Craftsman Estimating Books
We are often asked to recommend books for estimating. I used the following estimating books from Craftsman for years to compile estimates for our company. Our recommended list is here; you’ll be taken to the Craftsman website to purchase.
- National Construction Estimator
- National Home Improvement Estimator
- National Repair & Remodeling Estimator
- National Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator
- National Building Cost Manual
- National Electrical Estimator
- National Painting Cost Estimator
- National Plumbing and HVAC Estimator
2025 National Construction Estimator
73rd Annual Edition – Current building costs for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Estimated prices for every common building material, the labor cost to install the material and a total “installed” cost. For those jobs where you can’t rely on your past experience to estimate, rely on the prices in this national standard of construction costs to get you safely in the ballpark. Every cost is carefully described. It even provides suggested crew sizes, and equipment rates.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2025 National Construction Estimator $58.75 – $117.50
2025 National Home Improvement Estimator
Current labor and material prices for home improvement projects. Take advantage of home improvement jobs you may never have bid on before by relying on the solid cost figures in this reference. That’s why so many home improvement contractors use this manual as their company price book. You’ll be able to quickly locate hard-to-find costs for demolition, foundations, framing, structural repairs, decking, deck repairs, window repair and replacement, door repair and replacement. wall and ceiling repairs, floor repair and replacement, kitchen and bathroom improvement prices, and much more.
Provides manhours for each job, recommended crew size, and the labor cost for the removal and installation work. Many assembly prices are included to help you speed your estimates, just add linear or square feet to complete the estimate. Material prices are current, with U.S. and Canadian location adjustment factors. Gives step-by-step instructions for the work, with helpful diagrams, and home improvement shortcuts and tips from an expert.
Recently added sections include: Restorative drying, water damage and mold remediation. Smart home electrical management systems prices that comply with U.S. Green Building Council standards for energy-efficient upgrades. LED lighting retrofit costs, HEPA central air filtration retrofit costs, heat recovery ventilator central system retrofit costs, storm flood damage repair and prevention costs, mold and dry rot remediation costs, basement HVAC restoration costs, corrosion coating costs, and much more.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2025 National Home Improvement Estimator $59.38 – $118.75
2024 National Repair & Remodeling Estimator
Current prices in dollars and cents for hard-to-find items needed on most insurance, repair, remodeling, and renovation jobs. All price items include labor, material, and equipment breakouts, plus special charts that tell you exactly how these costs are calculated.
Provides recommended crew sizes; average production rates; exact material, equipment, and labor costs; a total unit cost and a total price including overhead and profit. Separate listings for high- and low-volume builders, so prices shown are specific for any size business. Estimating tips specific to repair and remodeling work to make your bids complete, realistic, and profitable.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2024 National Repair & Remodeling Estimator $49.25 – $78.80 (discounted print format due to slight damage)
2024 National Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator
Current prices in dollars and cents and detailed descriptions for hard-to-find items needed on most insurance, repair, remodeling, and renovation jobs. All price items include labor, material, and equipment breakouts, plus special charts that tell you exactly how these costs are calculated. Includes many reinstall/salvage cost estimates, hundreds of sample product images and unique architectural items.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2024 National Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator $49.75 – $99.50
2025 National Building Cost Manual
Square-foot costs for more than 80 building types including: residential, commercial, industrial, military, schools, greenhouses, manufactured homes, multi-family homes, fire stations, libraries, churches, government offices and farm buildings. Includes important variables that can make any building unique from a cost standpoint. A smart resource for adjusters and appraisers using the cost approach.
Quickly work up a reliable budget estimate based on actual materials and design features, class of construction, area, shape, wall height, number of floors, and support requirements. Includes easy-to-use software that calculates total in-place cost estimates. Use the regional cost adjustment factors provided to tailor the estimate to any jobsite in the U.S. Then view, print, email or save the detailed PDF report as needed.
Book (print) edition includes redeemable sofware code for a free companion software download, a square-foot cost estimating program for Windows PCs.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format and does not include estimating software.
2025 National Building Cost Manual $49.00 – $98.00
2025 National Electrical Estimator
Current installation costs for all common electrical work: conduit, wire, boxes, fixtures, switches, outlets, loadcenters, panelboards, raceway, duct, signal systems, and more. Provides material costs, manhours per unit, and total installed cost. Explains what you should know to estimate each part of an electrical system.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2025 National Electrical Estimator $58.88 – $117.75
2025 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator
Manhours, labor and material costs for all common plumbing and HVAC work in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. You can quickly work up a reliable estimate based on the pipe, fittings and equipment required.
Every plumbing and HVAC estimator can use the cost estimates in this practical manual. Sample estimating and bidding forms and contracts also included. Explains how to handle change orders, letters of intent, and warranties. Describes the right way to process submittals, deal with suppliers and subcontract specialty work.
Included in this edition: costs for ASME “H” or “U” stamped, LFUE certified 90% or better green certified boilers, costs for emmission sensing and recording equipment for boilers, costs for self-contained roof-top DX air conditioning units, costs for heat recovery ventilators, roof exhaust fans, makeup air units, ventilation exhausters, energy-effecient exhauster arrays, air balance software, LEED certified boilers, residential heat pumps, LEED certified geothermal heat pumps, LEED certified residential HVAC, LEED certified air to air heat pumps, and much more.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2025 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator $59.13 – $118.25
2025 National Painting Cost Estimator
A complete guide to estimating painting costs for just about any type of residential, commercial, or industrial painting, whether by brush, spray, or roller. Shows typical costs and bid prices for fast, medium, and slow work, including material costs per gallon; square feet covered per gallon; square feet covered per manhour; labor, material, overhead, and taxes per 100 square feet; and how much to add for profit.
eBook edition is in text-searchable, PDF format
Looking for estimating software? NEW! National Estimator Cloud works on any device with an internet connection.
2025 National Painting Cost Estimator $59.00- $118.00
More available at Craftsman Book Company.
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