Short answer: before you compare totals, make sure the quotes describe the same kitchen. Put them side by side and check eight lines: carcass board, door finish, hardware brand, what is included, the price basis, the payment schedule, when the lead time starts, and the warranty. Most of the gap between two quotes sits in those lines.

Put every quote on one sheet

Factories lay out their quotes differently, so copy each one into the same rows. Where a quote leaves a row blank, ask. A blank row is usually where the difference is.

Carcass board and board grade

Plywood, MDF and particleboard carcasses look the same once the doors are on, and they are priced differently. Ask each factory to name the board and its formaldehyde grade. Our standard is ENF-grade board (formaldehyde ≤ 0.025 mg/m³, the top grade in the Chinese standard GB/T 39600), with E0 and E1 also available. If one quote says "E1" and another says "ENF", you are not comparing like with like. The differences between the three boards are in our plywood vs MDF vs particleboard guide.

Door finish

The door finish changes the price more than almost anything else. On our published price ranges, a melamine or PVC kitchen runs USD 50–90 per linear metre FOB and a lacquered one USD 110–170. Two quotes for "white doors" can sit in different tiers. Ask for the finish by name, and for a sample if the choice is close.

Hardware brand

"Soft-close hinges" describes a function, not a product. Ask for the brand of the hinges and drawer runners on every quote. Our ranges are priced with Higold hardware; genuine Austrian Blum adds about 15%. If one quote names a brand and another does not, ask the second factory before you compare.

What is included

Countertops, sinks, appliances and installation each change the total a lot. One factory may include a stone countertop and another may leave it out. Mark each item in or out for every quote. With us, on-site installation by our own team is available as a chargeable service, quoted separately from the goods.

Price basis: ex-works, FOB or delivered

An ex-works price stops at the factory gate. An FOB price adds trucking to the port and export clearance, so check which port is named. A delivered price adds sea freight and sometimes more. Freight, insurance, import duty and your local sales tax are not in an FOB price. Bring every quote to the same basis before comparing.

Payment schedule and lead time

Two quotes with the same total can ask for money at very different points. Ours: after we issue the quotation, a 10% deposit starts the 3D rendering stage. When the 2D drawings and the electrical and plumbing layout drawings are completed, payment reaches 20% of the total. Once all designs are confirmed and signed off, payment reaches 50% and production begins. The remaining 50% is due before shipment.

Then check when each lead time starts. Our production takes 35–45 days from the day the final drawings are approved. A shorter number counted from the deposit can end up longer once design time is added.

Common questions

Should I just pick the cheapest quote?

Only after the rows match. A lower total with a different board, finish or hardware is a quote for a different kitchen.

Is the first quote the final price?

Usually not. A first quote prices what the drawings show, and the final price is fixed once the design is signed off. More on that in how long a quote takes and what changes it.

What should I ask about warranty?

How long, and whether hardware is covered on its own terms. Ours is 3 years on the cabinetry and 10 years on Blum and Higold hardware.

If you already have a quote from another factory, send it with your drawings through our contact page and we will quote the same rows, so the two sit side by side.