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Foundation Bid Comparison Worksheet

Three foundation bids, a $10,000 spread, and no one shows you the math — that's the norm, not the exception, because contractors scope the same job differently before they price it. This foundation bid comparison worksheet puts up to three bids side by side, line item by line item, so you can see exactly where the numbers actually diverge. Fill it in on screen or print it and take it to your next contractor walkthrough.

Foundation repair bid comparison worksheet — three-bid line item template
Line Item	Bid 1	Bid 2	Bid 3

This worksheet is a comparison tool, not a source of pricing. Ranges shown elsewhere on this site are general San Diego County planning figures, not your bid — the numbers you write in above should come from your actual contractor quotes.

Why Foundation Repair Bids Vary So Much for the Same House

Bids vary because contractors scope the job differently before pricing it — one bidder's number might include engineering, permits, and cosmetic restoration while another's covers piers alone. A $10,000 spread between three bids is common because they are pricing three different scopes under the same one-line description.

This worksheet exists specifically to surface that gap. When you write "$9,500" for Bid 1 and "$18,200" for Bid 2 in the same row, the number alone tells you nothing — but when Bid 1's row is blank for "engineered plan & stamp" and Bid 2's isn't, you've found the actual reason for the spread. Read our underpinning cost guide for what each of these line items should generally include.

How to Use This Worksheet

Fill in one column per bid using the exact line items each contractor gave you. Where a bidder didn't itemize something on this worksheet, mark it "not specified" rather than assuming it's included — that gap is exactly what you want to ask about before signing.

Do this right after each walkthrough, while the contractor's explanation is still fresh, not after all three bids have arrived by email weeks apart. If a bidder's written proposal doesn't break out pier count or spacing, call and ask before you fill in that row — a phone call that clarifies scope is worth more than guessing. Once all three columns are filled in, the blank cells are your questions for round two, not gaps you should quietly assume are "probably included."

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Good to Know

Bid Comparison — Frequently Asked Questions

Why do foundation repair bids vary so much for the same house?+

Bids vary because contractors scope the job differently before pricing it — one bidder's number might include engineering, permits, and cosmetic restoration while another's covers piers alone. A $10,000 spread between three bids is common not because one contractor is gouging you, but because they are pricing three different scopes under the same one-line description.

How do I use the foundation bid comparison worksheet?+

Print or fill in one column per bid, using the exact line items each contractor gave you. Where a bidder didn't itemize something on this worksheet, mark it "not specified" rather than assuming it's included — that gap is exactly what you want to ask about before signing.

What's the single biggest red flag when comparing bids?+

A lump-sum total with no line-item breakdown is the biggest red flag, because it's impossible to tell what's included and what isn't. A second red flag is a bid with no pier count or spacing specified when the others do — that usually means the diagnosis, not just the price, differs between bidders. See our inspection guide for how to get an independent diagnosis first.

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