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Decision Tool · Same-Scope Comparison

Kitchen Quote Comparison Checklist

A printable 16-point decision worksheet designed to normalize residential kitchen bids. Never compare contractor bottom lines until every underlying specification—from 1/2" plywood cabinet boxes and laser-templated stone cutouts to dedicated 20A electrical circuits, ducted ventilation, and trade permits—is verified on an identical scope.

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Updated: 2026-11-07 • Standard Form V1.0 • Zero Referral Affiliation
The Golden Rule: Compare kitchen bids ONLY where underlying scope is identical.

A kitchen remodel quote showing $22,000 is not cheaper than a quote showing $34,000 if the lower bid installs cheap particleboard cabinet boxes instead of 1/2" plywood, excludes trade permits (electrical, plumbing, building), glues tile directly to drywall without cement backer board, vents the range hood back into the room via cheap charcoal filters, or leaves appliance unboxing and plumbing connections to the homeowner. Unbudgeted change orders on omitted electrical circuits, subfloor leveling, and plumbing relocations routinely turn cut-rate bids into devastating financial traps.

Use the 16-point specification checklist below to audit all three contractor proposals on an exact apples-to-apples basis before comparing bottom-line numbers.

1. Baseline Project Specifications Record once before gathering quotes

Kitchen Floor Footprint: __________ sq ft
Cabinet Linear Feet: _____ Linear Ft
Target Cabinet Grade: [   ] Stock   [   ] Semi   [   ] Custom
Countertop Surface: [   ] Quartz   [   ] Granite   [   ] Lam

2. Same-Scope Verification Checklist (16-Point Specification Audit)

Scope Item & Checkpoint What to Verify (Same-Scope Benchmark)
Quote 1
Contractor A
Quote 2
Contractor B
Quote 3
Contractor C
Group A: Cabinetry Quality, Drawers & Wall Anchoring
1. Cabinet Box Construction Specifies 1/2" to 3/4" furniture-grade plywood side, top, and bottom panels. Prohibits stapled particleboard or engineered MDF boxes vulnerable to sink water swelling. [   ] Plywood Box [   ] Plywood Box [   ] Plywood Box
2. Drawer Boxes & Glides Solid hardwood dovetail jointed drawer boxes (5/8" thickness) paired with full-extension undermount soft-close glides (e.g., Blum Tandem or equivalent). [   ] Dovetail + Soft [   ] Dovetail + Soft [   ] Dovetail + Soft
3. Cabinet Installation & Anchoring Installation includes continuous laser leveling, scribed filler strips to out-of-plumb walls, and structural cabinet screws driven into wall studs (no drywall screws/nails). [   ] Stud Screwed [   ] Stud Screwed [   ] Stud Screwed
Group B: Countertop Fabrication, Seams & Backsplash Substrate
4. Countertop Fabrication & Sink Cutouts Digital laser templating included; CNC polished undermount sink cutout with silicone seal; concealed steel cantilever support brackets on island overhangs exceeding 10". [   ] Laser Templated [   ] Laser Templated [   ] Laser Templated
5. Overhang & Seam Placement Standard 1.5" front edge overhang specified; seam locations mapped away from high-stress sink cutouts and cooktops, bonded with color-matched two-part epoxy. [   ] Seams Mapped [   ] Seams Mapped [   ] Seams Mapped
6. Tile Backsplash Substrate Prep Installation over 1/2" cement backer board (HardieBacker / WonderBoard) or membrane substrate; prohibits gluing tile directly over painted drywall or torn wallpaper. [   ] Cement Board [   ] Cement Board [   ] Cement Board
Group C: Electrical Circuits, Plumbing & Hood Ventilation
7. Plumbing Rough-in & Fixture Trim New 1/4-turn brass ball shut-off valves, braided stainless supply lines for sink and dishwasher, new PVC P-trap assembly, and garbage disposal installation included. [   ] New Valves/Trim [   ] New Valves/Trim [   ] New Valves/Trim
8. Dedicated 20A GFCI/AFCI Circuits NEC Article 210 compliance: at least two dedicated 20-amp small appliance branch circuits for countertop outlets, plus dedicated circuits for microwave, dishwasher, and disposal. [   ] 20A Circuits Inc [   ] 20A Circuits Inc [   ] 20A Circuits Inc
9. Range Hood Exterior Venting Rigid galvanized/aluminum ductwork routed through exterior wall or roof cap with damper; avoids inferior recirculating charcoal filters that recirculate grease film. [   ] Exterior Ducted [   ] Exterior Ducted [   ] Exterior Ducted
Group D: Flooring Integration, Drywall & Surface Finishing
10. Flooring Scope & Cabinet Sequencing Finished flooring installed wall-to-wall under cabinets (or shimmed subfloor to preserve 36" counter height and allow dishwasher removal without pulling countertops). [   ] Wall-to-Wall [   ] Wall-to-Wall [   ] Wall-to-Wall
11. Drywall Repair & Level 4 Skim Coat Complete drywall remediation behind removed soffits and old splash areas; taped, mudded, and sanded to a Level 4 smooth skim coat ready for uniform paint. [   ] Level 4 Finish [   ] Level 4 Finish [   ] Level 4 Finish
12. Kitchen Enamel Paint Grade One coat primer plus two finish coats of moisture-resistant satin or semi-gloss acrylic enamel containing antimicrobial mildewcides for easy scrubbability. [   ] Satin Enamel [   ] Satin Enamel [   ] Satin Enamel
Group E: Appliances, Site Protection, Permits & Warranties
13. Appliance Delivery, Unboxing & Setup Receiving, unboxing, final positioning, leveling, range anti-tip bracket installation, water line hookup, and packaging haul-away included in turnkey contract. [   ] Turnkey Setup [   ] Turnkey Setup [   ] Turnkey Setup
14. Dumpster Staging & Floor Protection Heavy-duty Ram Board taped along all traffic pathways; plastic zip-wall dust containment with negative air pressure; dedicated dumpster placement and disposal fees included. [   ] Ram Board + Bin [   ] Ram Board + Bin [   ] Ram Board + Bin
15. Municipal Trade Permits (MEP) Contractor acts as permit applicant of record for building, electrical, and plumbing permits ($500–$1,500), scheduling all rough-in and final municipal inspections. [   ] Permits Included [   ] Permits Included [   ] Permits Included
16. Workmanship Warranty & Milestones Written 1-to-5-year contractor labor warranty; deposit capped at 10%–15% maximum; milestone payment schedule strictly tied to verified passed trade inspections. [   ] ___ Yrs Warranty [   ] ___ Yrs Warranty [   ] ___ Yrs Warranty

3. Bottom-Line Scope Normalization Calculation

Add back omitted line items to determine the true turnkey installed price per square foot.

Cost Component Quote A Quote B Quote C
Contractor Proposed Total Bid ($)
Kitchen Finished Footprint (Sq Ft)
Raw Price Per Sq Ft (Total ÷ Area) $ ______ / sq ft $ ______ / sq ft $ ______ / sq ft
Scope Add-Backs for Omitted Items (Permits, plywood upgrade, hood vent, backsplash prep, etc.)
Normalized Same-Scope Total
Raw bid + all omitted scope costs
 $ ____________ $ ____________ $ ____________
Normalized Price Per Sq Ft
Only valid apples-to-apples comparison metric
 $ ______ / sq ft $ ______ / sq ft $ ______ / sq ft

Three Most Common Kitchen Remodel Quote Traps Homeowners Encounter

1. The “Particleboard Box” Cabinetry Switch

Bids that boast "solid wood doors" frequently hide cheap 3/8" or 1/2" particleboard or MDF cabinet boxes inside. In a high-humidity kitchen, minor plumbing drips under the sink or steam from the dishwasher cause particleboard to swell, sag, and degrade within 3 to 5 years. Always require 1/2" to 3/4" furniture-grade plywood boxes in writing before comparing cabinet allowances.

2. The “Recirculating Hood” Shortcut

Cooking generates grease aerosols, moisture, and VOCs. Lowball quotes routinely omit the specialized labor of core drilling through exterior brick or siding to install rigid metal ductwork, substituting an ineffective recirculating charcoal filter hood. This leaves a sticky grease film over brand-new quartz counters and cabinets and compromises indoor air quality.

3. Omitted Trade Permits & Uninspected MEP Rough-ins

Kitchen remodels require electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits to verify 20A GFCI circuits, gas lines, and proper drain venting. Cut-rate contractors skip municipal permits to save $600–$1,500 and evade third-party inspection scrutiny. Working without permits exposes the homeowner to insurance denial in the event of an electrical fire and creates major disclosure liabilities during home resale.