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.
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.
