Data Sources
Where our cost estimates come from and how often they are updated
Every estimate on FreeCostCalculator draws on publicly available or industry-standard data sets. We do not use crowd-sourced pricing, contractor self-reports, or user-submitted quotes. Our full calculation methodology is documented on the methodology page.
Primary Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Hourly and annual wages for construction occupations (roofers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC mechanics, painters, etc.) at the state level.
Geography: State-level · Updated: Annual (May release) · Last refreshed in model: March 2026
RSMeans (Gordian)
Material unit costs and labor productivity rates by trade and material type. The industry standard for construction cost estimation.
Geography: Regional (city-level indices) · Updated: Annual · Last refreshed in model: January 2026
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Cost Surveys
Contractor overhead percentages, profit margins, and cost distribution by trade category.
Geography: National · Updated: Annual · Last refreshed in model: January 2026
Municipal Permit Databases
Permit fee schedules for residential construction and remodeling, collected from state and municipal government sources.
Geography: State / municipal · Updated: Checked annually · Last refreshed in model: February 2026
Material Supplier Indices
Current wholesale and retail pricing for common building materials (shingles, lumber, HVAC units, fixtures, moving supplies).
Geography: Regional · Updated: Quarterly · Last refreshed in model: March 2026
Moving & Storage Sources
FMCSA & State PUC Tariff Filings
Regulated rate structures for interstate and intrastate moving companies, including hourly labor rates, mileage rates, and accessorial charges.
Geography: State-level · Updated: Variable · Last refreshed in model: March 2026
Self-Storage Association Industry Reports
Average monthly rental rates by unit size, climate control type, and market. Used for storage unit cost baselines.
Geography: State / metro · Updated: Annual · Last refreshed in model: March 2026
How We Use These Sources
Each calculator combines multiple sources into a single estimate using a documented formula. Labor costs come primarily from BLS wage data, material costs from RSMeans and supplier indices, overhead from NAHB surveys, and permit fees from municipal databases. The full calculation process with a worked example is available on our methodology page.
If you believe any of our cost data is inaccurate for your area, please report an error. We maintain a public corrections log for all verified data fixes.