Key takeaways
- Never compare the total price alone — compare what is inside each quote
- Check the unit: per m², per piece or per carton, and whether grout lines are included in the area
- Confirm what the price excludes: packing, pallets, inland freight, documents, bank charges
- Verify the grade and reports (water absorption, PEI, slip rating), not just the photo
- Match the quantity and wastage assumptions between quotes
- Ask who pays for samples and how they are sent
1. Never compare the total price alone
A tile price per square metre can vary by more than 100% for a product that looks identical on screen, because the specification and the inclusions differ. Break every quote into the same parts and compare those, not the bottom line.
2. Get the unit right
Tiles are quoted per m², per piece or per carton, depending on the supplier and the format. This causes real errors:
- Per m² vs per carton: a carton may hold 1.44 m² (four 600×600 mm tiles) or 1.08 m² (three).
- Per piece vs per m²: a 600×1200 mm tile is 0.72 m² each — easy to mis-multiply.
- Cutting and waste: ask whether the quoted area is the laid area or the supplied area including waste.
Always ask for the quantity in m², the pieces, and the cartons, with the area per carton stated.
3. What a complete tile price should include
- The tile itself, at the stated grade and specification
- Standard export packing (cartons, pallets where applicable, corner protection)
- Loading at the factory and delivery to the port (for FOB — see Incoterms explained)
- Batch marking and shade control
4. What quotes often exclude
| Item | Often excluded |
|---|---|
| Pallets / crating | Yes, sometimes "wooden packaging" is extra |
| Fumigation / heat treatment | Yes, for wooden packing |
| Inland freight & port charges | Depends on the Incoterm |
| Freight, insurance, customs, duties | Almost always excluded beyond FOB |
| Bank/transfer charges | Yes, split or charged to buyer |
| Documents and certificates | Certificate of origin, test reports may be extra |
| Samples | Cost and courier usually to the buyer |
Add these to each quote before comparing. A low tile price with expensive packing is not a low total.
5. Check the grade claims, not just the picture
Two tiles with the same look can be different products. Ask for:
- Water absorption (porcelain is ≤ 0.5%; standard ceramic is higher)
- PEI / wear or abrasion class where relevant
- Slip resistance (R9–R13) for anything that sees water
- Size tolerance and whether tiles are rectified
- A test report from a recognised lab, not a screenshot
6. Compare quantity and wastage the same way
If one quote includes 8% wastage and another quotes the exact laid area, the second is not cheaper — it is short. Normalise the quantity before comparing prices, using a consistent overage (see the waste table in how to prepare a bill of quantities).
7. Samples: who pays, what you get
Approved samples are the reference for the whole order. Confirm whether samples are free, who pays courier, and that the sample you approve is the production batch. Keep a sealed reference sample on site.
8. Get a second opinion
When two quotes differ widely for the same specification, the gap is usually packing, grade or exclusions — not generosity. A supplier who will itemise inclusions is easier to trust than one who refuses.
9. How VIGOHOME quotes tiles
VIGOHOME quotes tiles in m², pieces and cartons, states the packing and loading terms, notes what sits outside the price, and supplies the matching test reports and batch markings. If you have two quotes that look inconsistent, send both and we will help you line them up.
Frequently asked questions
Why are two tile quotes so different for the same product?
Almost always the specification or the inclusions. The unit (m2, piece or carton), the grade, the packing, and what is excluded differ between suppliers, so two totals are rarely measuring the same thing. Compare line by line, not on the bottom figure.
Is the cheapest tile price the best value?
Rarely. A lower price often means thinner packing, a lower grade, or more exclusions that reappear as freight and breakage. The best value is the lowest all-in cost for a specification you can rely on.
What is usually excluded from an FOB tile quote?
Commonly wooden pallets or crating, fumigation, inland freight to port, bank charges, document and certificate fees, and sample couriers. Normalise these before comparing two FOB quotes.
How do I compare quotes with different wastage?
Multiply each quote's unit price by the same quantity including the same overage, so both cover the same delivered area. A quote matching only the laid area will run short.
Next: align the quantities first with how to prepare a bill of quantities.