Comparing three window quotes

The most common mistake is glancing at the bottom line and picking the cheapest. But a lower total often means a lower specification, or costs quietly left out. Comparing well means reading each quote — see understanding a window quote line by line — then putting them beside each other on the same terms.

Step one: match the specification

Before price enters the picture, confirm the three quotes describe the same job:

• Same frame material and range
• Same glazing (double or triple) and energy rating
• Same number and type of opening sashes
• Same fitting scope — removal, disposal and making good
• Comparable guarantee, ideally insurance-backed

If one quote is triple-glazed and A-rated while another is basic double glazing, they aren’t comparable yet. Ask installers to re-quote on a matching spec so you’re genuinely comparing like-for-like.

Step two: line them up

A simple table does the job. List the same rows for each quote — product, glass, openers, fitting, guarantee, validity and total — and fill them in side by side. Gaps jump out immediately: the “cheap” quote that omits scaffolding, or the dearer one that includes making good the plaster.

Step three: weigh value, not just price

With specs matched, the real decision is about value. Consider the guarantee, the installer’s accreditations (FENSA, CERTASS, TrustMark), lead time and how the survey felt. The middle quote on a fair, matched spec is often the sensible choice — and there may still be room to talk, as our guide to negotiating your window quote explains.

Once you’ve chosen, the final stretch is turning a quote into fitted windows — see from quote to installation day, or revisit the full quote process for the overview.