Nov. 12, 2026
The price per metre of 0.6/1kV cable depends on the complete cable specification and the order conditions. Conductor material, core sizes, insulation, armour, sheath, quantity, packing and delivery scope all need to be defined before two quotations can be compared fairly.
If you are searching for a 4 core 95mm2 armoured cable price, the next step is to confirm the missing construction details. Four cores and a cross-section do not tell a supplier whether you need copper or aluminium, steel tape or steel wire armour, or a particular performance specification.
A short product name often groups together several cable designs. An offer for Cu/XLPE/STA/PVC is different from one for Al/XLPE/STA/PVC: the first specifies copper and the second aluminium. Similarly, replacing STA with SWA changes the armour construction.
Before comparing the numbers, match each offer to the same approved requirement. Where a supplier proposes a different material or design, keep it in a separate alternative column and request the supporting technical information.
| Price factor | What to check |
|---|---|
| Conductor material and arrangement | Copper or aluminium; conductor class; number and cross-section of every core. |
| Insulation and sheath | Specified materials and performance requirements for both layers. |
| Mechanical protection | Unarmoured, STA, SWA or another specified construction. |
| Testing and documentation | Required reports, inspection arrangements and any additional project tests. |
| Order quantity | Metres per specification and whether the offer assumes a different quantity. |
| Continuous lengths and packing | Number of drums, lengths per drum, packing specification and any length tolerance. |
| Quotation timing | Issue date, validity and whether material costs are fixed for the stated period. |
| Delivery scope | Included transport stages, named destination and excluded charges. |
A quoted unit price is useful only when its unit and scope are clear. For a fixed cable item, the basic line value is the agreed unit price multiplied by the quoted length. Packing, inspection or delivery may already be included, or they may appear as separate lines.
Build a comparison sheet with one row for each cable specification and separate columns for:
Technical compliance and any declared deviations.
Price per metre in the same currency.
Quoted metres and cable line value.
Additional packing or inspection charges, if applicable.
The included delivery stages and destination.
Costs outside the offer that the buyer must still establish.
Quotation validity and the proposed production schedule.
Do not add freight or packing twice when it is already included. Ask the supplier to clarify an ambiguous quotation before using it for the project budget.
Suppose your approved requirement is a 0.6/1kV copper-conductor cable, four equal 95 mm² cores, XLPE insulation, steel tape armour and a PVC sheath. Use that exact description in every RFQ, then add the required standard, conductor class, tests, metres and destination.
An aluminium-conductor quotation is an alternative, not a like-for-like copper quotation. An offer for 3 × 95 + 1 × 50 mm² also has a different core arrangement from 4 × 95 mm². A supplier's lower total may simply reflect fewer metres or a shorter list of included services.
This example illustrates how to compare quotations. It does not select a cable size for a particular load or installation.
When both materials are being considered, evaluate solutions that meet the same project requirements. The required cross-section, terminations, installation space and handling arrangements may differ. Comparing equal-size conductors by price alone does not establish equivalent performance.
For long feeders, electrical design checks include voltage drop as well as current-carrying capacity. The calculation needs the system and installation conditions. See the Eland Cables explanation of voltage drop for the underlying concept.
Does the offered datasheet match every BOQ line?
Are the conductor material, armour and sheath explicitly identified?
Which tests and reports are included, and which are additional?
Does the quantity include any agreed spare length?
Are the continuous drum lengths suitable for the planned cable runs?
Is the quotation still valid when the order will be placed?
Does the schedule refer to production completion, dispatch or arrival?
Use it as an initial reference only when its specification and conditions are clear. Obtain a dated quotation for your actual construction, quantity and delivery scope before relying on it for an order.
Check whether the specification, quantity, packing, delivery scope or quotation date changed. Ask the supplier to identify the cause rather than assuming that every price difference is a material-price movement.
No. A low price alone does not prove poor quality, and a high price does not prove compliance. Review the product specification, evidence, exclusions and commercial scope together.
Send a complete line item and quantity, with the destination and required date. Our LV cable RFQ checklist shows the information to include.
Review Honglin Cable's 0.6/1kV power cable range and send the required construction, metres and destination. For several cable items, prepare a BOQ so the quotation can identify each specification and its delivery requirements separately.
Planning a new overseas order? Use our LV cable procurement checklist to organise technical review, documents, packing and dispatch.
Previous post:
Buying LV Cable from China: A Project Procurement ChecklistNext chapter:
Low Voltage Cable Quotation: What to Include in Your RFQ
