Align scope before comparing numbers
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Align scope before comparing numbers
Two Boise cabinet quotes are only comparable when box construction, door style, finish tier, hardware, interior accessories, delivery, and installation all match. Build a one-page matrix and force every bid into the same rows before looking at totals.
The comparison matrix
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The comparison matrix
Most "cheap" quotes lose their advantage by the third row.
| Line item | What to verify on each quote |
|---|---|
| Box construction | Plywood vs particleboard, thickness |
| Hardware | Soft-close standard? Slide rating? |
| Interior accessories | Roll-outs, trash pull-out, organizers included? |
| Delivery & install | Included, itemized, or excluded? |
| Warranty | Written? Years? Workmanship and materials? |
| Exclusions | Counters, disposal, plumbing, electrical |
Normalize the timeline too
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Normalize the timeline too
A quote with a 16-week lead time and a quote with 6 weeks are different products. Ask what drives each company's lead time and what happens to your schedule if fabrication slips.
Background reading: why cabinet quotes vary and fixed price vs cost plus.
Red flags in a low quote
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Red flags in a low quote
Quotes that exclude installation, use vague "allowance" language for hardware, or omit interior accessory counts will rise once the project starts. Another flag: no shop drawings before fabrication, which means you are buying a price, not a defined product.
Use our questions to ask a cabinet company checklist during the interview phase so scope gaps surface before you sign.
Example: comparing two Boise kitchen bids
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Example: comparing two Boise kitchen bids
Bid A at $22,000 and Bid B at $31,000 look 40 percent apart until you line them up: Bid A uses particleboard boxes with partial-extension slides and excludes install; Bid B uses plywood, soft-close everything, and includes delivery and installation. Normalized, they are often within 10 to 15 percent, with Bid B carrying less homeowner risk.
Anchor your matrix against the planning bands in the Boise Cabinet Cost Guide so outliers are obvious before you negotiate.
