In short
- Get at least two quotes in writing for the same job, and ask each for the same scope.
- Line up what is included: materials, prep, permit, disposal, cleanup and warranty.
- A low quote often leaves something out. A high one may include work you did not ask for.
- Check each total against a typical range for your area, then ask about any gap.
Give every contractor the same job
Describe the job the same way each time: the size, the rooms or areas, the materials you want and the date you need it done. If one contractor visits and another quotes from a phone call, their prices are not comparable.
Ask for the quote in writing, with materials, labor and any permit or disposal fee on separate lines.
Compare what is included
The scope is where most price gaps come from. The list below is from our exterior house painting page. It shows how much a single job can include: a quote that skips the prep is not the same job as one that lists it.
What the quote should include
- Power wash
- Scrape, caulk and prime bare spots
- Two coats of exterior paint
- Trim and doors
- Cleanup
Ask the same questions of each one
Use the same questions for every quote, so you can set the answers side by side. The questions below are ones we list on the exterior house painting page, and most apply to any job: how many coats, how much prep, what warranty, and whether there is a safety process that applies to your house.
Also ask who pulls the permit, who removes the waste and what happens to the price if the crew finds a hidden problem.
Questions to ask each contractor
- Is the lead-safe process followed?
- How much prep is included?
- How many coats of primer and paint are in the quote?
- What warranty is given?
Check each total against a range
A typical range tells you where most prices for the job fall in your area. It is an estimate built from public wage data and our own materials and hours, not a quote. A quote far under the range may leave work out. A quote far over it is worth a question. A quote inside it still needs a written scope.
Use the quote checker with the price and your ZIP code.
Example, built from our range data
Exterior house painting (2-story, ~2,000 sq ft), US average
- MaterialsMaterials or equipment for the job. Ask for the brand and grade.$350 to $1,000
- Laborabout 36.5 to 67.5 hours at $70 to $95 an hour. Ask the shop for both numbers.$2,525 to $6,400
- FeesPermits, disposal and supplies. Ask what each fee covers.$100 to $600
- Typical totalThe three lines added, rounded (low end down, high end up). A quote near this range is typical.$2,975 to $8,000
Labor is rounded so the three lines add up to the total, so it can differ a little from hours times rate.
Labor rate: BLS wage for the trade, May 2025, times our markup (method). An estimate, not a quote. See this job in your area.
Do not decide on price alone
Pick the quote you can explain: a clear scope, a price inside the range, answers you understood and a warranty in writing. If two quotes still differ by a lot, ask the higher one what they include that the lower one does not.
Common questions
How many quotes should I get?
At least two, so there is something to compare. For a large job such as a roof or siding, ask for more. Give each contractor the same description of the job.
What if one quote is much lower than the rest?
Ask what it leaves out. Common gaps are prep work, the permit, disposal of old material and the warranty. A price far below the typical range is a reason to ask, not a reason to say yes.
Is the range on this site a quote?
No. It is a typical range for the job in your area, built from public wage data and our own estimates of materials and hours. It helps you see if a quote is far outside the norm.
Updated October 2026. Not a repair shop or contractor, estimates only.