Put two or three written proposals on the same declared scope. Record what each bidder documents, flag mismatched assumptions, and print the questions that still need answers.
Mark what each proposal includes. Entries remain in this browser tab and are not added to the URL or sent with analytics events.
Wide tables scroll horizontally. On phones, each scope line becomes a labeled card with every quote visible.
| Comparison sequenceMatch the core project first.Then complete 10 written-scope lines below. Do not compare totals until rated kW, fuel, transfer operation, and coverage describe the same job. | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| 01Generator equipmentModel, rated kW, fuel-specific rating, delivery, and listed accessories | ||
| 02Transfer switch & load controlOperation, amperage, service scope, load-management modules, and integration | ||
| 03Electrical workConductors, conduit, grounding, bonding, feeder route, panel tie-in, and labeling | ||
| 04Fuel connectionPipe or tank work, route length, trenching, regulators, pressure testing, and utility coordination | ||
| 05Placement & site preparationApproved location, pad, drainage, anchoring, access, excavation, and restoration | ||
| 06Permits & inspectionsElectrical, fuel, building, zoning, fire, utility, HOA, and inspection responsibility | ||
| 07Panel or service workKnown panel corrections, service changes, disconnects, surge protection, and deferred work | ||
| 08Startup & commissioningStartup, simulated outage, load test, monitoring setup, documentation, and owner orientation | ||
| 09Warranty & serviceEquipment registration, labor coverage, exclusions, maintenance, and local service responsibility | ||
| 10Schedule, changes & exclusionsStart and completion window, payment schedule, taxes, change orders, cleanup, and written exclusions |
Matching entries do not validate pricing, contractor qualifications, code compliance, or omitted scope. Resolve the written questions before using totals to choose between bids.
Work across the table one row at a time. Any core mismatch, allowance, condition, unclear field, missing document detail, or exclusion creates a bidder question here.
Generator Budget quote-comparison worksheet · Version 2026.08 · Reviewed 2026-08-18. Planning comparison only; no independent professional review, contractor approval, design review, or code-compliance determination.
The comparison follows the proposal as written. It never fills a missing line with a national allowance, adjusts a contractor's price, scores workmanship, or declares a winning bidder.
Record rated generator kW, fuel, transfer operation, and coverage plan. An 18 kW managed-load proposal and a 22 kW whole-home proposal are different projects even if both pages say “complete installation.” Resolve that difference before reading the price spread.
Mark a line Included only when the written quote clearly places it inside the stated total. Use Allowance, Conditional, Unclear, Not documented, or Excluded when the document says something else. A missing line is a question—not permission to assume the contractor included it.
Fuel work, permits, trench restoration, utility coordination, panel corrections, warranty registration, and commissioning can be performed by different parties. Ask who owns each task, which fee is included, and what finding would trigger a written change order.
A checked line proves only that text appears in the proposal. It does not verify licensure, insurance, workmanship, equipment equivalence, code compliance, fuel capacity, clearance, or warranty enforceability. Use current official records and qualified local professionals for those decisions.
Consumer guidance supports written estimates and careful comparison. Generator and safety sources identify installation topics that may need to appear in a proposal. None of these sources approves a contractor, supplies a universal contract, or validates the project design.
Prepared and maintained by Generator Budget. Version 2026.08; reviewed 2026-08-18. This page has not received independent professional review. Send corrections through the Contact page.
Get multiple written estimates, compare scope and materials instead of automatically choosing the lowest bidder, verify licensing and insurance where applicable, and use a written contract.
General U.S. consumer guidance. Contract, licensing, cancellation, payment, and permit rules still vary by state and locality.Open sourceA standby-generator proposal may need to address placement, site preparation, fuel connection, transfer equipment, permits, commissioning, and project timing.
Manufacturer process context, not an independent price benchmark or a complete contract standard for every brand and jurisdiction.Open sourceStationary-generator work commonly involves licensed trades, manufacturer instructions, local codes, permits, and inspection of electrical and fuel connections where required by the authority having jurisdiction.
CPSC staff report that was not reviewed or approved by the Commission. Safety and regulatory context only; it does not create a national clearance rule, universal bid format, permit list, or project price.Open sourceThese answers describe the tool's limits as carefully as its use.
The tool accepts two or three written proposals. The FTC recommends getting multiple estimates, and some state consumer agencies specifically suggest three, but the useful test is whether the proposals describe the same work, materials, timing, and price clearly enough to compare.
Not automatically. A lower total may reflect a different generator size, coverage plan, transfer switch, fuel route, permit responsibility, warranty, or exclusion. Resolve those differences and verify contractor credentials before treating the totals as comparable.
No. Missing text means the written proposal does not document that scope. Mark it as Not documented and ask the bidder to confirm whether it is included, separately priced, conditional, excluded, or handled by someone else.
No. Ask for current proof and verify the applicable license or registration with the relevant state, county, or local authority. Requirements and official lookup systems vary by jurisdiction.
No. It only compares what written proposals say. The exact model instructions, qualified electrical and fuel professionals, the authority having jurisdiction, permit reviewers, and site inspection determine the final design, placement, clearances, connections, and approvals.
Use the sizing, component, and installed-cost tools to define the intended scope. Contractor proposals still control their own written prices and terms.