Craftsman Book Company has published construction cost estimating references since 1952. Our cost data is built from industry sources, reviewed regularly, adjusted for local cost differences, and designed to help professionals prepare informed and defensible estimates.
“Estimating is an art, not a science.”
No single price is correct for every project. Construction costs vary based on project conditions, local markets, contractor practices, productivity, scope, and what is included or excluded from the estimate.
Craftsman cost data provides a reliable starting point. Users should apply their professional judgment and adjust costs as needed to reflect actual project conditions.
Where the data comes from
Craftsman pricing is developed from the same types of sources professional estimators use, including:
Contractors and subcontractors
Material suppliers
Material pricing services
Completed project costs
Construction plans and specifications
Published and unpublished cost studies
Ongoing surveys and market research
Craftsman also monitors pricing for more than 1,000 key construction materials in major metropolitan areas.
How pricing is reviewed
Prices are checked continually by Craftsman staff and through reports from contractors who use Craftsman references when pricing construction and reconstruction work.
When Craftsman receives inquiries about potentially inadequate or incorrect data, those claims are reviewed. When appropriate, corrected or expanded information is published through Craftsman Software Update.
How local costs are handled
Construction costs vary by location. Craftsman maintains geographic cost modifiers for U.S. ZIP codes and Canadian postal sortation areas.
These modifiers are revised and published regularly to reflect relative differences in labor and material costs from one area to another.
How often data is updated
Craftsman updates cost data on a regular schedule. Depending on the publication or service, cost data may be distributed quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Geographic modifiers are generally published semi-annually.
What makes the data supportable
Craftsman supports estimates by providing item-by-item cost detail, including labor, material, equipment, waste, and coverage factors where applicable.
Most estimates also include summaries of cost components. This helps users understand how costs are developed instead of relying only on a final price.
This transparency allows estimators, insurers, contractors, and other professionals to better understand, explain, and defend their estimates.
What types of data Craftsman provides
Craftsman publishes construction cost data for many categories, including:
Residential and commercial construction
General construction
Repair and remodeling
Renovation and insurance repair
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, painting, masonry, concrete, carpentry, and other trades
Heavy construction, earthwork, and equipment
Across its product lines, Craftsman maintains tens of thousands of individual cost items and publishes a large volume of construction cost information each year.
Data licensing, API access, and software partnerships
Craftsman licenses cost data to software developers, insurers, appraisal organizations, estimating professionals, government offices, and other industry partners.
Data is available in multiple formats, including Excel, text, PDF, relational database formats, and API-based integrations.
The Craftsman Data Licensing API enables partners to access Craftsman cost data directly within their own applications, workflows, estimating platforms, analytics tools, and business systems.
For more information about data licensing and API access, visit Craftsman Data Licensing
Summary
Since 1952, Craftsman has provided construction cost information designed to help professionals make informed, consistent, and defensible estimating decisions.
Craftsman cost data is built from industry sources, reviewed continually, adjusted for local cost differences, and supported by detailed cost breakdowns that help users understand how estimates are developed.