How many quotes should you get before hiring a tradie?

Ask anyone who has renovated and they'll tell you to "get a few quotes". But how many is enough? Too few and you can't tell whether a price is fair. Too many and you'll spend weeks chasing tradies and comparing paperwork that doesn't line up.

Here's what the official consumer guidance says, when you can get away with fewer, and how to make sure the quotes you collect are worth comparing.

The short answer: aim for three

Consumer regulators across Australia give the same advice. NSW Fair Trading's guide to getting quotes for contractors says to give at least three contractors the same information so you can easily compare their quotes. Consumer Affairs Victoria's page on getting quotes for building and renovating also recommends comparing at least three written quotes, and WA Consumer Protection's guide to hiring tradespeople says the same.

Three works because it gives you a sense of the normal range. With one quote you have nothing to measure it against. With two, if they're far apart, you can't tell which one is out of line. A third usually shows you where the middle sits.

When fewer quotes make sense

Three is a guide, not a rule. Sometimes one or two is perfectly reasonable:

• Emergencies. A burst pipe, a dangerous electrical fault or a storm-damaged roof can't wait for three tradies to visit. Get the problem made safe first, then get quotes for any bigger repair work.
• Small, routine jobs. For a tap washer or a single power point, the time spent chasing extra quotes may not be worth it. Ask clearly what the price covers, including call-out fees.
• A tradie you already trust. If someone has done good work for you before, you might go straight to them. It can still be worth getting a second quote now and then to check prices haven't drifted.

When to get more than three

For big projects, such as a full renovation, an extension or a new build, three may not be enough. Prices on larger jobs can vary widely, and some builders may decline or take weeks to respond. Approaching four or five gives you a better chance of ending up with three solid written quotes to compare.

It's also worth getting another quote if the ones you have are wildly different, or if something in a quote doesn't make sense and the tradie can't explain it.

Make your quotes comparable

The number of quotes matters less than whether they're quoting for the same job. If one plumber prices a budget tapware set and another prices a premium one, comparing the totals tells you very little.

Write a job brief first

NSW Fair Trading suggests writing a job brief, even for small jobs. It can be a few dot points or several pages. A good brief:

• describes everything you want done
• lists brand names and models for fittings, tiles, appliances and so on
• attaches plans if the job needs them
• says whether you want the tradie to clean up the site

Give every tradie the same brief. If you don't spell out what you want, the guidance warns, the quote may only include the cheapest products and materials.

Ask for written quotes

Verbal prices are easy to misremember and hard to rely on. WA Consumer Protection's estimates and quotes guide recommends written quotes so you have a record of the agreed price. It also explains the difference between the two: a quote is the total price for the job, while an estimate is a best guess that can change as the job goes on.

Check what's included

Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests confirming whether a quote includes things like travel to and from the job, the cost of parts, labour and apprentice costs, call-out fees, and weekend or public holiday rates. Ask how the tradie will handle changes to the price or timeframe once the job starts.

If you change your mind about the job while you're still collecting quotes, send the updated details to everyone who quoted so their prices stay comparable.

Don't just pick the cheapest

A low quote isn't always a good deal. The cheapest price may leave out items you'll need later, or use materials you didn't ask for. A quote that's far below the others could also be a sign of a mistake or a missing step.

When you compare, weigh up:

• what's included and excluded
• the materials and brands quoted
• how long the job will take
• how clearly the tradie communicated and answered your questions
• their licence, ABN and insurance details

Our guide to comparing tradie quotes walks through this step by step, and our list of red flags when hiring a tradie covers warning signs to look out for.

Be fair to the tradies you ask

Quoting takes time, especially when a tradie has to visit your home. Only ask for quotes when you're genuinely planning to go ahead, and let the tradies you don't choose know. It keeps things friendly if you need them later.

Some tradies charge a fee to quote, particularly for larger or more complex jobs, so ask about this when you book the visit.

Find tradies to quote

Ready to collect your quotes? Search for builders near you, find a plumber or an electrician, or browse builders in Melbourne and contact them directly.

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Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information only, not legal or financial advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above for your state.