Compare builder quotes side by side
Got two or three builder quotes for the same job and they are miles apart? Put the totals in, tick what each one covers, and this free tool shows which quotes are actually comparable, what each is missing, and which is the best value once VAT and the gaps are added in. It works for any home improvement quote, from a builder, roofer, window firm or kitchen fitter. No sign-up, and nothing is sent anywhere.
| Ticked = included in the price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | |||
| Labour | |||
| VAT | |||
| Waste removal / skip hire | |||
| Scaffolding / access equipment | |||
| Making good & clearing up | |||
| Guarantee / workmanship warranty |
How to compare builder quotes fairly
- Give every installer the same written spec, so their prices cover the same work. Most big differences come from scope, not from one being a rip-off.
- Check VAT first. A price without VAT can be 20% higher than it looks, though smaller firms under the threshold do not charge it.
- Ask who pays for waste removal, skip hire, scaffolding and making good. These are often left out of the headline figure.
- Compare the guarantee and the payment schedule, not just the total. Never pay a large deposit up front for the whole job.
Why builder quotes for the same job differ so much
Most of the gap between two builder quotes is scope, not greed. One price includes the plastering, the skip and the decorating, and another stops at the brickwork. One builder has priced the job after a proper look, and another has guessed. On our own figures, 21 of the 158 jobs we track span ten times or more from the simplest version to the most complex, which is why one quote tells you little until the spec is pinned down. Our quote variation study shows where prices swing most.
After scope, the usual causes are VAT, normally 20% on top where the firm is VAT-registered, the size of any provisional sums, the quality of the materials each builder has assumed, and how much each one wants the job. A builder with a full diary may simply price high.
What a builder's quote should tell you
- The work it covers, stage by stage or room by room, so you can see what is in and what is out.
- The materials and finishes it assumes, with brands or specifications where it matters, and who supplies what.
- Whether VAT is included.
- Any provisional sums: allowances for work that cannot be priced until the job starts, such as the state of a floor under old tiles. Ask how big they are, because they can move the final bill a long way.
- Who pays for waste removal, skip hire, scaffolding, making good and clearing up.
- Any building control charges, if the work needs sign-off. Our planning and building control fees page gives the usual ranges.
- A start date, how long the work should take, and a payment schedule with stage payments tied to finished work.
- The guarantee on the work, and how long the price stays valid.
When the cheapest builder quote is a warning sign
A quote far below the others usually means something is missing, a corner is being cut, or the bill will climb later through extras. Ask what it leaves out and check it line by line in the tool above. Pressure to sign today, a large deposit up front or a cash-only price are worse signs, and our red flags checker goes through them.
How many quotes to get
Three written quotes for the same written specification is the usual advice, and it is the advice at the foot of every one of our cost guides. With two you cannot tell which is the odd one out; with three you usually can. If you only have one so far, check it against our guide range with the quote check.
Common questions
How many builder quotes should I get?
Three written quotes, all for the same written specification. With two you cannot tell which is the odd one out, and with three you usually can. Ask each builder to price the same list of work so the totals can be compared.
Why are my builder quotes so different?
Usually because they are not pricing the same job. One may include VAT, waste removal, making good or decorating that another leaves out, or carry a provisional sum for work that cannot be priced yet. Tick what each quote covers in the comparison tool above to see the like-for-like difference.
Is the cheapest builder quote the best one?
Only if it covers the same work. A quote well below the others usually leaves something out, cuts a corner or climbs later through extras. Compare what is included, the payment schedule and the guarantee before you compare the totals.
What should a builder's quote include?
The work it covers, the materials it assumes, whether VAT is included, any provisional sums, waste removal and scaffolding, making good, a start date and duration, a payment schedule and the guarantee. If any of those is missing, ask for it in writing before you compare prices.
This is a free guidance tool to help you ask the right questions, not financial or legal advice. It does not see or store anything you type. For what a job should cost in the first place, use our cost guides.