RENOBENCH / CONTRACTOR QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare the work.
Then compare the price.
Compare up to three written contractor quotes for the same project. Add known excluded costs, check inclusions, and keep allowances visible without counting them twice.
Adjusted quote total = quoted price + known excluded costs. The lowest adjusted total reflects only what you entered; unresolved exclusions, product choices, and different scopes can still change the comparison.
Use quotes you have received. Blank costs count as $0; this tool does not collect contractor prices.
Quote 1
Allowances are tracked separately and are not added again. Check what can change when final products or quantities are selected.
What does this quote include?
Quote 2
Allowances are tracked separately and are not added again. Check what can change when final products or quantities are selected.
What does this quote include?
Quote 3
Allowances are tracked separately and are not added again. Check what can change when final products or quantities are selected.
What does this quote include?
Unknown exclusions are not priced automatically. An “excluded” selection flags the scope; it adds no money by itself. Enter the amount once under known excluded costs.
Enter at least two quote totals to compare prices.
Matching scope has not been confirmed.
Adjusted total includes only the entered quote and known extras. It does not estimate missing prices or add contingency. Allowance amounts stay inside the quoted total.
LOOK PAST THE HEADLINE PRICE
What needs to match?
Work and quantities
Compare the same areas, preparation, installation tasks, quantities, and finish specifications. A quote for a smaller scope is not a lower price for the same job.
Inclusions and exclusions
Check materials, labor, tax, delivery, cleanup, disposal, permits, and any work listed as excluded or owner-supplied. Obtain prices for missing items before treating an adjusted total as complete.
Allowances and terms
An allowance may already sit inside the quoted amount while the final selection is still open. Ask how differences will be charged or credited. Review scheduling, payments, changes, and warranties separately.
The Federal Trade Commission’s contractor guidance recommends getting multiple written estimates that state the work, materials, timing, and price, rather than choosing automatically by the lowest bid.
WHY EXCLUSIONS MATTER
The lowest quote can change
after known extras.
| Proposal | Quote | Known extras | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote 1 | $8,500 | $900 | $9,400 |
| Quote 2 | $9,100 | $0 | $9,100 |
| Quote 3 | $8,700 | $750 | $9,450 |
In this fictional example, Quote 1 has the lowest original price, but Quote 2 has the lowest adjusted total after the entered extras. The adjusted spread is $350. Unknown exclusions are still unresolved; this comparison is not an endorsement of a contractor.
METHODOLOGY
Simple math. Visible limits.
- For each active proposal, adjusted total = quote total + known excluded costs.
- Quotes with no positive quoted total are not included in the price comparison.
- The original-price comparison uses quoted totals only.
- The adjusted-price comparison uses quoted totals plus known extras.
- Adjusted spread = highest adjusted total − lowest adjusted total.
- Allowance amounts are already inside the quote and are not added again.
- Inclusion statuses highlight unconfirmed or excluded scope. They do not change monetary totals automatically.
No contingency, inferred market rate, unpriced exclusion, or predicted allowance overrun is added. If costs become known, update the quote or the extras without counting the same amount twice. Totals are rounded to cents.
Prepared by RenoBench. Worksheet revision: October 23, 2026. Amounts and inclusion statuses are supplied by the visitor. Sample proposals are fictional. This tool does not read uploaded documents or verify contractors.
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Before you choose.
How do I compare contractor quotes fairly?
Start with the same scope, quantities, and materials. Confirm inclusions and exclusions, then add known missing expenses once to each quote. Use the adjusted total alongside the written terms, qualifications, schedule, and references.
Does marking an item excluded add its price?
No. The status records a scope issue; it has no automatic price. Enter a known excluded amount in the extra-cost field once. If the amount is unknown, the adjusted total remains incomplete.
Why are allowances not added to the total?
The allowance field is for sums already included in the quoted price. Adding them again would duplicate that cost. An allowance is not a promise that the final selected products or work will cost the same amount.
Is the lowest adjusted quote the best contractor?
The worksheet cannot establish that. It compares entered prices and highlights scope issues. Confirm credentials, terms, workmanship expectations, and the complete scope before deciding.
Can I save the comparison?
Save comparison stores it on this browser and device. It does not sync across devices and may be removed when browser data is cleared. Use CSV export or print to PDF to keep a separate copy.
CONNECT YOUR DECISIONS
Use the right worksheet next.
Build the project budget or compare doing the work yourself before committing to an approach.
Planning worksheet. Confirm scope and costs with your contractor.