Estonian procurement thresholds 2026: simplified and EU tenders
On 1 November 2026 Estonia's biggest procurement reform since 2017 came into force. Instead of three levels there are now two: the simplified procurement (lihthange) and the EU-level procedure. Here are the new thresholds on one page and what they mean for bidders.
Updated 11 November 2026 · 5 min read
What changed
The amending act (RT I, 03.07.2026, 3) removed the separate national procurement threshold. Since 1 November 2026 Estonia has two levels: the simplified procurement (lihthange), from the simplified threshold up to the EU threshold, where the buyer has more freedom to design the procedure; and the EU-level procedure above the EU threshold, which follows EU rules and is also published in TED.
The simplified thresholds rose from €30,000 to €50,000 for supplies and services and from €60,000 to €100,000 for works. Procedures started before 1 November 2026 finish under the old rules. All amounts are estimated values excluding VAT.
Thresholds for public buyers
| Type | Simplified from | EU-level from |
|---|---|---|
| Supplies and services | €50,000 | €140,000 (central government), €216,000 (other buyers) |
| Design contests | €100,000 | €140,000 or €216,000 |
| Works | €100,000 | €5,404,000 |
| Social services | €500,000 | €750,000 |
| Special services | €100,000 | €750,000 |
| Service concessions | €100,000 | €5,404,000 |
| Works concessions | €500,000 | €5,404,000 |
The EU thresholds apply for 2026–2027 and are revised by the European Commission every two years.
Utilities, defence and security
Utilities (energy, water, transport, postal services) use a simplified threshold of €100,000 for supplies and services and €500,000 for works; the EU thresholds are €432,000 and €5,404,000. The same simplified and EU thresholds apply to defence and security procurement.
Below the simplified threshold
Smaller purchases follow the buyer's internal procurement rules and need not appear in the procurement register. Buyers often ask a few companies directly or publish an invitation on their own website, so it pays to know the buyers and follow their annual procurement plans.
What it means for bidders
- Smaller contracts move faster. The Ministry of Finance expects the average national procedure to shorten from 87 to about 50 days, so it pays to hear about new tenders on the day they appear.
- Fewer small tenders in the register. With higher thresholds, part of the former register tenders now fall under buyers' internal rules.
- Keep your tax account clean throughout. Tax arrears can no longer be repeatedly fixed at the last minute during a procedure.
- The EU level is unchanged. Larger tenders are still in TED, in Estonia as well as in Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden.
The Hangete database currently holds 423 open Estonian tenders. See Public tenders in Estonia or all open tenders in five countries.
Sources: Estonian Ministry of Finance, “Procurement thresholds from 1 November 2026”; Riigi Teataja, RT I, 03.07.2026, 3.