iQuote
Start free

Free DJ Quote Template

Short answer

A DJ quote confirms the date, venue and set times, the equipment provided, the overtime rate, travel, and a booking retainer with clear cancellation terms.

For a DJ, the quote is really a booking. The date is the product: once you hold it for one client you cannot sell it to another. A DJ quote that confirms the date, times and venue, lists the equipment you bring, sets the overtime rate before the night and explains the retainer and cancellation terms turns a friendly enquiry into a firm booking, and saves a tense conversation at 11:55 pm about whether you can play one more hour.

Sample DJ quote

Copy the text, print it, or fill it in online with your own business details, prices and logo. The business and client below are made up.

Nightjar Sound & Light

[Street address, city]
[Phone] · [Email]

Quote

Number
Q-1042
Date
Oct 24, 2026
Valid until
Nov 23, 2026

Prepared for

Sophie and Marcus Delaney

[Client address]

Job

Wedding reception DJ, 6 pm to midnight

Example prices: replace with your own

DescriptionQtyAmount
DJ performance, evening reception (6 hours)1 event× $950.00$950.00
Ceremony sound system and wireless microphones1 set× $200.00$200.00
Dance floor lighting package1 package× $180.00$180.00
Custom first-dance edit and announcements1 item× $60.00$60.00
Early setup and sound check (before guests arrive)1 setup× $75.00$75.00
Travel beyond 30 miles40 mile× $0.75$30.00
Overtime after midnight (if requested on the night)1 hour× $150.00$150.00
Subtotal
$1,645.00
Total
$1,645.00
Deposit due on acceptance (30%)
$493.50
  • The date is reserved once the 30% booking retainer is paid.
  • Balance due 7 days before the event.
  • Overtime after midnight is $150 per hour, agreed on the night with the couple or the venue coordinator.
  • This quote is valid until Nov 23, 2026.

Accepted by: Date:

Fill it in online — free

What to include in a DJ quote

  • Date, venue and timings

    The event date, venue address, access time, setup time, start and finish of the performance, and any breaks.

  • What you provide

    Sound system, microphones, lighting, backup equipment and the music itself. If the venue has a sound limiter or in-house system, note it.

  • Overtime rate

    The price per extra hour, or half hour, if the client asks you to keep playing, agreed before the event rather than on the night.

  • Travel, parking and accommodation

    Mileage beyond your local area, parking or loading fees and, for late finishes far from home, accommodation.

  • Venue requirements

    Power supply near the setup area, a table or stage space, load-in access and any insurance or safety certificates the venue asks for.

  • Retainer and cancellation

    How much secures the date, whether it is refundable, and what is owed if the event is cancelled or moved at short notice.

How to write a DJ quote, step by step

  1. Check the date first

    Confirm you are free before quoting, and say in the quote that the date is held only once the retainer is paid.

  2. Get the timings and venue details

    Ask for the schedule of the day and the venue rules. Load-in times and sound limits affect your setup and price.

  3. Build the package

    Base performance, then add-ons such as ceremony sound, lighting or early setup, each as its own line.

  4. Set the overtime and travel

    State the overtime rate and the travel charge, so there are no decisions about money on the night.

  5. Write the booking terms

    Retainer, balance due date, cancellation and what happens if the venue changes.

  6. Give the quote a short expiry

    Popular dates get several enquiries. A quote valid for 7 or 14 days lets you offer the date to someone else if there is no answer.

Deposits and payment terms

A retainer on booking is standard for DJs because it holds a date you could otherwise sell. Many DJs make it non-refundable, or refundable only if the date can be rebooked; whatever you decide, write it on the quote so the client agrees to it when they accept.

Asking for the balance before the event, often a week or two ahead, is common and keeps money out of the conversation on the day. Overtime requested on the night can be invoiced afterwards at the rate on the quote.

Frequently asked questions

How much should a DJ booking retainer be?
Enough to cover the risk of turning other bookings away for that date. Many DJs ask for a fixed amount or a percentage of the fee; there is no single standard, so choose what fits your calendar and state it clearly.
Should a DJ quote include equipment?
Yes. List the sound, microphones and lighting you will bring, and anything the venue provides. It avoids double-booking equipment and explains the difference between packages.
What should my cancellation terms say?
What happens to the retainer, what is owed if the client cancels close to the date, and what you will do if you cannot perform, such as finding a replacement DJ. Check the rules where you work on consumer cancellations.
How do I handle requests to play longer on the night?
Put an overtime rate on the quote and agree who can authorise it on the night. Then add the extra time to the final invoice.

More templates and guides

Job done? Bill it with the matching invoiceFree DJ Invoice Template

Templates for related trades

Further reading

Send it as a branded quote your client accepts online

i-quote puts your logo on the quote, takes an optional deposit, and lets the client accept or decline online. One click turns the accepted quote into an invoice. The Free plan includes 3 quotes and 3 invoices a month.

Start freeSee how it works