written presupuesto, even for small jobs. A business should be able to provide one without fuss.
Clarify beforehand whether the estimate itself costs anything: for work that needs an elaborate survey, some firms charge for the estimate but deduct it if you go ahead.
What it should contain
A useful presupuesto states: the work item by item, materials and labour separately, taxes, how long the offer is valid, and the payment schedule.
If it only shows a lump sum, ask for a breakdown. Without itemised positions you can neither price a change cleanly later, nor attribute a defect to a specific piece of work.
Look also at what is not in it. Travel, scaffolding, helpers or removing the rubble are not automatically included. Ask before you sign, not afterwards.
Taxes: the Canaries use IGIC
On the Canary Islands the Spanish mainland VAT (IVA) does not apply. Instead there is the Canarian IGIC. It has its own, generally lower rates that vary with the type of work.
Check whether the price includes IGIC (“IGIC incluido”) or not. A quote “excluding tax” is not automatically dubious, but it skews any comparison with other quotes if you fail to notice.
Deposit and payment schedule
A deposit on placing the order is customary, especially when the firm has to buy materials up front. The amount is negotiable and should be written into the presupuesto.
For larger jobs, a payment schedule tied to progress works well. The final instalment should only fall due after acceptance and after defects have been fixed. That gives everyone a reason to finish the remaining work.
Warning signs
Be careful when a firm will only work for cash without an invoice, wants the whole sum up front, or undercuts every other quote without having seen the property. Each of those can have an explanation on its own; together they form a pattern. Why the invoice matters so much is covered in our guide on hiring as a non-resident.
Comparing quotes
For larger jobs, get several quotes and compare the scope of work, not just the total: different material qualities and included extras explain most price differences.
Put changes during the work in a written supplement (presupuesto adicional). A conversation on site is not enough. How a larger project runs as a whole is covered in our guide to a reforma.
Frequently asked questions
Is a presupuesto binding?
Once both sides have accepted it, it is the basis of the job: what it says is what was agreed. Watch the validity period, and have any later change recorded as a written supplement.
What is the difference between a presupuesto and a factura?
The presupuesto is the offer before the work, the factura the invoice afterwards. You need both: the offer proves what was agreed, the invoice what was paid.
Do I have to pay for an estimate?
Often it is free. For work that needs an elaborate survey, some firms charge for preparing it and deduct the amount if you place the order. Ask beforehand and there are no surprises.
Does Spanish VAT apply on the Canary Islands?
No. The islands use the Canarian IGIC instead of mainland IVA, with its own rates. Check every quote to see whether it is included in the price.