Process · 8 min read
How to get an architectural lighting quotation
To get an accurate architectural lighting quotation, send a supplier your drawings, room uses, ceiling details, dimming requirements and programme — and expect back an itemised quote in which every fitting is resolved to its exact variant, with drivers, accessories, delivery basis and exclusions stated. A lump sum against a vague schedule is not a quotation; it is a placeholder that becomes variations later.
By the NEKO Lighting London specification team · Last reviewed
A lighting quotation is only as good as the information it is built on and the detail it commits to. This guide covers both sides: what to send so a supplier can price your project properly, and what a credible quotation must contain so you can compare offers and order with confidence. It applies equally to a prime London home, a restaurant fit-out and a tendered commercial package.
What to send for an accurate quotation
- Drawings — plans and, ideally, reflected ceiling plans, as PDF, DWG or DXF. Even marked-up sketches beat a verbal description.
- Room uses and atmosphere — a kitchen, a gallery wall and a home cinema need different light; say what each space is for.
- Ceiling information — construction, void depth, insulation and any fire-rating constraints determine which fittings are even possible.
- An incumbent specification, if one exists — the named products and their critical parameters are the benchmark any alternative must meet.
- Dimming and controls — the protocol (ON-OFF, phase, 1-10 V, DALI) changes driver selection and therefore the price of nearly every line.
- Programme — when lighting must be approved and when it must be on site.
- A budget range, if you have one — it lets the supplier propose the right tier first instead of iterating.
What a proper lighting quotation includes
Architectural luminaires are configured products. The same family can exist in dozens of combinations of size, output, beam angle, colour temperature, CRI, finish, trim and driver — at different prices. A quotation that does not state the exact configuration is not committing to anything.
| Element | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact product code and variant | Locks the size, output, optic, CCT, CRI, finish and trim — what you approve is what arrives |
| Driver and dimming protocol | The most common source of on-site failure; phase and DALI drivers are different products at different prices |
| Accessories | Trims, recessing boxes, track, connectors and mounting kits — if they are not listed, they are probably not included |
| Quantity per line, priced ex VAT | Allows like-for-like comparison and partial ordering |
| Delivery basis | Whether delivery is included, charged or quoted separately, and to where |
| Validity period | Configured imported products carry currency and production-cost exposure; an open-ended price is not a real price |
| Exclusions and responsibilities | Installation, electrical design, emergency compliance and commissioning are normally separate — a good quotation says so |
The process, step by step
- Enquiry — send drawings and the information above; a short call usually resolves the gaps faster than email.
- Review — the supplier checks buildability: cut-outs against ceiling voids, IP ratings in wet areas, dimming compatibility, emergency provisions.
- Proposal — for open briefs, a product selection or concept comes first; for defined schedules, pricing starts immediately.
- Quotation — itemised, configured, with validity and exclusions stated.
- Clarification — a walkthrough of the quotation is worth thirty minutes of anyone's time; the questions you ask now are variations you avoid later.
- Order — against a deposit arrangement and confirmed production slots; lead times are confirmed at order, not guessed at quotation.
How long does it take?
It depends almost entirely on the completeness of what you send. A defined schedule against clear drawings can be priced quickly; an open design brief needs a concept stage first. Whatever the starting point, a credible supplier will tell you the expected turnaround at the first conversation — and if a deadline is fixed, say so up front, because tender returns are routine in this industry and can be prioritised.
How to compare two lighting quotations
Never compare bottom-line figures alone. The cheaper quotation is frequently the one that has quietly left things out. Compare line by line:
- Configuration equivalence — same output band, beam options, CCT, CRI and glare control? A 90+ CRI fitting and an 80 CRI fitting are different products.
- Drivers and dimming — included and matched to your protocol on both quotes?
- Accessories — recessing boxes, trims and track components priced on both?
- Delivery and validity — stated on both, on the same basis?
- Scope — does each quote carry the same exclusions, or is one silently assuming work the other includes?
Getting a quotation from NEKO Lighting London
Project quotations are free and itemised, built from your drawings and specification with every line resolved to its exact variant. Send your drawings through the enquiry form — PDF, DWG and DXF are all fine — or book a free consultation if the brief is still taking shape.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lighting quotation really free?
Yes — project quotations from NEKO Lighting London are free and itemised, whatever the outcome. For qualified projects an initial concept lighting design is also free; we always tell you in advance if any stage of work would carry a cost.
Can I get a quotation without finished drawings?
Yes, but expect a two-step process: an initial selection and budget direction first, then a firm itemised quotation once layouts settle. Pricing a configured lighting package accurately without drawings is guesswork, and guesswork becomes variations.
Why do lighting quotations have a validity period?
Architectural luminaires are configured, manufactured products with currency and production-cost exposure. A stated validity period protects both sides: you know exactly how long the price stands, and a re-quote after expiry reflects real current costs rather than hidden contingency.
Should the quotation include installation?
Usually not — supply and installation are normally separate scopes with separate responsibilities. What matters is that the quotation says so explicitly, and that your electrical contractor sees the schedule before ordering, so cut-outs, voids and dimming are coordinated.
Project enquiry
Put this guidance to work on your scheme.
Send drawings for a free review, request a quotation, or talk a question through with a London-based lighting specialist.
Prefer to talk? +44 73 777 09983 — London office hours.