How to compare two kitchen quotes fairly

Before comparing, make a copy of each quote and remove any personal or payment information you do not want to share. Check that both are based on the same plan, measurements and appliance positions. If one designer has allowed for a different layout, a different number of units or a different finish, it is not yet a like-for-like comparison.

1. Start with the cabinetry schedule

Count the cabinets, not just the doors. Compare the number and size of base units, wall units, tall units, drawer packs, corner solutions, sink units and any open shelving. Look for service voids, plinths, cornice, pelmets and lighting profiles too.

Then check what the quote says about the cabinet construction and fronts. SJB quotes should set out the specified MFC cabinets, fillers and the hinges and drawer system included in that order. Door material and cabinet material are separate questions: a painted timber frame with a veneered centre panel is not the same description as a solid-wood door throughout. Ask each supplier to identify the material, finish and construction rather than relying on a range name such as Shaker.

2. Look for the details that make a kitchen fit

Fillers and end panels are easy to miss because they are not usually the most eye-catching items in a design. Check whether the quote includes finished panels at exposed sides, scribes to walls, cover panels around appliances and the correct filler widths at corners or beside tall housings. Also check decorative ends, brackets and any panels needed to finish an island.

Hardware deserves its own line. Compare hinge type, drawer runners, drawer box specification, soft-close provision, pull-outs, waste storage and internal accessories. “Hardware included” is too vague to make a reliable comparison; the quantity and model or specification should be clear.

For a wider explanation of carcasses, doors and hardware, see SJB’s kitchen materials guide.

3. Separate worktops, sinks and appliances

Worktops can change the total substantially. Identify the material, thickness, edge detail, upstands or splashbacks, joints, cut-outs, drainer grooves and templating. Check whether the quote includes installation and any special handling. A worktop allowance is not the same as a selected worktop with a confirmed fabrication scope.

List every appliance by make and model, or mark it clearly as an allowance. Compare ovens, hobs, extractors, refrigeration, dishwashers, microwaves, wine storage and laundry appliances on the same basis. Also check whether sinks, taps, waste kits and boiling-water or filtration equipment are included. The SJB worktop guide explains why material and fabrication details matter.

4. Check delivery, fitting and siteworks

Read the responsibility section as carefully as the product list. Does the total include delivery to your postcode, unloading, room protection, installation, final adjustments and removal of packaging? If fitting is separate, ask who measures, who coordinates the fitter and what happens if the site is not ready.

Siteworks may sit outside both quotes: electrical alterations, plumbing, gas work, plastering, flooring, decorating, structural changes, building control and waste removal are common examples. Make a separate list for these items and confirm who is arranging each one. Do not compare a supply-only quote with a managed installation package without showing that difference clearly.

5. Make VAT and exclusions visible

Check whether each line and the final total are inclusive or exclusive of VAT. Confirm whether delivery, fitting, appliances and siteworks use the same VAT basis. A lower-looking subtotal can simply have more items or tax treatment outside the displayed figure.

Ask for exclusions in writing. Missing panels, handles, lighting, sinks, taps, appliance connection, removal of the old kitchen and making-good can all appear later as extra decisions. Also note deposits, staged payments, changes after approval, lead-time assumptions and what happens if an appliance model becomes unavailable.

Use an itemised comparison, not a winner-takes-all total

A simple table with columns for “quote A”, “quote B” and “question” is often enough. Mark each row as included, excluded, provisional, different or unclear. Only compare totals after the unclear rows have been resolved. If a supplier will not itemise a significant allowance, record that as an open question rather than guessing what it covers.

SJB’s painted timber kitchen collection brings together selected styles and practical design considerations, but the quote remains the authority for the exact order specification. For broad buying guidance, you can also browse the kitchen comparisons and buying guides.

Upload an existing quote for a clearer conversation

If you already have a plan or quote, you can begin your kitchen journey with SJB and upload it to the planner. Share only what you are comfortable sharing and redact personal details. The useful outcome is an itemised discussion of specification and inclusions—not a promise of savings or a shortcut around checking the detail.

A note on independent references

Construction and service descriptions vary between suppliers, so read the original specification when comparing a named range. For example, Harvey Jones explains its approach to in-frame design in its SJB’s Harvey Jones alternative guide, while Tom Howley sets out exclusions in its SJB’s Tom Howley alternative guide. These links are provided for reference only; SJB is not affiliated with either company, and their descriptions are not a like-for-like claim about SJB products.