How to get real quotes from a parts list

Turn price ranges into real prices without wasting a week.

Group the list by supplier type

Your draft says which kind of supplier sells each part. Put the parts for each kind together.

Send one clear request

List each part with its spec and quantity, the date you need it and where it ships to. Ask for price, lead time and shipping.

Ask at least three suppliers

Prices for the same part often differ a lot, and lead times differ even more.

Compare like with like

Check that specs, quantities and warranty match before you compare prices.

Watch the lead times

A cheap part that arrives in ten weeks can cost more than it saves if the build stops.

Update the budget

Replace each range with the quote, and keep a contingency for what you haven't priced yet.

Concept drafts are for planning, budgeting and talking to professionals. They are not engineering or build plans. Have a qualified professional check any design before you build or use it.

More guides

How to write a great concept draft request

The five things to put in one sentence so your first draft is close to what you want.

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The steps between a planning draft and a finished thing, and who does each one.

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Permits 101 for things you build

What usually needs a permit or registration, and how to find out for your build.

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How to budget a build

Turn a parts list into a realistic total, with the costs people forget.

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Choosing materials for your build

How to pick between materials for strength, weight, weather and cost.

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Working with professionals

Who to involve, when, and how a concept draft saves you money with them.

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How to read a concept draft

What each section of a draft tells you, and what to do with it.

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Prototype before you build the real thing

Small, cheap tests that save expensive mistakes.

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Battery, solar and DC power basics for builders

The few numbers that size most battery and solar builds.

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Measure your space before you plan

The measurements that change a draft, and how to take them.

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Keep your plan current while you build

A plan only helps if it matches what you actually built.

Guide

Start with an idea. Finish with a plan.

Describe it in one sentence. Your concept draft is ready in about a minute.

Draft my idea

For planning only: have a qualified professional check any design before you build or use it.