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True Trade Path

Comparison · Free

Contractor Quote Comparison

Compare two to four contractor bids side by side — price, terms, and what the low bid is probably missing.

The job

Pick the job all three quotes are for. Benchmarks adjust for your metro.

Bid 1
$
Terms checklist for Contractor A

Scope, schedule and changes

Credentials and warranty

Payment and protection

Bid 2
$
Terms checklist for Contractor B

Scope, schedule and changes

Credentials and warranty

Payment and protection

Bid 3
$
Terms checklist for Contractor C

Scope, schedule and changes

Credentials and warranty

Payment and protection

Local benchmark in Atlanta

$3,473

Expected range $1,786–$8,930 for upgrade the service panel to 200 a.
Bid spread21.4% between lowest and highest
$900
RecommendedBest combined price and terms score
Contractor A
Side-by-side price comparison
BidPricevs typicalPrice positionTerms scoreCombined
Contractor A$4,200+20.9%Within range100 / 10087 / 100
Contractor B$5,100+46.8%Within range61 / 10048 / 100
Contractor C$4,800+38.2%Within range100 / 10077 / 100
Terms gap — what the lowest bid is probably missing
TermContractor AContractor BContractor C
Explicit list of exclusions✓—✓
Written change-order procedure✓—✓
Parts or manufacturer warranty term stated✓—✓
Proof of workers' compensation✓—✓
Progress payments tied to milestones✓—✓
Final payment due after inspection✓—✓
Lien waiver provision✓—✓

Verify every contractor independently

This tool compares paperwork and price against benchmarks. Look up each license on your state board site and have insurance certificates sent by the agent, not the contractor.

What this assumes

  • Benchmarks reflect typical U.S. residential pricing for standard access and materials.
  • Terms scoring uses common consumer-protection practice, not the law of any specific state.
  • You enter what each quote actually contains — the tool does not read PDFs.

Important

Price and paperwork are only part of the decision. Verify each contractor's license on your state board site and confirm insurance certificates directly from the agent.

Understanding the result

Normalize scope before you compare price

A $6,500 HVAC quote that overlays existing equipment is not cheaper than an $8,000 quote that includes tear-off, disposal, permit, and a 10-year labor warranty. List what each bid includes — materials, permits, disposal, warranty — before treating the lowest number as the winner.

The spread between bids tells a story

When three bids cluster within 15% and one sits 30% below, the low bid usually excluded something the others included. When all four bids scatter across a 40% range, you may be comparing different scopes, different equipment tiers, or contractors at different experience levels.

Terms score matters as much as dollars

A complete quote names materials, states who pulls the permit, lists exclusions, defines change orders, prints the license number, and ties payments to milestones. A bid that scores 45 out of 100 on terms is a negotiation document, not a contract ready to sign.

The best value is rarely the cheapest

Weight price at 40% and terms at 60% in this tool because residential disputes start with missing scope and bad payment terms, not with a 5% price difference. A mid-priced bid with complete terms usually beats a low bid that will generate change orders.

How the math works

You enter two to four bids with the same unit (total dollars or price per square/linear foot). The tool normalizes totals, computes spread (high vs low), median, and percent difference, then highlights when low bidders likely omitted scope or high bidders added warranty or premium materials.

Where to find each input

  • Bid totals — bottom-line numbers after tax if tax is included in the proposal
  • Scope notes — tear-off vs overlay, permit included, warranty years
  • Unit counts — squares of roofing, linear feet of fence, tonnage of HVAC
  • Allowance caps — dollar limits for fixtures, tile, or cabinets

Worked examples

Three roofing bids on 22 squares

Bid A $9,800 overlay; Bid B $11,200 tear-off + synthetic; Bid C $13,900 tear-off + ice barrier + 10-year labor warranty.

Spread 42% low to high. Median $11,200. Tool flags A as non-comparable (overlay vs tear-off). Normalized comparison should use B vs C only — $2,700 gap may be warranty and ice barrier.

Two HVAC quotes, same tonnage

Both 3-ton heat pump: $6,400 vs $7,900. Low bid excludes line set; high includes line set, permit, and 2-year labor.

22% spread. After adding ~$800–$1,200 for line set and permit to the low bid, effective gap shrinks — low bid may not be cheaper.

Fence installation per linear foot

120 lf: $28/lf vs $34/lf vs $31/lf. All include posts and gates.

Median $31/lf ($3,720 total). Spread 21%. Middle bid is anchor; verify post size and panel height match on all three.

What this does not include

  • Automated scope extraction from PDFs
  • Contractor background checks
  • Time-value of schedule differences beyond your notes
  • Financing or rebate math

Regional adjustment

Compare bids from the same metro when possible. A low bid from a distant crew with travel charges omitted will look artificially cheap against local firms. Adjust expectations using your city’s cost index on related cost guides.

Accuracy and references

Spread thresholds follow remodeling industry guidance (Consumer Reports, NAHB) that gaps above ~30% usually indicate scope mismatch, not just margin. Square and tonnage benchmarks tie to True Trade Path cost guide medians.

Counterpart bridge

Pricing this on the contractor side?

This page interprets quotes and budgets from the buyer’s chair. The matching pro tool uses the same scope logic to build a defensible price.

Open Job Pricing Calculator

For trade owners

Pricing this job as a contractor?

Homeowners see national ranges on this page. If you are building the estimate, use the same scope assumptions — then price to burdened labor, overhead recovery and a real margin.

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Find a licensed pro

When you are ready to hire for contractor quote comparison, start with licence verification — not with whoever answered first.

No paid placement

Rankings are never sold. Order reflects verification depth and relevance, not payment.
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Verify any licence yourself before signing: state licensing hub.

Common questions

How do I compare three contractor bids?
Line up scope first: same materials, same inclusions, same warranty. Then compare price. Use a checklist for permit responsibility, exclusions, deposit terms, and insurance. A bid 30% below the others usually left something out.
Should I always pick the lowest bid?
No. The lowest residential bid is frequently the one missing permits, insurance, disposal, or scope that becomes a change order. Pick the bid with complete terms inside a reasonable price range, then verify the license.
How much spread is normal between contractor quotes?
For identical written scope, bids usually cluster within 15 to 25%. A spread above 30% means you are likely comparing different scopes, equipment tiers, or one bid that excluded major items.
What if all my bids are above the typical range?
Ask each contractor what drives the premium — difficult access, code upgrades, premium materials, or current backlog. If none can explain it specifically, get a fourth quote. High prices with vague scope are a red flag.
How many quotes should I get?
Three is standard for any job above a few hundred dollars. Two leaves you without a benchmark; more than four rarely changes the answer and delays the work.
How many bids should I compare?
Three is standard for jobs over a few hundred dollars. Comparing two is acceptable for small repairs if scope is identical.
Should I pick the median bid?
Not automatically. Use median as anchor after scopes match. The best bid is complete scope, fair terms, and verified license — not necessarily the middle number.
What if the lowest bid is 40% below others?
Treat as a scope or insurance red flag until the bidder lists what others include. Overlay vs tear-off alone can explain 30%+ spreads on roofs.
Do I include tax in totals?
Be consistent. If one quote is pre-tax and another includes tax, normalize before comparing.
Can I compare hourly vs fixed bids?
Only with caution. Convert time-and-materials to an estimated cap or compare only fixed-price bids for the same scope.
What about allowances?
Normalize allowance caps and who selects finishes. A low bid with a $500 fixture allowance vs $2,000 elsewhere is not apples-to-apples.
Should warranty years match?
Yes for roofing and HVAC labor warranties. Material warranties follow manufacturer; labor warranty length should be noted on each bid.
How do I compare payment terms?
Note deposit % on each bid. A cheaper price with 50% upfront may be worse risk than a median price with 15% deposit.
Is verbal pricing comparable?
No. Compare written quotes with the same date and scope. Verbal numbers are not binding.
When is spread too small to matter?
Under 10% on identical scope often comes down to schedule and reputation — not math.

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