“My Account" on RSMeans.com refers to broader account management where you can manage your account information, view order history, make purchases, access subscription details and utilize tools and resources provided by Gordian. Once you have registered for an account on rsmeans.com, you can access it at any time by clicking on the “My Account” link at the top of rsmeans.com.

This may be distinct from the login account to RSMeans Data Online, which is specifically for accessing the RSMeans Data Online database and tools for cost estimation. To log in to your subscription, visit www.rsmeansonline.com

Most subscriptions will automatically renew unless you turn off auto-renew in your RSMeans.com Account. Subscriptions with auto-renew on will automatically renew on their renewal date.

To modify payment method or if you have questions about your RSMeans Data renewal, please contact our RSMeans Data sales team at 1-800-874-2291.

To access your subscription to RSMeans Data Online, please visit www.rsmeansonline.com and log in to your account using the credentials provided in your welcome email or the updated credentials you have created.

1. Visit www.rsmeansonline.com
2. Click the blue “Login” button in the upper right corner of the page
3. Enter the email address you are using with your account
4. Click the "Forgot Password" link and continue to follow the on-page prompts and instructions for resetting your password
5. If you need further assistance or guidance, contact Gordian Customer Support at 1-877-GORDIAN (877-467-3426)

Monthly subscriptions are not currently available. RSMeans Data Online subscriptions are available on an annual basis, ensuring you have uninterrupted access to the latest data and features throughout the year.

RSMeans Data Online does not offer admin-only licenses. Account admins require a full license, which allows them to configure account settings, manage users, view subscription information, oversee seat licenses and availability, manage their company profile and configure notifications.

RSMeans Data Online operates on a named user model, where each user must have a unique login. Additional licenses must be purchased for each new user, ensuring everyone has individual access to the software. We do offer multi-user subscriptions.

Yes, your data will still be available if you renew at a later time. However, if your account is deactivated due to a lapse in renewal, you may need assistance from Gordian Customer Support to download or access your data.

Visit www.gordian.myabsorb.com to log in to your account and access your purchased training modules. If you need further assistance or guidance, you can contact Gordian Customer Support at 1-877-GORDIAN (877-467-3426).

Gordian accepts a variety of payment methods:

• All major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover
• ACH/Direct debit
• Pay by invoice (purchase order)

The Gordian RSMeans Data seals team can assist with purchase orders. If you need assistance, please reach out to the RSMeans Data sales team at 1-800-874-2291.

Stock availability is shown in the product listing and details for each item.

Gordian is unable to provide refunds for any RSMeans Data Online products, eBooks or CDs. Unused RSMeans Data books may be returned for a refund within 30 days of the receipt date. Visit our shipping and return policy for more information.

If you decide to return or exchange an RSMeans Data book, follow the instructions on the packing slip that came with your order. If you cannot locate your packing slip, visit your “My Account” page and locate the section for Order History. Have the order history for the items in question when you contact Customer Service.

Gordian reserves all rights to refuse or deny any individual's attendance at, or participation in, its seminars for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation as a result of the individual's affiliation or suspected affiliation with any competitor of Gordian. If Gordian determines that an individual should not attend or participate in a seminar after such individual has paid to attend or participate in the seminar, the individual's payment will be refunded.

If you need assistance with your purchase, please contact us using our Contact Us form.

Orders received after 8 a.m. ET will be processed the following business day. Orders with overnight or second day shipping selected should allow one day of processing before the item will ship. Orders with standard shipping selected should allow 24-48 hours of processing before the item will ship. In all cases, the item will ship according to the shipping method selected.

Visit our shipping and return policy for more details.

Yes, Gordian offers special pricing for educational purposes and bulk subscriptions. Student subscriptions are available for authorized users only and require a school-issued email address (.edu). To purchase a student subscription, an account must be created with the school-issued email address. This enables the purchase of an academic/educational subscription.

Student discounts are applied for authorized users only. Please log in to your account to see the discount reflected in your shopping cart.

Volume discounts are available for educational institutions. If you’d like to inquire about a bulk purchase, please contact us using our Contact Us form.

Yes, RSMeans Data Online provides multi-user subscriptions that offer both cost savings and increased productivity. With shared access for multiple users, your team can excel in construction cost estimating while benefiting from volume discounts. Learn more about multi-user subscriptions.

Yes, Gordian offers a 30-day free trial of RSMeans Data Online to explore its features and datasets. Sign up for a free trial today!

Options are available for both full subscriptions and individual dataset purchases, allowing users to choose based on their specific requirements.

Assemblies (or “Systems”) are collections of one or more unit cost lines combined to make estimating faster. For example, you could search through the unit cost data to find all of the components of a footing (excavation, forms, reinforcing steel, concrete, etc.) or simply select the closest matching footing assembly that combines all of those materials. Assembly column headings differ from unit cost headings because the Overhead & Profit is included within each assembly cost column. Some of our hardcopy books have a System Components table under the illustration, which shows a representation of what is included in the system and the quantity and unit of these components. This list of components is usually for the item on the first line of the following cost table. As the sizes or types in the cost table vary, so do the actual components sizes and quantities.

The RSMeans Light Commercial Cost Data book is tailored specifically for new light commercial construction, including smaller-scale projects like individual retail stores, warehouses and office buildings. It provides detailed unit costs and pre-configured assembly cost information for construction tasks, materials and labor specific to light commercial projects.

On the other hand, the RSMeans Square Foot Cost Data book provides cost per square foot for a wide range of building types, including both commercial and residential. It offers a quick way to estimate the cost of a project based on its total square footage, without getting into the detailed line-item costs that might be included in the Light Commercial Cost Data book.

The main difference lies in the level of detail and the types of projects they are intended for. The Light Commercial book is more detailed, while the Square Foot book provides broader, more generalized square foot cost estimates for a variety of building types.

Building Construction Cost Data is the essential resource specifically curated for new construction projects and multi-family housing developments. It covers ground-up construction — from site work and foundations through structural elements and finishes. This focused dataset helps developers, general contractors and architects accurately budget and bid new commercial buildings and housing complexes.

Facilities Construction Cost Data is our most comprehensive dataset designed for professionals managing maintenance, construction and renovation of commercial, industrial, municipal and institutional properties. It is essentially the Building Construction Cost Data with additional tasks and data found in the Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical datasets.

The RSMeans Data Facilities Construction Costs dataset contains the most unit price lines, with over 48,000-unit price line items across 29 CSI MasterFormat Divisions and thousands of assemblies. Each cost book listing includes the table of contents which can be viewed to get an understanding of what type of information is included.

For a complete breakdown of each dataset and the formats available, visit RSMeans Data commercial construction cost databases.

The Mechanical Cost Data book primarily covers HVAC components and controls, while the Plumbing Cost Data covers plumbing fixtures and fire protection. The Plumbing book does include some small boilers and items that frequently are installed by plumbers. There is a large overlap in pipe and fittings between the two books; however, the Mechanical book does not include cast iron soil pipe. Both books include stainless steel pipes and fittings.

For a more detailed breakdown of each dataset and the formats available, visit RSMeans Data commercial construction cost databases.

The R number refers to an entry in the reference section. While some of the information in the Reference section is general in nature, much of it provides additional data specific to some material or application. The R number is our way of suggesting a location of potentially very useful additional information for the given task.

In RSMeans Data Online, users can click on a line-item number and see additional details which may include reference materials. A direct link to the associated reference information is typically included on the line-item number.

The answer to this question depends on what the contractor is looking for and how they use the database. The Residential Cost Database is fast and easy to use and even includes Square Foot prices for completed buildings. It is also based on Open Shop labor in the hard copy book. It does not include all the information available in the database for the subcontracted trades. For all available RSMeans Data plumbing information, one would need the Plumbing Cost Data, likewise for Electrical, Mechanical, Concrete & Masonry, etc. Specific trade data found in any publication other than the primary database is greatly condensed with partial information that has been extracted from the total available.

The RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data book is based on Union labor while the Contractor's Pricing Guide is based on Open Shop labor. Note: An Open Shop version of the RSMeans Building Cost Data is available.

The following RSMeans Cost Data books, both hardcopy and electronic, are based on union labor rates: Assembly, Building Construction Cost, Concrete & Masonry, Electrical, Electrical Change Order, Heavy Construction, Interior, Mechanical, Plumbing, Interior, Site Work & Landscape, Facilities Construction Cost, Facilities Maintenance & Repair, Repair & Remodeling and Square Foot Cost Data.

Open Shop Building Construction Cost, Light Commercial Cost, Residential Cost and the Contractor Pricing Guide Residential Series.

RSMeans Data Online provides access to the most current cost data without waiting for new editions, ensuring you always have the most current cost data. It offers powerful keyword search functionality to quickly locate specific items, and allows for customization with adjustable location factors and unit prices. RSMeans Data Online is accessible anytime on multiple devices. Additionally, you can tag frequently used items as favorites, build complete estimates with automated calculations and easily share or export estimates in various formats. Learn more about RSMeans Online.

Gordian’s RSMeans Data Online has been authorized under FedRAMP by the Joint Authorization Board, enabling federal agencies and military branches to fulfill mandated security measures and build estimates they can feel confident in. The first module available on the new Gordian Federal Cloud, RSMeans Data Online gives agencies access anytime, anywhere to the world’s leading construction cost database. Learn more about FedRAMP compliant RSMeans Data Online.

While primarily focused on the U.S., RSMeans Data also includes information for Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dedicated customer support is accessible via phone, email or live chat to assist with any questions or technical challenges. You can contact Gordian Customer Support at 1-877-GORDIAN (877-467-3426) or by email at RSMeansData@gordian.com.

Abbreviations and an index are included at the back of every cost book. Abbreviations can help explain the full term and the index provides a list of items alphabetically with their corresponding divisions and page numbers. It is also sometimes helpful to look up alternate names or reverse wording (ex: slate roof vs. roofing, slate), or similar materials.

In RSMeans Data Online, you can quickly locate items using the keyword search functionality. Simply enter a keyword, line item name or description, and the system will instantly display relevant results across all divisions, saving you time and effort.

Note: RSMeans Data tries to avoid using trade or manufacturer names so look up the generic description.

Yes, Gordian offers a variety of RSMeans Data training resources including tutorials, webinars and user guides. Additionally, comprehensive construction training courses are available to fit every schedule and learning style. Taught by industry veterans, these paid courses range from in-person seminars and live virtual events to self-paced training courses and custom on-site training. Learn more about training courses.

All cost data within RSMeans Data Online is refreshed quarterly to ensure it reflects the ever-shifting market trends and fluctuations. Quarterly cost releases are automatically deployed to the software. To use the latest data release, users will need to update their own estimates as needed.

If you’re a book customer, to ensure you’re referencing the most up-to-date material, labor and equipment costs for your estimates, download the most recent quarterly cost index from our cost index page.