Decoding the Cabinet Quote, Line by Line
Two quotes for the same-looking kitchen can differ by thousands — and the difference lives in the spec sheet, not the price. Here's how to read a Naperville cabinet quote like a pro, and the three line items that separate honest quotes from bait. This is written for homeowners around Naperville, IL who are looking into cabinet installation and want the honest version rather than a sales page.
The five lines every quote must have
- Box construction: material (3/4" plywood vs. particleboard) and thickness. If it just says "cabinets," it's hiding something.
- Drawer construction: solid wood with dovetail joinery, or assembled from panels? Dovetail is the quality tell.
- Hardware: brand + type. Soft-close hinges and under-mount glides should be named, not generic.
- Finish: number of coats and type (catalyzed, conversion varnish, or lacquer). This is your moisture barrier.
- Installation scope: what's included — demo, leveling, scribing, fillers, haul-away. "Installation" on its own is a red flag.
What the cheap quote is hiding
When one quote comes in 30% lower, check these first: particleboard boxes (fails in humidity), no dovetail (loose drawers in year three), no named hardware (builder-grade that slams), a thin lacquer finish (no moisture protection), and installation that doesn't include leveling or scribing (gaps and rocking counters). Any one of those explains the gap.
The 10% rule
Professional estimators build a 10% contingency into the total for prep work, structural surprises, and hardware upgrades. A quote with no contingency isn't cheaper — the extras just appear later at full retail.
Tariff check
Ask where the boxes are made. Imported cabinets carry a 25% Section 232 tariff (46% combined for Vietnam-sourced goods). Domestic and local builds carry 0% — which is why a local quote can match an imported one with better materials.
Get three Naperville quotes side by side and decode them with this guide — free, no obligation.
