How much deposit is normal for a builder?

There is no legal standard. MyBuilder describes 5% to 20% of the job value as fairly common, Checkatrade suggests extra caution above 10%, and Citizens Advice says not to agree to more than 25%. The amount matters less than what it covers and whether the rest is paid in stages.

Should I pay a builder a deposit for materials?

If the deposit is for materials, nidirect suggests asking to see the supplier’s invoice and paying that amount with a receipt, and Citizens Advice suggests buying the materials yourself so you own them whatever happens. Either turns an open deposit into a payment for something specific.

Is it safe to pay a builder a deposit by bank transfer?

A bank transfer is traceable, which Citizens Advice prefers to cash, but it carries no chargeback or Section 75 protection, so there is no way to reverse it. Paying by card where the builder accepts it, keeping any deposit small, and funding each later stage only when it is about to start all reduce what is exposed at any one time.

Free tool

Deposit checker

Your builder has asked for a deposit. Enter the quote total and the amount to see how it compares with published UK guidance and what you could offer instead.

Total quote

Deposit asked for

What the builder says it is for

£4,000 is 10% of the total

Within the most cautious published guidance

Checkatrade suggests extra caution above 10% of the project value, and MyBuilder describes 5% to 20% as fairly common. This request sits inside every benchmark we could find.

Why a builder may ask

Materials are often ordered weeks before a start date, scaffolding and skips are booked in advance, and many builders have been left unpaid before. A deposit request is normal. The size, and what it covers, are the things to agree in writing.

What you can offer instead

Pay the supplier’s invoice. nidirect suggests asking to see the builder’s supplier invoice and paying that amount, with a receipt. Citizens Advice suggests buying the materials yourself, so you own them whatever happens.
Agree stages. Citizens Advice recommends paying in stages, with the points in the work when payments are due written down. See worked schedules by project type.
Pay by card where you can. Citizens Advice notes that a credit card payment can bring Section 75 protection on work costing over £100 and up to £30,000.
Fund each stage before it starts. With milestone-based payment protection, you pay for a stage before it begins, the money is held securely, and it is released when you approve the finished stage. Your builder sees the money is there without holding a deposit. How it works.

A message you could send

Thanks for the quote. Before we agree the deposit of £4,000 on the £40,000 total, could we set the payments up a little differently? If the deposit is for materials, could you send me the supplier’s invoice so I can pay that amount directly, or I’m happy to buy them myself. For the rest, I’d like to agree a short stage schedule with a payment for each stage once it’s done. I’ve put a draft together and can send it over. Would that work for you?

Frequently asked questions

: There is no legal standard. MyBuilder describes 5% to 20% of the job value as fairly common, Checkatrade suggests extra caution above 10%, and Citizens Advice says not to agree to more than 25%. The amount matters less than what it covers and whether the rest is paid in stages.
: If the deposit is for materials, nidirect suggests asking to see the supplier’s invoice and paying that amount with a receipt, and Citizens Advice suggests buying the materials yourself so you own them whatever happens. Either turns an open deposit into a payment for something specific.
: A bank transfer is traceable, which Citizens Advice prefers to cash, but it carries no chargeback or Section 75 protection, so there is no way to reverse it. Paying by card where the builder accepts it, keeping any deposit small, and funding each later stage only when it is about to start all reduce what is exposed at any one time.

Skip the deposit conversation altogether.

Each stage funded before it starts, held securely, released when the work is approved. Homeowners, send your builder a link. Builders, sign up and invite your first client.

Send your builder a link Sign up your business