An auto repair price list template is a ready-made sheet where you set one price for each common job you do, so every estimate goes out the same way instead of getting guessed at the counter. It lists your regular services with labor hours, labor rate, parts, and notes, so anyone on the team can quote a job fast and quote it right.
You know the scene. A customer calls asking what an oil change runs, you stop what you’re doing, do the math in your head, and quote low because you’re busy. The next guy at the counter quotes a different number for the same job. By the end of the month the margin is gone and nobody can say where it went.
A price list fixes that. Instead of pricing every job from scratch, you build the number once, write it down, and everyone quotes off the same sheet. Below you can grab a free template, then we’ll walk through how to build your own, how menu pricing helps, and when a fixed price stops making sense.
📥 Auto Repair Price List Template (Excel / Google Sheets)
Free download, no email required. Comes with 12 common jobs already laid out with labor hours, labor rate, parts, and notes. Just plug in your own numbers.
Download the template »
The short version
- An auto repair price list template is a menu of your common jobs with a set price for each, so everyone quotes the same way.
- Menu pricing builds trust and speeds up the counter: the customer gets a straight answer, and you protect your margin.
- Build each price from your labor rate × labor hours + parts, then round to a clean number.
- Keep parts-heavy or model-specific jobs flexible, and price the repeatable stuff (oil changes, rotations, diagnostics) off the menu.
- Update the list every 3 to 6 months, and right away when a part jumps in cost.
- The free template comes with 12 jobs pre-filled and ready to edit.
What is an auto repair price list template
A price list is the sheet with a price for each service your shop does: oil change, brake job, alignment, diagnostic, and so on. Instead of building every quote from scratch, you look at the sheet and you already have the number.
In practice it does two jobs at once. It standardizes the counter, so every writer quotes the same price for the same work, and it protects your margin, because the price was worked out ahead of time instead of guessed under pressure.
Some people call this menu pricing, and that name gets at why it works. A customer who sees a clear price for a common job feels the way they do when they read a menu at a restaurant: no surprises, a straight number they can say yes to. That clarity is one of the easiest ways to win trust before the car even comes in.
A price list is not the same as figuring out your labor rate. The rate is the hourly number underneath everything; the price list is the finished menu built on top of it. If you haven’t nailed down your hourly number yet, work through the effective labor rate calculator first, because that rate is what holds the whole list up.
How to build your auto repair price list
The free template is ready to edit, but here’s how to make it your own. This is the same logic whether you use the sheet or build one from scratch.
1. List the jobs you do most
Start with your bread and butter: oil and filter change, tire rotation, brake pads, alignment, battery, diagnostic scan, coolant flush. Cover the 12 to 20 jobs that make up most of your ticket count and you’ve covered the counter.
2. Set the labor hours for each job
Decide how long each job actually takes in your shop. Be honest about your own bays and your own crew, not a number from a book. This labor time is what turns into the labor dollars, so it’s the piece worth getting right.
3. Multiply by your labor rate
Take your hourly rate and multiply it by the hours for each job. That gives you the labor portion. Say brake pads take 1.2 hours in your shop: multiply that by your rate, and the sheet does the math the second you type the hours in. Then round to a clean, easy-to-quote number.
4. Add parts, and decide how you price them
For jobs where the part barely changes, you can roll a typical part into the price. For jobs where the part swings a lot by vehicle, keep parts as a separate line so the menu price stays honest. How much you add on top of the part cost is its own decision, and it’s worth understanding the difference between markup and margin in auto repair pricing before you set it, because a part priced at a 40% markup and a part priced at a 40% margin land on two different dollar amounts.
5. Write a note on every line
One short note per row saves a lot of arguments later: “part sold separately,” “price varies by engine,” “includes fluid,” “car and light truck only.” The note is what keeps a menu price from turning into a fight when the job isn’t as standard as it looked.
Once you’ve got the sheet built, use it as the base for every quote. When you’re ready to hand a real number to the customer, drop those prices into a clean auto repair estimate template so it goes out looking professional.
An example layout (yours will differ)
Here’s the shape of a shop labor rate list. These are illustrative jobs and typical labor times, not standard prices. Your rate, your region, and your vehicle mix decide the actual dollars.
| Service | Typical labor time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and filter change | ~0.5 hr | Oil and filter separate |
| Tire rotation | ~0.5 hr | Often bundled with service |
| Front brake pads | ~1.0–1.5 hr | Pads separate; varies by vehicle |
| Wheel alignment | ~1.0 hr | Per vehicle |
| Battery replacement | ~0.3–0.5 hr | Battery separate |
| Diagnostic scan | ~1.0 hr | Applied to repair if approved |
| Coolant flush | ~1.0 hr | Fluid included |
| Serpentine belt | ~0.5–1.0 hr | Belt separate |
The template above ships with rows like these already built, so you fill in your own numbers instead of starting from a blank page.
Fixed price or price it case by case
Not every job belongs on a fixed menu. An oil change is close to the same every time, so a set price works great. An engine job depends on what’s actually wrong, so a flat menu number would either scare people off or cost you money.
Use a fixed price for the repeatable, predictable work: maintenance, brakes, diagnostics, rotations, batteries. That’s where menu pricing does the most good, because it’s the stuff customers call around on and compare. Keep the big, variable jobs off the menu and quote them from an inspection. The price list handles the volume; your judgment handles the rest.
How often to update the price list
A price list is not a build-it-once-and-forget-it thing. Parts go up, oil goes up, wages go up. If your list is the same as it was last year, you’re quoting on last year’s costs and eating the difference.
- Review every 3 to 6 months. Block off an afternoon and check that every price still covers cost and margin.
- Update on the spot when a part jumps. If a supplier hikes a common part, don’t wait for the scheduled review; fix that line now.
- Redo the list when your labor rate changes. If you recalculated your hourly rate, the whole sheet moves with it.
- Date the version. Put the last-updated date on the sheet so nobody quotes off an expired price.
Frequently asked questions
What is menu pricing for auto repair?
Menu pricing means you set one clear price for each common job, like a restaurant menu, instead of quoting from scratch every time. It speeds up the counter and gives customers a straight answer they can trust.
How do I set prices for common jobs?
Start from your labor rate, multiply it by how long the job takes in your shop, add parts, and round to a clean number. Do this once per job and put it on your price list so everyone quotes the same.
Should every service be on a fixed price list?
No. Put the repeatable, predictable jobs on the list: oil changes, brakes, rotations, diagnostics. Keep big variable repairs, like engine and transmission work, off the menu and quote them from an inspection instead.
How often should I update my service price list?
Review it every 3 to 6 months, and update a line right away if a part cost jumps or you change your labor rate. Always keep the last-updated date on the sheet.
Bottom line
A price list isn’t about having a pretty spreadsheet. It’s about pricing the same job the same way every time, so your margin doesn’t leak out one guessed quote at a time. Grab the free template, plug in your labor rate and hours, and you’ll have a working menu by the end of the day.
When the sheet starts feeling like a lot to keep in sync, that’s usually the sign you’re ready to move off spreadsheets. Garage lets you build estimates and invoices in one system, so you’re not re-typing the same numbers from a separate sheet every time.
