Supplier Quotation
Comparison Template
Six suppliers side by side on the rows that actually decide an order — and the landed cost per piece calculated for you, so the cheapest quote and the cheapest supplier stop being the same guess.
Get the Free Excel TemplateCompare in 3 steps
Quote the same lines
Write the line items on the second sheet and send that file to every supplier — material, dimensions, finish, specs, packaging, quantity.
One column per supplier
Type their answers into the comparison sheet as the replies come in: price, tooling, MOQ, lead time, payment terms, packaging, certificates, evidence sent.
Read landed cost, then score
Enter your quantity, freight, duty, VAT, commission and inspection once — the sheet returns landed cost per piece and names the cheapest supplier.
The cheapest quote is not the cheapest supplier
Send five factories the same email saying "please quote" and you get five different products at five different prices. Before you can even read them, the comparison is already impossible. This template forces every supplier onto the same rows, then does the arithmetic you would otherwise do on the back of an envelope: goods, tooling, freight, duty, VAT, commission and inspection — to one number per supplier, landed cost per piece.
| Section | Rows you compare |
|---|---|
| 1. Who you are talking to | Company name, factory or trading company, city, year founded, contact person and role |
| 2. Price and volume | Unit price ex-works, price break at 2x quantity, tooling / mould cost, sample cost, MOQ |
| 3. Terms | Incoterm and named port, lead time from deposit, payment terms, quote validity |
| 4. Spec and quality | Material and grade offered, key components, certificates, defect rate or warranty |
| 5. Packaging and logistics | Units per carton, carton size, gross weight, cartons per 20GP / 40HQ |
| 6. Evidence they sent | Real product photo, test report or certificate file, factory video call offered, reference buyer in your market |
| 7. Landed cost (auto) | Goods cost, tooling, duty, VAT / GST, commission, inspection → total landed cost and landed cost per piece, with the lowest supplier named automatically |
Landed cost formulas
Type your quantity, freight, duty, VAT, commission and inspection once. Every supplier column calculates itself.
Weighted scorecard
Score 1–5 on six criteria — price 30%, spec honesty 20%, lead time, quality system, communication, export experience — and let it rank them.
Real-quote signals
The sheet lists what a real quote answers and the phrases that mean a supplier is guessing — 'tell me your target price', 'high quality material'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a quotation comparison template?
It puts every supplier's answer to the same questions in one place — one column per supplier, one row per thing you are buying. Unit price, MOQ, tooling, lead time, payment terms, packaging and certificates line up side by side, so the difference between quotes is visible instead of buried in five different PDFs.
Why compare landed cost instead of just unit price?
Because a cheaper unit price can cost more by the time the goods arrive. Freight, duty, VAT/GST, inspection and your sourcing commission all move with the supplier, the carton size and the quantity. A lower price with a bigger carton and a longer lead time can be more expensive per piece delivered. Landed cost is the only comparable number.
How do I make suppliers quote the same thing?
Send every supplier the same written specification and the same RFQ form, with a line-item table they fill in: material and grade, dimensions, finish, key specs, packaging, quantity, Incoterm and lead time. Never send a free-form "please give me your best price" email — you get five different products at five different prices.
Should I always choose the lowest quote?
No. Score the non-price criteria too: spec honesty, lead time, quality system and certificates, communication and export experience. A supplier who is 4% cheaper but ships three weeks late, or substitutes material after the deposit, costs more than the difference. The scorecard sheet weights price at 30% and the other five criteria at 70%.
What is tooling cost and why does it matter?
Tooling or mould cost is the one-off charge for the dies, moulds, jigs or fixtures a factory needs to make your specific product. It is a fixed cost: on a small first order it can be a large share of the total, and it is often left out of the unit price a supplier quotes. Put it on its own row and confirm in writing who owns the tooling and whether it is refundable against production.
How many suppliers should I compare?
Three to six for a normal order: enough to see the real market price band, few enough that each supplier gets a serious conversation and a properly written specification. Comparing ten suppliers on a vague spec produces ten incomparable prices and no decision.
What should be in the RFQ before I compare anything?
Quantity plus the repeat quantity you expect, a measurable specification, target market and certifications required, packaging requirements, Incoterm and named port, the payment terms you will accept, and the AQL standard for the pre-shipment inspection. Quoting without a specification is where most sourcing problems begin.
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Getting three or four factories to quote the same specification is the slow part. Send us what you are buying and the quantity — we collect comparable factory quotes and hand you the filled-in comparison.
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Your numbers
Compared it. Now protect it
Choosing the supplier is the beginning. These are the tools that keep the order on spec after the deposit is paid.
RFQ Template
Send the same inquiry file to every supplier and get comparable quotes instead of apples-to-oranges prices.
Get the templateSupplier Risk Assessment
12 questions, four risk dimensions, no signup — run it on your shortlist before the deposit.
Run the assessmentExport Certification Lookup
What the goods must be certified to before they ship — by category and market, with the citation.
Check your productWhy is this comparison template free?
Because it is how we quote: every factory gets the same line items, and the buyer sees the answers side by side — including our own commission as a line on the sheet, not a hidden markup inside the price. A comparison you cannot audit is not a comparison.
Source and date: published by the sourcing team at Sourcing Agent China, Guangzhou; last reviewed in September 2026. The team has worked 12 years in the Pearl River Delta, verified 2,000+ suppliers and quoted for 3,000+ buyers.
Would you rather we collected the quotes?
Send us the specification and the quantity. We approach the factories that actually make it, collect quotes on your line items, inspect before shipment and charge a transparent 5–8% commission — you see every factory invoice.