---
title: "Edit estimate-level notes"
description: "The Notes block above Documentation Photos is for context that applies to the whole estimate — deposit terms, invoice terms, scheduling. Edit it directly or by chat."
group: "estimates"
lane: "how-to"
status: "published"
publishedAt: 2026-05-15
sidebarOrder: 110
tags: ["notes", "pdf", "how-to"]
relatedSlugs:
  - "estimates/add-note-to-line-item"
  - "estimates/export-pdf"
  - "account/company-info"
sidebarLabel: "Estimate notes"
---

Estimate-level notes show up on the cover area of the PDF, between the line items and the photos. Use them for anything that applies to the whole job, not a specific line.

## Where to find it

In the right pane, scroll to the **Estimate Notes** block (sits just above **Documentation Photos**).

## How to edit

Two paths:

- **Right pane** — click into the Estimate Notes block and type. Saves on blur.
- **Chat** — *"Add to estimate notes: '50% deposit required at start of work; balance due on completion.'"* Wave appends or overwrites depending on how you phrase it.

## What belongs in estimate notes

The canonical example, and the one most teams reach for first:

> **"50% deposit required at start of work."**

That kind of one-line, this-job-only context is exactly what Estimate Notes is for. Other patterns:

- **Payment terms** — *"50% deposit required at start of work. Net 30 invoice terms."*
- **Scheduling caveats** — *"Mitigation begins within 24 hours of approval. Drying typically 3 business days."*
- **Insurance handling** — *"Pricing matches carrier-approved rates; supplements will be submitted separately if needed."*
- **One-time customer context** — *"Customer requested all work scheduled around 9–5 weekdays."*

## What doesn't belong here

- **Anything that's always true for your company** — that's the **Customer Policies** field on [Company Info](/docs/account/company-info). Set it once and every estimate's PDF inherits it. "Net 30," "3% credit card surcharge," "50% deposit required" — these are Customer Policies, not Estimate Notes.
- **Anything specific to one line item** — that's a line-item note. See [Add a note to a line item](/docs/estimates/add-note-to-line-item).

The three-layer model:

| Layer | Where | Use for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Customer Policies** | Company Info | Standard language on every estimate |
| **Estimate Notes** | This block | One-time, this-estimate-only context |
| **Line-item notes** | Line-item kebab | One specific line's clarification |

## Related

- [Add a note to a line item](/docs/estimates/add-note-to-line-item) — for line-specific context
- [Company info](/docs/account/company-info) — for context that's always true
- [Export to PDF](/docs/estimates/export-pdf) — where the notes appear