How this calculator works
spread % = (highest − lowest) ÷ lowest × 100Under 20%: compare license, insurance and schedule. 20–50%: compare line items. 50% and over: ask what the low bid leaves out. These marks are our prompts, not data.
What each input means
| Input | What it is actually asking |
|---|---|
| Bids | Totals from written quotes. Two needed, three better. |
| Same scope | Whether each bidder priced the same written list of work, including permit and wall repair. |
Worked examples
Including one where the naive answer misleads, which is the example most calculators leave out.
Different scopes
Two bids, one with the permit and drywall repair, one without. The checker asks you to write one scope before reading the spread.
Same scope, wide gap
Three bids on one written scope, the lowest about half the highest. Ask each for itemized lines and check each license.
What changes the result
Permits, wall repair and panel work are the lines most often missing from a low bid. See what drives electrical prices.
When not to use this
Not a price survey and not legal advice. If you have a safety problem now, such as a burning smell or sparking, call an electrician rather than collecting bids.
Questions this calculator answers
- How do I know if an electrician’s quote is fair?
- Get at least three written quotes against one scope you wrote, and compare line by line. California’s contractor board recommends at least three bids. A single number has nothing to compare against.
- Why are my electrician quotes so different?
- Usually different scopes: one includes the permit, wall repair or a panel change, another does not. On the same scope, ask what each bid leaves out.
- Is the lowest bid a bad sign?
- Not by itself. California’s board warns a very low bid can mean cut corners or an unlicensed operator. Check the license and insurance and ask what is excluded.
- Where do the 20% and 50% marks come from?
- They are prompts we chose for when to ask questions, not market data. A small gap can still hide a missing permit.
- Does this tool store my quotes?
- No. It runs in your browser and nothing is sent.
Sources and methodology
Figures dated 26 October 2026. Last reviewed .
- Finding the Right Contractor (California Contractors State License Board, retrieved Checked October 26, 2026. A low bid from an unlicensed operator carries financial and legal risks that outweigh the saving.)
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam (Federal Trade Commission, retrieved Checked October 26, 2026. Get multiple written estimates and look into a wide gap between bids.)
Related
- Electrical project cost Build one bid from its lines.
- License lookup Check each bidder.
- Licensed vs unlicensed electrician What a low bid may skip.