How Many Quotes Should You Get From Contractors?

Three. That's the number.

Get at least three written quotes for any contractor job over $1,000. For projects over $10,000, get four or five. The reason isn't to find the cheapest price — it's to find the fair price. One quote tells you nothing. Two gives you a range with no center. Three gives you a median that makes outliers obvious.

Most homeowners get one or two quotes and call it done. That's how people end up overpaying by $3,000 on a bathroom remodel or hiring the contractor who “seemed nice” but forgot to mention he's not licensed.

Why Three Quotes, Not Two

Two quotes create a binary: one is higher, one is lower, and you have no idea which is normal. You default to the cheaper one because it “saves money.” But what if the cheaper one is suspiciously low and the expensive one is actually fair?

Three quotes solve this. If the quotes come in at $8,000, $9,500, and $10,000 — the range is tight and all three are probably reasonable. If they come in at $6,000, $9,500, and $10,000 — the $6,000 is the outlier, and you know to investigate why.

“Pushes to start immediately — preventing you from comparison shopping.”

Listed as a red flag across multiple r/homeowners threads — any contractor who discourages you from getting other quotes has a reason

How to Compare Quotes (It's Not About the Total)

The biggest mistake homeowners make: comparing bottom-line numbers. A $12,000 quote that includes painting, permits, and a dumpster is cheaper than a $10,000 quote that doesn't — you just can't tell by looking at the totals.

Here's what to compare line by line:

Print this table. Fill it in as quotes arrive. The contractor with the most checkmarks and a mid-range price is almost always your best bet. For the full list of what every estimate should include, see our 12-point estimate checklist.

What Outlier Quotes Really Mean

“You got the 'I don't want to do this job' quote.”

Top answer on r/homeowners (880 comments, 267 upvotes) — sometimes a high quote is a contractor's polite way of saying “no”

“Is It Rude to Get Multiple Quotes?”

No. Not even a little.

This question appears in every contractor-hiring thread, and the answer is always the same: getting multiple quotes is standard practice. You're not being disloyal. You're being responsible.

“Bidding jobs is part of the process of doing business. It's overhead that is/should be included in your price. So, you are being paid to do it.”

A homeowner on r/Contractor (166 comments) — even homeowners understand that estimates are a cost of doing business for contractors

Should you tell contractors you're getting other quotes? Yes. Transparency is professional. “I'm getting three quotes for this project” signals that you're a serious buyer, not a tire-kicker. It also keeps pricing honest.

If a contractor reacts negatively to comparison shopping — getting defensive, pressuring you to decide immediately, or badmouthing other contractors — that's a red flag. Confident contractors welcome comparison because they know their price is fair.

When Two Quotes Are Enough

There are situations where getting three quotes is overkill:

• Small jobs under $500. A faucet replacement or ceiling fan install. Two quotes confirm the range.
• Emergency work. If your pipe burst at 2 AM, you're not shopping for the best price. Get one quote, get it fixed, then evaluate.
• Repeat contractor you trust. If the same electrician has done three jobs for you and you're happy, you don't need to quote-shop every time. But check-in annually to make sure their pricing hasn't drifted.
• Specialized work with limited providers. Some trades (historic restoration, geothermal, solar) have very few local providers. Two quotes may be all that's available.

How Long Should You Wait for Quotes?

A professional contractor sends a written estimate within 24-48 hours of the site visit. This is non-negotiable as a standard. If you haven't received one in 5 business days, follow up once. After 7 days with no response, move on.

“HE CALLED TO TELL ME HE WAS GOING TO BE LATE. That alone almost sold me.”

Top answer on r/homeowners (107 comments) — responsiveness and communication are the strongest trust signals in the entire hiring process

The first professional estimate you receive anchors your expectations. It becomes the standard you judge other quotes against. This is why contractors who quote quickly with flat-rate pricing win more jobs — the speed itself is a selling point.

If all three contractors take a week to send estimates, that tells you something too — either they're slammed (good sign for their business, bad for your timeline) or they're disorganized (bad sign for everything).

What Every Quote You Receive Should Include

A dollar amount alone is not a quote. It's a guess. Every written estimate you receive should include at minimum:

• Detailed scope of work (what they will and won't do)
• Itemized costs (labor, materials, permits)
• Materials specified by name/brand
• Project timeline
• Payment schedule
• Exclusions listed explicitly
• Company name, license number, insurance
• Expiration date (30 days standard)

If a contractor sends you a text that says “$8,500 for the bathroom” — that's not a quote. Ask for the full breakdown. If they can't or won't provide one, move to the next name on your list.

Understand the difference between an estimate, quote, and bid before you start comparing. It affects whether the price can change after you accept.

How to Make the Final Decision

Once you have your three quotes, run this checklist:

1. Throw out the lowest if it's 30%+ below. Something is missing or wrong.
2. Compare scope across the remaining quotes. Adjust for differences — add back the cost of items one includes that another doesn't.
3. Check the estimate quality. Which contractor sent the most professional, detailed document? That tells you how they run their business.
4. Factor in communication. Who responded fastest? Who answered your questions clearly? Who showed up on time?
5. Weigh reviews and references. 50+ Google reviews at 4.5 stars outweigh a $500 price difference.
6. Trust your gut — after doing the homework. Intuition matters, but only after you've done steps 1-5.

The right contractor is rarely the cheapest and rarely the most expensive. They're the one who communicated best, sent the most detailed estimate, and made you feel confident about the project. Price is the tiebreaker, not the deciding factor.

Frequently Asked Questions