The reading room

Comparing options

A fair comparison starts with the job you need done and ends with a total you can compare: price, running cost, delivery, warranty and what you keep if you cancel. These guides show how to build that comparison and where official figures come from.

Examples are illustrative unless a guide says it quotes a seller’s own page, in which case it gives the date we checked. We do not test or rate products.

Start here A better product shortlist starts with three non-negotiables