RSMeans Data Online is a web-based construction estimating tool based on our annual cost data publications. Providing engineers, contractors, and architects the power to customize data, build estimates and generate reports, RSMeans Data Online is the quickest way to find reliable cost data on construction materials, equipment and labor.

To log in to your RSMeans Data Online account:

1. Go to the RSMeans Data Online.
2. Click Login. You will be taken to the login screen.
3. Enter your email address and password.

NOTE: If you do not know your username (the email address associated with your account) and password, select Forgot Password and follow the prompts to reset it.

• If you received a “Welcome to RSMeans Data Online” email, your username will be the email address to which your invitation was sent and you will be prompted to create a password upon your first login.

1. Upon logging into your RSMeans Data Online account for the first time, you’ll be asked to set a Security Question and Answer for use if you forget your password. You’ll also be asked to enter a new password. Your email address must include an “@” symbol as well as a “.com”, “.org”, or the like. Your password must meet the following requirements:
   1. Must be 7–20 characters in length.
   2. Must contain at least 1 uppercase letter.
   3. Must contain at least one lowercase letter.
   4. Must contain at least one number.

NOTE: If you’ve forgotten your password, click Forgot Password? You can change your password at any time once you have signed in by accessing the Manage Accounts option from the personal pull-down menu.

Once logged in, you will need to accept the User Agreement before you can use the application.

For your account security, remember to log out after you finish your session.

When you sign into RSMeans Data Online you will be taken to the Cost Data Preference screen.

To change your Cost Data Preferences, choose the appropriate Cost Dataset, Type (unit costs or assembly costs), Labor Type, Location, Format, Measurement System, Search Preferences, and Release time period of RSMeans Data.

• Cost Data: Click the drop-down menu to view a list of the cost datasets available to you. Your accessible cost data will appear in bold, and those you have not subscribed to will be displayed in gray. Click on a cost dataset to select it. All purchased titles in a group can be selected with one click.

For example: Select Commercial New Construction to open all the cost datasets available in that group. Selecting a cost dataset from a different group automatically deselects any previously selected cost data in another group.

• Type: The Type menu offers the choice of unit costs or assembly costs. Selections are based on the Cost Data selected and the options purchased.

For example: If the Building Construction Cost Data is selected, the Type menu will default to unit costs.

• Labor Type: Here you can select from various labor types depending on the Cost Data you’ve selected and the options you’ve purchased.
  • Commercial New Construction cost data has the option of choosing between the Standard Union labor type and Open Shop labor.
  • Facilities and Commercial Renovation cost data is based on the Repair & Remodeling labor type.
  • Residential New Construction cost data is based on the Residential labor type.
  • Facility Maintenance & Repair cost data is based on the Facility Maintenance & Repair labor type.
• Location: Location Factors are an extremely useful tool to use when you want to compare costs from city to city and from region to region. A Location Factor is a collection of multipliers that are applied to the U.S. national average cost of the same item. RSMeans Data Online contains Location Factors for over 900 three-digit zip code locations in the United States and more than 70 areas in Canada.
• Format: The Format option allows you to choose between MasterFormat® 1995(created in 1995 and organized into 16 Divisions) and the new enhanced MasterFormat® 2018 for unit costs. UniFormat II is the numbering system used for assembly costs. MasterFormat® and UniFormat II are products of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada and are published by CSI. For more information, visit the CSI website at https://www.csinet.org.
• Measurement System: Here you can select either the English measurement system or the Metric measurement system. The Metric measurement option is only available when the Commercial New Construction Cost Data and Standard Union labor rate options are selected.
• Search Preference: Select a default search option. The choices are:
  • Index: Suggests sections from the catalog as you type (two characters minimum). Once a suggested section is selected the search will take you straight to that section within the catalog. This works for both unit costs and assembly costs.
  • All: Search results include everything entered in the Search field in the entered order.
  • Any: Search results include anything entered in the Search field.
  • Exact: Search results include the exact entered text in the Search field.
  • Line: Type in a partial or complete line number.
  • Release: The Release is the combination of the Year and Quarterly update of RSMeans Data. For example, “Year 2020 Quarter 1” will represent the first quarter update to the base 2020 RSMeans Data. Complete Plus users will have access to Predictive Data.
  • Display Preference: Leave the "Display Cost Data Preferences at start-up" selection checked to continue to review your preferences upon each login. Account admins can change Cost Data Preferences at any time in the Manage Accounts section of the personal drop-down menu. Click Save & Continue when you’ve completed making your selections.

RSMeans Data Online is designed for efficient navigation. There are six tabs in the blue sub-navigation toolbar. Each tab has its own tools and options.

• Search Data: This tab is a reference guide. Use it when you need to research a unit cost line but not when you are creating an estimate. Here, you can search RSMeans Data construction cost information or any custom data your company has entered for various construction elements.
• Manage Estimates: This tab provides access to your existing folders and estimates. This is where you’ll create new estimates for your construction projects using unit costs, assembly costs or any custom data.
• Square Foot Estimator: This is where square foot estimates are built. Immediately upon clicking the Square Foot Estimator tab, you can begin entering data for a new square foot estimate.
• Life Cycle Cost: The Life Cycle Cost estimator provides maintenance and replacement costs for all elements of a facility. The Life Cycle Cost Estimator will translate your assembly or square foot model cost estimate into a budgetary planning estimate with costs for Maintenance & Repair, Preventive Maintenance, and Replacement Costs.

NOTE: If you do not have access to this tab you can click the link on the tab window and it will direct you to rsmeans.com to purchase the Life Cycle Cost Estimator as an add-on to your current service level.

• My Favorites: This tab allows you to access the lines of data you’ve marked as Favorites. Tag frequently used line items for quicker access in the future. Favorites can be accessed both in the Search data tab and directly within an estimate.

Use the pull-down menu to navigate to your account settings.

• Manage Accounts. Takes you to your account preferences where you can update your profile and preferences, manage users, manage your subscriptions and update your company profile (requires admin privileges).
• Permissions. Complete (Full Library) and Complete Plus admin users will have access to configure user permissions via this link.
• My Custom Data. Gives you access to any custom data you've created for your company account.
• Reference Items. This option gives you access to the available reference material based on what was purchased. Examples include crew groupings, labor rates, city cost indexes, RSMeans Data abbreviations, glossaries, tutorials and more.
• Training & Events: See our schedule of RSMeans Data training events. There are multiple training options available for all learning styles - from self-paced on demand learning to live courses, both virtual and in-person. Set yourself apart and become an RSMeans Data certified professional.
• Help Center. Brings you to the online help center where you can find user guides, announcements and more.

RSMeans Data Online access is based on the subscription and service level purchased.

Subscriptions (also known as datasets) can be purchased as a single dataset or as part of a bundle of multiple datasets.

1. Single Titles: One or more titles purchased individually. (Building Construction Cost Data, Facilities Construction Cost Data, etc.)
2. Bundled Packages: Groups of predetermined cost datasets. (Building Professionals Package, Facilities Managers Package, Master Unit Composite, etc.)

Service levels (also known as tiers) dictate the feature set available within your account subscription.

1. Core Tier: All unit costs line items (material, labor and equipment) with our basic set of tools/features: Catalog keyword search, unit cost estimate builder and basic exporting functionality.
2. Complete Tier: All unit, assembly, and square foot model cost data, in addition to creating custom data for a given dataset purchased with advanced features including square foot estimator tool, Work Breakdown Structures and multiple wage rate options (Standard Union or Open Shop). The Complete tier also includes three years of historical cost data.
3. Complete Plus Tier: Everything in the Complete package plus Predictive Data, Life Cycle Costing, full library data plus Renovation Models and the full history of RSMeans cost data.

Below are recommended and compatible browsers for RSMeans Data Online:

• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Safari

NOTE: Clearing your browser cache on a regular basis will help ensure the optimal performance of RSMeans Data Online.

Our Customer Support Department provides phone assistance to RSMeans Data Online customers.

To contact RSMeans Software Support:

Phone: 877-GORDIAN (877-467-3426)

Email: rsmeansdata@gordian.com