How to Estimate Testing Time
“How long will testing take?” - It’s one of the most common — and uncomfortable — questions QA engineers face.
Sometimes we are asked during sprint planning. At other times, it is simply dropped into a meeting: "Can we test this by Friday?" And often, the answer is a mix of experience, intuition, and a little panic. But there is a better way.
This article presents a straightforward, practical approach to estimating testing work, ensuring your answers are informed and not just guesses. They are grounded in logic and context.
Step 1: Understand What You’re Estimating
Before you give a number, make sure you understand:
1️⃣ What exactly needs to be tested (new feature, bugfix, integration)?
2️⃣ What kind of testing is expected? (functional, UI, API, performance?)
3️⃣ Are you the only tester? Will it be shared?
4️⃣ Is it a prototype or a production-ready build?
Rushing into estimation without clarity is the fastest way to underestimate effort.
Step 2: Break It Down
Instead of trying to estimate one big chunk like “Test the new profile page”, split it into smaller parts:
▪️ Review requirements and design
▪️ Prepare test data
▪️ Write test cases
▪️ Execute tests on different platforms
▪️ Log and retest bugs
▪️ Run a final regression
Each of these has its own effort and risk. The more granular your breakdown, the more accurate your estimate will be.
Step 3: Consider These Key Variables
There’s no perfect formula, but the following factors can help adjust your expectations:
✅ Complexity: Is this a straightforward CRUD page or a multi-step flow with integrations?
✅ Dependencies: Are you waiting on devs, test environments, or back-end services?
✅ Stability: Is this code fresh or reused from past features?
✅ Risk: Is this a business-critical area (e.g., login, payment, data export)?
✅ Platform coverage: How many browsers/devices/languages do you need to test?
Add time buffers based on how these factors stack up.
Step 4: Don’t Forget the Hidden Work
Testing isn’t just test execution.
Make sure to account for:
✔️ Meetings and clarifications
✔️ Time to report and retest bugs
✔️ Exploratory testing sessions
✔️ Documentation or handoff tasks
✔️ Test case maintenance (if features change mid-sprint)
This is the work that gets left out — and leads to missed estimates.
Step 5: Add Room for Exploration
Yes, you need to be structured. But exploratory testing is where critical bugs often live.
Block time for:
⚙️ Ad-hoc testing of edge cases
⚙️ Testing with unexpected data
⚙️ Walking through flows from a new user’s perspective
It’s not “extra” — it’s where quality improves.
Step 6: Build Your Own Estimation Checklist
Here’s a simple version to start with:
✅ Have I reviewed the feature and scope?
✅ Have I listed out each testing activity (prep, execution, bugs, retest)?
✅ Have I included time for reviews or clarifications?
✅ Did I add margin for risk or blockers?
✅ Is exploratory testing included?
✅ Have I communicated assumptions?
Final Thoughts ✍
Testing estimation isn’t about giving perfect numbers.
It’s about showing your thought process, protecting the quality of work, and giving your team the visibility they need to plan realistically.
Better estimates reduce friction, help your team ship with more confidence, and give you the time to test what really matters.
So next time someone asks, “How long will it take?” — take a breath. Break it down.
And answer with clarity, not a gut feel.
💬 What usually breaks your estimates? Scope creep? Unplanned bugs?
Share your story — or your best tip — in the comments.
👉 Try it for free (14-day trial): https://bit.ly/3O8Exmn
👉 Follow us on LinkedIn for more testing insights!
#testingestimates #qa #testplanning #softwaretesting #manualtesting #testcaselab