How to Compare Commercial Lighting Quotes (Checklist)

Short answer

Compare lighting quotes line by line against the fixture schedule, not on the total. For each type mark, check that the quote covers the same product or a documented equal, the same quantity and run lengths, and everything the line needs to work: drivers, mounting hardware, connectors, end caps and controls. Then normalize the commercial terms: lead time, freight, quote validity, tariffs and taxes, and warranty. Only then compare totals.

Key takeaways

Build one comparison sheet with a row per type mark.

Check quantity and total linear length for every linear type.

Look for missing drivers, power supplies, suspension kits and controls.

An alternate is only cheaper if it is equal; ask for IES files and cut sheets.

Normalize freight, validity, tariffs, lead time and payment terms before you compare totals.

Start with one sheet, one row per type mark

Put the fixture schedule down the left: type mark, description, quantity, and for linear types the total length. Add one column group per bidder. Every bid is then forced into the same shape, and gaps become visible.

Type	Spec	Qty / length	Bid A	Bid B	Bid C
L1	Recessed linear, 4000K, 0-10V	186 ft	As spec	Alternate (no IES file)	As spec, 180 ft
L2	Suspended direct/indirect	24 × 8 ft	As spec, no suspension kit	As spec	Alternate, IES provided
D1	4" downlight, 3000K	64	As spec	As spec	As spec

In the example above, Bid A is missing suspension hardware, Bid B’s alternate cannot be evaluated, and Bid C is short 6 ft on L1. None of that is visible in the totals.

Check scope on every line

Product

Is it the specified product, or an alternate? If an alternate, ask for the cut sheet and IES file and compare it properly. Our guide on or-equal substitutions lists what to compare.

Quantity and length

For linear lighting, compare total length and how it is broken into runs and sections. Rounding each run down to a stock length is a common way to look cheaper.

Everything the line needs to work

Often missing	Why it matters
Remote drivers / power supplies	Low-voltage linear and tape need them; they can be a large share of the line cost
Suspension kits, canopies, power feeds	Pendants cannot hang without them
Connectors, corners, end caps, joiners	Continuous runs need them at every joint
Mounting channels, plaster-in kits	Trimless and recessed details depend on them
Controls, sensors, interfaces	Dimming and code-required controls are often a separate line
Emergency battery packs	Required on some types; easy to omit

Electrical match

Same input voltage (120–277V or 347V), same dimming protocol (0-10V, DALI, phase), same emergency option. A quote on the wrong voltage is not a cheaper quote.

Normalize the commercial terms

Before comparing totals, put every bid on the same footing:

Freight included or extra, and to where.
Tariffs and duties: included, and at what rate; country of origin per line. See Canada’s tariff on U.S.-made lighting.
Taxes: shown separately or not.
Lead time per line, and when it starts.
Validity: how many days the price holds.
Payment terms and deposits.
Warranty terms as stated by the manufacturer.

Then compare

Now the totals mean something. If one bid is still much lower, look at its alternates first; that is where the saving, and the risk, usually sits.

How SuppLux quotes

Send the fixture schedule and SuppLux’s AI matches every line to verified products, with the best alternative shown first, then turns the matched set into a quote and submittal package. See quotes and BOMs or send a schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Why are lighting quotes for the same project so different?

Usually because they do not quote the same scope: different products or lumen packages, missing drivers or accessories, rounded linear lengths, or different freight and tariff assumptions. Normalize the scope first; the remaining difference is the real price difference.

Should I always take the lowest lighting quote?

Only if it covers the full scope with equal products and acceptable lead times. A low quote that leads to a rejected substitution, a missing driver or a late delivery usually costs more.

What should a lighting quote include?

A line per type mark with manufacturer and full catalogue number, quantity or linear length, unit and extended price, lead time, and notes on alternates. Plus freight, taxes, tariffs, validity and payment terms.

How do I compare an alternate to the specified product?

Ask for both IES files and cut sheets and compare delivered lumens, distribution, CCT, CRI, dimming, voltage, dimensions, mounting and certification side by side.

How to compare commercial lighting quotes line by line