The cheapest kitchen quote is not necessarily the best value, and the highest total is not automatically the most complete. Compare the same layout, products, services and responsibilities line by line before comparing the final price.
One quotation may include appliances, delivery, installation and specialist worktops; another may show only furniture. Unless the scope is aligned, the totals do not answer the same question.
Kitchen quote comparison: the short answer
- Put every quote against the same current plan.
- Identify the exact cabinet range, door finish, internal storage and accessories.
- Check the worktop material, thickness, edges, upstands, splashbacks, templating and fitting.
- Compare appliance brand and model numbers, not only the number of appliances.
- Separate dry fitting from plumbing, electrical, gas, flooring, decorating and structural work.
- Confirm delivery, removal, waste, VAT, payment stages, lead times, guarantees and aftercare.
If an item is unclear, record it as “not confirmed” rather than assuming it is included.
Begin with the same plan and brief
A quote for fourteen cabinets cannot be compared fairly with one for eighteen if the layouts provide different storage, worktop area or appliance positions. Use the plan revision and date as the first line of your comparison.
Also check whether each design solves the brief. A lower total may come from removing the larder, shrinking the island, changing the worktop or omitting internal storage. Those may be sensible choices, but they should be visible decisions rather than hidden differences.
| Quote section | What should be identified | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | Manufacturer, range, door finish, cabinet sizes, end panels, plinths, handles and internals | Are all visible panels and finishing pieces included? Which storage accessories are priced? |
| Worktops | Material, colour, thickness, edges, cut-outs, upstands, splashbacks, templating and fitting | Is the price measured or provisional? What happens between templating and fitting? |
| Appliances | Brand, model, finish, quantity, accessories and installation requirements | Are the models directly comparable? Are extraction, ventilation and connection parts included? |
| Sink, tap and waste | Exact products, wastes, filters, tanks, cut-outs and plumbing requirements | Does a specialist tap need power, ventilation, filters or cabinet space? |
| Installation | Removal, cabinet fitting, appliance fitting, worktops, services, finishing and waste | Which work is included, excluded or supplied by others? Who coordinates each stage? |
| Commercial terms | VAT, delivery, payment schedule, validity, lead time, guarantees and aftercare | When is each payment due? What can change the price after approval? |
Compare cabinet specifications, not just door colour
The visible door is only one part of the furniture price. Cabinet dimensions, construction, drawer systems, internal organisers, tall housings, corner solutions, end panels and handle details can all change the total and the way the kitchen works.
Ask for the manufacturer and range. Kitchen Kit designs with Nobilia, Ballerina and Masterclass. Do not assume similar-looking doors from different collections have the same cabinet options or included accessories.
Check every finishing panel and accessory
End panels, fillers, plinths, cornices, light pelmets, handle rails and decorative cladding complete the installed design. A plan can look finished while the quote omits an item that is later required on site.
Internal storage also deserves its own line. Deep drawers, pull-out larders, corner systems, cutlery inserts, bins and breakfast-station mechanisms can be some of the most valuable parts of the design. Compare what is actually inside the cabinets.
Compare worktops as a complete package
“Quartz worktops” is not a full specification. Record the material or brand, colour, thickness, edge profile, upstands, splashbacks, window sills, waterfall ends and cut-outs. Confirm whether templating, fabrication, delivery and installation are included.
Laminate can be a practical and attractive choice; quartz, granite and sintered surfaces can add different performance, detailing and fabrication requirements. The Truro Nobilia Easytouch project uses Terrazzo reproduction laminate, while the Chudleigh project uses 20mm Dekton Polar. Both are complete kitchens, but their surface specifications are not like-for-like.
Use appliance model numbers
Two ovens from the same brand can have different controls, cleaning systems, functions and prices. Compare model numbers, not descriptions such as “premium oven”. Do the same for hobs, extraction, refrigeration, dishwashers and laundry appliances.
Check required accessories and compatibility. A venting hob needs suitable cabinet planning, ventilation and services. Integrated refrigeration must match the housing and door system. Kitchen Kit’s appliance browsing and quote route is designed around a review of compatibility and pricing rather than treating a submitted basket as an automatic order.
Separate dry fitting from wider building services
“Installation included” can mean different things. Ask whether the price covers removal, cabinet fitting, laminate worktops, specialist worktop preparation, appliance fitting, plumbing, electrical work, lighting, flooring, decorating, building work and waste.
If an offer refers to dry fitting, read its exact terms and exclusions. A content summary should never be used instead of the current written offer. Our kitchen installation guide sets out the key stages and questions to resolve.
Look for provisional sums and assumptions
A provisional figure may be reasonable when a worktop has not been templated or a wall has not been opened. The important point is to label it clearly. Ask what evidence will turn the allowance into a confirmed price and what range of change is possible.
Read the assumptions too. A fitting price may depend on the room being cleared, walls being suitable, services being ready or parking and access being available. Raise anything that does not match the property before accepting.
Compare service, programme and aftercare
Value includes the work around the products: surveying, design revisions, technical checking, coordination, delivery, installation management and support after fitting. Ask who your contact will be and how outstanding items are recorded.
The new kitchen timeline explains why furniture lead time and complete installation are different. A quote should identify the stages that the company controls and the work that must be coordinated with others.
Kitchen quote red flags
- No plan revision or room reference.
- Generic phrases where a manufacturer, material or model should be named.
- A single installation total with no scope or exclusions.
- Important elements described verbally but absent from the document.
- Unclear VAT, delivery or waste charges.
- Pressure to approve before questions are answered.
- A completion promise based only on the furniture delivery date.
Your kitchen quote comparison checklist
- Same plan revision and cabinet count
- Manufacturer, range, door finish and handle system
- Panels, fillers, plinths and decorative elements
- Internal drawers, larders, corners and bins
- Worktop material, thickness, upstands, cut-outs and fitting
- Appliance brands and model numbers
- Sink, tap, waste and specialist accessories
- Lighting and electrical requirements
- Removal, installation, services and waste
- Delivery, VAT, payment stages and quote validity
- Lead times, programme, guarantees and aftercare
- Every exclusion and provisional allowance
Ask us for a clear kitchen specification
Visit the Truro or Exeter showroom to compare furniture, worktops, appliances and storage in person. Bring another quote if you want help identifying differences; the aim is to understand the scope, not simply to match a headline total.
Kitchen quote FAQs
Why are two kitchen quotes so different?
They may use different layouts, furniture, worktops, appliances, accessories or installation scopes. Align those details before comparing totals.
Should appliances have model numbers on the quote?
Yes. Model numbers allow you to compare functions, compatibility and prices accurately and help avoid substitutions being misunderstood.
Does a kitchen quote usually include plumbing and electrics?
Not always. The quote should state exactly which services are included, excluded or provided by others.
How long should a kitchen quote be valid?
Use the validity period printed on the quotation. Product prices and offers can change, so ask for an updated document rather than relying on an expired total.
How much should I budget for a kitchen?
It depends on room size, furniture, worktops, appliances and installation scope. See Kitchen Kit’s current guide to new kitchen costs in Cornwall and Devon, then obtain a project-specific design and quote.
