A measured quote breaks a job into quantities — square metres of wall, linear metres of skirting, a count of doors — each priced individually. A lump-sum quote gives one figure for the whole scope. Both can be entirely fair; the difference is how easily you can check what you are actually paying for.
Because each element is broken out, a measured quote lets you compare rates between contractors line by line and see exactly what happens to the total if you remove or add an area. This transparency is valuable on larger or more complex jobs where scope might still shift slightly before work starts.
For smaller, well-understood jobs, a lump sum is quicker to produce and compare, and it avoids the client needing to interpret a schedule of rates. The contractor absorbs the risk of getting individual quantities slightly wrong within that single figure.
A measured quote with vague or missing line items can hide gaps just as easily as a lump sum can. A lump sum with no supporting breakdown at all makes it hard to judge whether a lower price has actually left something out rather than being genuinely more efficient.
Even where a lump sum is the preferred structure, it is reasonable to ask for a short supporting breakdown of what it includes — areas, coats, preparation standard — so that comparison between contractors is still possible without needing a full bill of quantities.
Not automatically — it depends on the quality of the measuring and the completeness of the line items, not just the format itself.
Yes, most contractors can provide a supporting breakdown behind a lump-sum figure if asked before work is instructed, so comparison remains possible.
A lump sum is usually proportionate for a small, well-defined domestic job, since the effort of a full measured schedule can outweigh its benefit at that scale.
Ask us for a measured breakdown alongside our quote so you can compare it clearly against others.
Neither format is inherently better — the value is in whether the quote is genuinely transparent about scope.
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.
