AI-Powered · RSMeans Benchmarks · Live Tariff Data

The Cost Estimate ChatGPT Can't Give You

Line-item breakdown grounded in regional labor rates, current material prices, and permit fees. Not a formula — an actual estimate built from real construction data.

RSMeans 2024 benchmarks
Regional labor rates by trade
2026 tariff-adjusted materials
Permit fees by jurisdiction
1
Project Type
2
Details
3
Scope

What type of project is this?

Select the category that best describes your project.

🏠
New Home
Single family, custom, spec
🔨
Renovation
Kitchen, bath, addition
🏢
Commercial
Office, retail, restaurant
🏗️
Multi-Family
Apartments, condos
🏭
Industrial
Warehouse, manufacturing
🏗️
TI / Fitout
Tenant improvement

Why This Estimate Is Different

ChatGPT gives you a guess. We give you an estimate grounded in the same data professional estimators use.

📊

RSMeans Benchmarks

Cost-per-sqft ranges by project type and region, sourced from RSMeans City Cost Data 2024 and Dodge Construction Outlook. Calibrated to current market conditions.

👷

Regional Labor Rates

Prevailing wage rates by trade and metro area from BLS OES data. Includes full burden rate (taxes, insurance, benefits) — not just the bare wage. Covers 15+ major metros.

🔩

Tariff-Adjusted Materials

2026 import tariffs applied to steel (+25%), copper (+7.5%), HVAC (+10%), and other affected materials. Every tariff-impacted line item is flagged with the exact dollar impact.

📋

Permit Fee Database

Building permit fee schedules for 20+ jurisdictions. Accurate permit estimates by city — not a generic 1% rule. Covers top US metros with verified fee formulas.

📈

Data Gets Smarter

As contractors complete projects on BuildStackHub, real actuals feed back into the benchmark data. Month 1: industry data. Month 24: cross-contractor intelligence.

📄

Bid-Ready PDF

Full report includes a professional bid package — formatted with scope of work, payment terms, exclusions, and validity period. Ready to attach to a client proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the AI cost estimate? +
Our estimates are grounded in RSMeans City Cost Data 2024, BLS regional labor rates, and current material prices with tariff adjustments. Typical accuracy is ±15–25% — appropriate for budget-setting and client conversations, not for final bids. Always verify with subcontractor quotes before submitting a hard bid.
What does the $199 full estimate include? +
The full estimate includes 12–20 line items across all trade categories, a professional bid package formatted for client presentation, tariff impact analysis showing exactly which materials are affected and by how much, a regional comparison vs. local market averages, permit fee estimate, downloadable PDF, and a 30-day validity period with exclusions.
How is this different from a standard cost calculator? +
A cost calculator applies a single $/sqft multiplier to your square footage. Our AI estimator uses curated regional data: actual prevailing wage rates by trade and metro area, current material prices with 2026 tariff adjustments, RSMeans cost-per-sqft benchmarks by project type, and jurisdiction-specific permit fee schedules. The result is a unique estimate for your specific project, not a formula.
How do tariffs affect my construction estimate in 2026? +
Current tariffs add 25% to structural steel (Section 232), 7.5% to copper wire and plumbing fittings (Section 301), and 10% to HVAC equipment (tariffs on refrigerants and imported components). For a typical 2,000 sqft house, tariff impacts can add $8,000–$22,000 to the budget. Our estimator flags every tariff-affected line item and shows the exact dollar impact.
Can I use this estimate in a client proposal? +
The free preview is for internal use only. The full $199 report includes a formatted bid package designed to be presented to clients — with scope of work, payment terms, exclusions, and a 30-day validity period. It is clearly labeled as an AI-generated budget estimate, not a final contracted price. Always include the appropriate professional disclaimers.