In many cases, the same product has not been quoted at several prices. Several different specifications have simply been described with the same name. “One kitchen” identifies the room, but it does not define the cabinet board, front construction, drawer quantity, hardware, countertop or packing.
Where the price gap usually comes from
| Item | May look the same | Can be materially different |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet boxes | Both are white boards | Core material, thickness, surface, edge banding and emission documentation |
| Door fronts | Both are matte grey | Melamine, PET, lacquer or veneer with very different processing |
| Hardware | Both say soft close | Brand, load rating, cycle performance, drawer construction and accessory count |
| Internal fittings | The exterior rendering is identical | Drawer, pull-out, lighting, divider and appliance-housing quantities |
| Countertops | Both say quartz | Thickness, edge profile, cut-outs, upstands and installation scope |
| Delivery | Both say export packing | Basic cartons, reinforced corners, timber frames, labels and packing-list detail |
A low quote is not automatically wrong, and a high quote is not automatically better
A standardised apartment package using regular finishes can genuinely be more economical. Complex profiles, imported hardware, unusual colours, trial assembly and reinforced packing add cost for understandable reasons. The first question is not which number looks normal; it is whether every supplier priced the same drawing and the same specification.
Standardise four things before comparing
- Drawing revision: every factory should quote the same dimensions and quantities.
- Material specification: replace “good quality board” with core type, thickness, surface and edge details.
- Included scope: confirm countertops, hardware, lighting, packing and freight separately.
- Delivery terms: EXW, FOB, CIF and site delivery cannot be compared as if they were the same service.
Questions to ask when one price is unusually low
- Was the full BOQ priced, or only the cabinets visible in the rendering?
- Are drawers, pull-outs, lighting and special hardware charged separately?
- Are fillers, toe kicks, side panels and countertops included?
- Is the packing designed for ocean freight and repeated handling?
- Can the quoted material model be held during the quotation validity period?
A comparable quote should be traceable line by line
The total is the last number to compare, not the first. Product numbers, quantities, specifications, unit prices, provisional sums and exclusions should be checked before the grand total. When the difference can be explained, the buyer can make a sensible choice between budget, durability and project risk.
Quotation File Checklist 
Drawing & BOQ Preparation 
Drawing Preparation Guide