How many contractor quotes should you get?

Most guides quoted here name at least three bids, estimates or contractors: California's contractor board, Checkbook and agencies in New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Virginia; New York, Ohio and Virginia ask for written estimates. The FTC says to get multiple estimates, the Illinois Attorney General more than one, and Michigan's Attorney General lists seeking two or three written estimates.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources read: 20 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-20

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Key facts

California's Contractors State License Board, in What Seniors Should Know, says: "Get at least three construction bids."
Source: California Contractors State License Board, What Seniors Should Know (PDF, pub. 13P-066/0823), read 20 October 2026.
New York's Attorney General says: "Interview multiple contractors. Contact at least three contractors and get written estimates for your project."
Source: New York Attorney General, Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor tip card, read 20 October 2026.
Consumers' Checkbook says: "Get several bids. Get at least three, but more is better."
Source: Consumers' Checkbook, Getting Prices and Proposals for Remodeling Work, read 20 October 2026.
The FTC says: "Don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder. And ask for an explanation if there’s a big difference among the estimates."
Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

Which public guides name a number of quotes?

Six of the nine guides below name at least three. The FTC says to get multiple estimates, the Illinois Attorney General to get more than one estimate, and Michigan's Attorney General lists seeking two or three written estimates. Each entry gives the guide's own words, with a link to the page and the date it was read.

Source: California Contractors State License Board, What Seniors Should Know (PDF, pub. 13P-066/0823), read 20 October 2026.
Source: New York Attorney General, Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor tip card, read 20 October 2026.
Source: Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Tips: Home Improvement, read 20 October 2026.
Source: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, Home Repair Tips, read 20 October 2026.
Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor (PDF), read 20 October 2026.
Source: Consumers' Checkbook, Getting Prices and Proposals for Remodeling Work, read 20 October 2026.
Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Illinois Attorney General, Home Repair Fraud, read 20 October 2026.
Source: Michigan Attorney General, press release dated June 10, 2026, read 20 October 2026.

California. The Contractors State License Board's guide What Seniors Should Know, read 20 October 2026, says: "Get at least three construction bids."
Source: California Contractors State License Board, What Seniors Should Know (PDF, pub. 13P-066/0823), read 20 October 2026.
New York. The Attorney General's tip card Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor, read 20 October 2026, says: "Interview multiple contractors. Contact at least three contractors and get written estimates for your project."
Source: New York Attorney General, Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor tip card, read 20 October 2026.
Ohio. The Attorney General's home improvement tips, read 20 October 2026, list among the things to have in place before you sign: "You have received at least three written estimates from three different contractors."
Source: Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Tips: Home Improvement, read 20 October 2026.
Oklahoma. The Construction Industries Board's Home Repair Tips, read 20 October 2026, carry the heading "OBTAIN AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES" over this advice: "When you request an estimate from a contractor, find out if there is a charge for the estimate – whether or not you decide to use the contractor."
Source: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, Home Repair Tips, read 20 October 2026.
Virginia. The Virginia Board for Contractors guide What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, read 20 October 2026, says: "Solicit at least three bids for the work you need. Do not automatically accept the lowest."
Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor (PDF), read 20 October 2026.
Checkbook. The consumer research group's article Getting Prices and Proposals for Remodeling Work, read 20 October 2026, says: "Get several bids. Get at least three, but more is better."
Source: Consumers' Checkbook, Getting Prices and Proposals for Remodeling Work, read 20 October 2026.
The FTC. Its consumer advice on hiring home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026, says: "Get multiple estimates."
Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Illinois. The Attorney General's home repair fraud page, read 20 October 2026, says: "Get more than one estimate and get them in writing."
Source: Illinois Attorney General, Home Repair Fraud, read 20 October 2026.
Michigan. An Attorney General release dated June 10, 2026, read 20 October 2026, lists among its advice: "Seeking two or three written estimates for the work and carefully comparing the services and materials with the price."
Source: Michigan Attorney General, press release dated June 10, 2026, read 20 October 2026.

Do more than three quotes help?

They can, as long as each one prices the same work. Checkbook says more is better and to sit down with at least three (but preferably four or five) prospects; Virginia's board says it is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications; and the Illinois Attorney General says to make sure the estimates are based on the same work.

Source: Consumers' Checkbook, Getting Prices and Proposals for Remodeling Work, read 20 October 2026.
Source: Consumers' Checkbook, Remodelers and General Contractors, read 20 October 2026.
Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor (PDF), read 20 October 2026.
Source: Illinois Attorney General, The Savvy Consumer's Checklist: Home Repair, read 20 October 2026.

Checkbook's guide to remodelers and general contractors, read 20 October 2026, says: "Sit down with at least three (but preferably four or five) prospects and go over your plan in detail."

Source: Consumers' Checkbook, Remodelers and General Contractors, read 20 October 2026.

The Virginia Board for Contractors guide, read the same day, says: "It is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors."

Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor (PDF), read 20 October 2026.

The Illinois Attorney General's home repair checklist, read the same day, says: "Make sure the estimates are based on the same work so you can make meaningful comparisons."

Source: Illinois Attorney General, The Savvy Consumer's Checklist: Home Repair, read 20 October 2026.

Here is our own reading, not any agency's words. Another quote adds the most when the ones you have describe the same job and still disagree on price. It adds the least when each contractor has priced a different version of the job, because then the totals cannot be compared at all.

What if your quotes come back far apart?

Ask each contractor to explain the difference before you choose or go looking for another quote. The FTC says not to automatically choose the lowest bidder, Virginia's board not to automatically accept the lowest, and Oklahoma's board says the lowest estimate may not reflect the quality of materials used.

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor (PDF), read 20 October 2026.
Source: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, Home Repair Tips, read 20 October 2026.

The FTC's consumer advice, read 20 October 2026, says: "Don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder. And ask for an explanation if there’s a big difference among the estimates."

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

Oklahoma's Construction Industries Board, in the same tip that asks for at least three estimates, says: "Remember, the lowest estimate may not reflect the quality of materials used."

Source: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, Home Repair Tips, read 20 October 2026.

Virginia's board says, in its section on competitive bids: "Make sure all bids are based on the same set of specifications."

Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor (PDF), read 20 October 2026.

How can you line up quotes you can compare?

Decide what you are asking for before you ask anyone for a number, then send the same written request to every contractor. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any agency.

Write one description of the job: what you want done, the measurements, the materials you have in mind and anything you want left out.
Send that same description to each contractor, and ask for a written estimate that covers the items in the FTC's list: "A written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price."
Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Find out if there is a charge for the estimate, as Oklahoma's board advises.
Source: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, Home Repair Tips, read 20 October 2026.
When the estimates arrive, check that each one prices the work you described before you compare totals.
If one estimate leaves out part of the job, ask that contractor to complete it in writing before you count it.
If the totals are far apart, ask each contractor in writing what explains the difference, and keep the answers with the estimates.

Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?

Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 20 October 2026.

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