Check the maximum deposit a contractor can lawfully ask for under your state's cap, and how much is left for progress payments.
Every mainland state caps the deposit a builder can take on residential building work above certain values. This check multiplies the contract price by the cap you enter and shows what remains for progress payments.
Caps to try (October 2026, confirm with the regulator): NSW 10% of the contract price. Victoria 5% where the contract price is $20,000 or more and 10% where it is less. Queensland 20% for contracts of $3,300 or less, 10% for $3,301 to $19,999 and 5% for $20,000 or more. Western Australia 6.5% for contracts covered by the Home Building Contracts Act ($7,500 to $500,000). For South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory check the regulator listed in the deposit guide.
How it works. Maximum deposit = contract price × cap ÷ 100. Balance = contract price − maximum deposit.
Worked example (illustrative). A $32,000 re-roof in NSW: 32,000 × 10% = $3,200 maximum deposit, leaving $28,800 for progress and final payments. The same job in Queensland: 32,000 × 5% = $1,600.
Limits. Some states allow higher deposits for off-site custom work. A cap is a maximum, not a target. Where home warranty insurance is required, do not pay anything until you have the certificate of cover.
Worked Quotes and Checklists
Maximum deposits for re-roofing and cladding contracts in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA, how to set progress payments, and what a written roofing contract must include.
