Free tool
Fixed price or estimate range? Compare them properly.
Add contingency and the value of what each trade excluded, and the cheaper quote often changes. Pick a trade to start from a worked example.
Your two quotes
Two-storey new build, rough-in and fit-off. Excluded items typically network connection fees and patching.
Quote A — fixed price
$31,480
Committed price, subject to the trade's stated exclusions.
Quote B — likely cost
$34,719
Range midpoint $30,250 + 7.5% contingency + $2,200 excluded.
Quote B — worst case
$38,750
Top of range, contingency applied, exclusions bought back.
Difference
+$3,239
The fixed price is likely cheaper once risk is priced.
How to read this for electricians
- A range only becomes comparable once you decide what the top of it means for your program and your margin.
- Price the exclusions before you award. Fixed price against a drawn lighting and power layout
- If both trades priced from different drawings, the numbers aren't comparable at all — reissue the brief and ask for a resubmission.
Example figures are illustrative only and not a price guide. Always compare against quotes issued for your own drawings.
Common questions
Comparing quotes fairly
Can you compare a fixed price quote against an estimate range?
Not directly. A fixed price is a commitment; an estimate range is a band that can land anywhere inside it — and often at the top once exclusions are priced. Compare the fixed price against the upper end of the range plus the value of anything excluded, then decide whether the possible saving is worth carrying the risk.
What contingency should a builder allow on an estimate range quote?
Many Australian builders carry 5–10% on a well-documented range and more where selections, existing conditions or access are unresolved. The calculator lets you set your own percentage so you can see the risk-adjusted number beside the fixed price.
Why is the cheapest quote often not the cheapest job?
Because exclusions move cost, not price. A quote that excludes trenching, patching, connection fees or after-hours attendance can be thousands cheaper on paper and dearer once the work is done. Add the value of the excluded items before comparing.
How does BuilderTrade make quotes comparable?
Every submission states amount, pricing basis, labour or supply, start date, duration, assumptions and exclusions, against the same brief and the same attachments. The comparison view then lines them up field by field with licence and insurance status shown beside the price.