Why you cannot price-match a staircase
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
We do not price-match staircases, ever, and it is not stubbornness. It is because you cannot really price-match a staircase in the first place: two quotes are almost never for the same thing. On paper they can look identical. Underneath they are often miles apart, and the gaps are exactly the things that do not show in a photo.
What is actually different between two quotes
Before you trust a cheaper number, check it is quoting the same stair:
- The sectional size of the timber. Thinner strings, lighter newels and smaller spindles cost less and look almost the same in a photo. A 32mm string and a 27mm one are not the same stair in ten years. This is the sharpest difference, and almost nobody checks it.
- The timber, species and grade. Same species? Same grade? Solid or engineered? Where was it sourced and processed?
- The handrails. Tenoned into the newels, or just butted up and screwed?
- The landing. Does it include the joists, flooring and skirting, or just the flight? That one line can be the whole price gap.
- Who measured it. Did the company survey it themselves, or is it built off figures you gave them, with the risk on you if they are wrong?
- Delivery, and whether it was dry-fitted. Both cost money, and both get quietly dropped to hit a price.
Why matching a price means matching a lower spec
Line those up and the cheaper quote often turns out to be for less stair, not a better deal. That is why we will not price-match. The only way we could meet a lower number is by dropping our timber sections, our materials or our process to match theirs, and then it is not the stair you actually wanted, it just has the same price on it. Match the price and all you have matched is a lower specification.
How to compare properly
You do not need us to be the cheapest. You need to compare like for like, so a lower number does not con you. Take the checklist above into both quotes and make them answer it. Once two quotes are genuinely for the same stair, a price difference finally tells you something real. For the full component picture, see what you are actually getting when you order a staircase, and the wider list in questions to ask before you buy a staircase.
Frequently asked
Why will a staircase maker not price-match?+
Because you cannot price-match a staircase like for like: two quotes are almost never for the same thing. The only way to meet a lower number is to drop timber sections, materials or process to match it, which means matching a lower specification, not giving you the same stair cheaper.
Why is one staircase quote so much cheaper than another?+
Because the cheaper one is often for less stair. Thinner timber sections, a different species or grade, butted rather than tenoned handrails, a landing quoted as just the flight, no site survey and no dry fit all cut the price and none of them show in a photo.
What is the biggest difference between two staircase quotes?+
The sectional size of the timber. Thinner strings, lighter newels and smaller spindles look almost identical in a photo but cost less and do not last the same. A 32mm string and a 27mm one are not the same stair, and almost nobody thinks to check it.
How do I compare staircase quotes fairly?+
Make both quotes answer the same checklist: timber sectional size, species and grade, solid or engineered, tenoned or butted handrails, what the landing includes, who measured it, and whether delivery and a factory dry fit are in. Once both are genuinely for the same stair, the price difference means something.
Related guides
- Bespoke or made-to-order? The most abused word in the stair tradeWhat "bespoke" really means on a staircase, why most "bespoke" stairs are actually made-to-order, the ladder from off-the-peg to truly bespoke, and why a bespoke service is not the same as a bespoke product.
- What actually drives the cost of a staircaseThere is no single price for a staircase because the cost is driven by choices: the design, the timber and its grade, the sectional sizes, the balustrade, and how much of the surrounding work is included. Here is what actually moves the number.
- Does a new staircase add value to your home?It depends on why you are doing it. You can overspend on a staircase and not get it back, because a stair is a personal choice like a kitchen or a bathroom, so if you are selling, go with what appeals broadly rather than a personal statement. If the existing stairs are worn out, replacing them is as much about safety as value.
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