Everything you need to know about Rawlinsons Cost Data subscriptions, access, pricing, and how the platform works — all in one place

Why has Rawlinsons moved to a subscription model?

Because a subscription ensures you always have current data. In the past you had to buy new handbooks each year to get updates. With the subscription, continuous updates are included, so your cost data never goes out of date. It’s more convenient (no more manual updates) and often more cost-effective over time than buying one-off books every year.

What subscription packages are available, and which one is right for me?

We offer three tiers to suit different needs:

Domestic Estimator – Cost data for smaller projects (houses, renovations, light commercial, up to roughly $1.5M). Includes ~6,500 cost items (across 6 regions). Best for small builders, residential contractors, renovators, and architects focused on housing.
Commercial Estimator – Cost data for large projects (commercial, industrial, public works, up to ~$120M). Includes ~16,000 cost items (across 5 regions). Best for quantity surveyors, commercial builders, developers, and government agencies working on big builds.
Estimator Suite+ – All-in-one package combining Domestic + Commercial data plus a 40-year historical cost archive. Comes with 4 user seats included. Best for organisations or teams that need comprehensive data across all project sizes, or multiple estimators working together.

For a more information on subscription tiers click here.

How do I purchase a subscription, and how much does it cost?

You can subscribe through our website. Go to the Subscription Plans page, choose Domestic, Commercial, or Suite+, and follow the prompts to create an account and enter payment details. Prices for each tier are listed on the site (annual pricing, in Australian dollars). Once you complete the online purchase, you’ll get immediate access to the platform.

Each subscription comes with an initial base cost seat and then additional seats can be purchased at a heavily discounted rate to enable multiple concurrent seat usage.

Will my subscription renew automatically each year?

Yes, by default. Annual subscriptions are set to auto-renew to ensure you don’t lose access. However, you’re in control – you can turn off auto-renewal at any time via your account settings or by contacting us. If you cancel auto-renew, your access will continue until the end of the current paid period and then stop. (We also send a reminder before renewal with the upcoming charge, so there are no surprises.)

Can multiple people use one subscription? Do you offer multi-user pricing?

Yes. Our subscriptions support multiple users through a “seats” system:

Seats: Each subscription includes a certain number of seats (user licenses for concurrent use). Domestic and Commercial include 1 seat; Suite+ includes 4 seats by default.
Concurrent Use: One seat = one person using the platform at a time. You can set up to 5 individual logins per seat (for example, team members can share a seat pool, just not simultaneously). If you need more people using at the same time, you can purchase extra seats.
Team Discounts: Additional seats are available at a discounted rate. This makes it cost-effective to extend access to your whole team. For instance, if you have 3 estimators who all need to work at once, you can add 2 extra seats to a Domestic or Commercial plan, or use Suite+ (which already has 4) – the extra seats cost less than a full subscription.
Reassigning Seats: If someone leaves your company, you can easily reassign their seat to another staff member. You maintain full control over who has access under your subscription.

Is the platform suitable for academic library access?

Academic access is currently provided through EBSCO in ebook format.

Which payment methods are accepted?

We accept all major credit/debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, via our online checkout. If you need to pay by EFT/bank transfer or require an invoice (for example, some companies and government agencies prefer this), just contact us via subscriptions@rawlhouse.com – we can arrange offline payment as needed. Please note: Offline payment methods do not auto-renew.

Do you offer a free demo or trial so I can try it first?

Yes. We understand you might want to see it in action before committing. We offer a free demo of the platform. You can request this via “Request Demo” or contact us. The demo includes full access to the platform content; however, it does not display the live rates. This lets you the view the full extent of our data sets, test out the functionality, see the cost data layout, and get a feel for the interface. It’s a great way to experience the new system firsthand at no cost.

Data & Updates

Transition & Legacy (for Existing Customers)

How does the new subscription-based platform compare to the old Rawlinsons ePublication? What’s different or new?

The new platform is a major upgrade from the old ePub. Here are the key differences and improvements:

No installation needed: It’s fully web-based – just log in via browser. (The old ePub required downloading software and wasn’t mobile-friendly.)
Smart features: Enjoy powerful search, filtering by location, bookmarking, and notes – features that weren’t available in the ePub software.
Always up-to-date: Data updates are delivered live throughout the year. (No need to wait for new editions.)
Team access: It’s built formultiple users with flexible seat licensing.
No version confusion: Everyone accesses the same latest version of the data via the cloud, so you won’t have one person with an outdated book or file.
Subscriptions are auto-renew: No need to remember annual set up, keep your team happy with rolling access.

In short, the new platform is faster, easier to use, and more powerful. It gives you everything the old ePublication did, plus a lot more, in a more convenient package

Do you still publish the hardcopy Rawlinsons Handbook and Cost Guide (printed books)?

Yes, we continue to publish the Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook and the Rawlinsons Construction Cost Guide in hardcopy each year.

Will there be a 2026 digital PDF of the Handbook or Cost Guide?

No. The new Rawlinsons Cost Data platform is the 2026 edition – and it’s already live. We are no longer releasing static PDFs or e-books for new editions. Instead of a once-a-year digital book, the online platform is continuously updated.

Can I access older cost data on the new platform? (For example, what if I need 2025 or earlier data for reference or legal reasons?)

Yes. We maintain an archive of historical data. In fact, the Estimator Suite+ subscription includes access to a digital library of past Rawlinsons editions (PDFs back to 1983). The platform itself always shows the current recommended rates by default, but nothing is lost to history – we’ve preserved the old data.

I’m an existing customer; have me and my team already been set up on the new system?

Yes. For any organisation or individual with an active license in the old system, we’ve automatically created accounts on the new platform. This includes setting up the number of seats equivalent to your old licenses and adding your users. Check your email for a welcome message from Rawlinsons Cost Data with instructions to set your password and log in. Once in, you should see your subscription details, your library of previously purchased legacy product and can start using the platform immediately. If anything doesn’t look right (for example, missing access that you had before), let us know and we’ll sort it out quickly.

YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Everything you need to know about Rawlinsons Cost Data subscriptions, access, pricing, and how the platform works — all in one place

Platform & Access

Do I need to install any software to use Rawlinsons Cost Data?

Can I access it from anywhere (for example, on my phone or tablet)?

Can I copy and paste cost data from the platform into my own documents or software?

Subscriptions & Pricing

Why has Rawlinsons moved to a subscription model?

What subscription packages are available, and which one is right for me?

How do I purchase a subscription, and how much does it cost?

Will my subscription renew automatically each year?

Can multiple people use one subscription? Do you offer multi-user pricing?

Is the platform suitable for academic library access?

Which payment methods are accepted?

Do you offer a free demo or trial so I can try it first?

Data & Updates

How often is the cost data updated? Will I always have the latest rates?

How do I know the data is accurate and reliable?

Transition & Legacy (for Existing Customers)

How does the new subscription-based platform compare to the old Rawlinsons ePublication? What’s different or new?

Do you still publish the hardcopy Rawlinsons Handbook and Cost Guide (printed books)?

Will there be a 2026 digital PDF of the Handbook or Cost Guide?

Can I access older cost data on the new platform? (For example, what if I need 2025 or earlier data for reference or legal reasons?)

I’m an existing customer; have me and my team already been set up on the new system?

Support & Resources

What support is available if I have questions or run into issues?

YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Everything you need to know about Rawlinsons Cost Data subscriptions, access, pricing, and how the platform works — all in one place

Platform & Access

Do I need to install any software to use Rawlinsons Cost Data?

Can I access it from anywhere (for example, on my phone or tablet)?

Can I copy and paste cost data from the platform into my own documents or software?

Subscriptions & Pricing

Why has Rawlinsons moved to a subscription model?

What subscription packages are available, and which one is right for me?

How do I purchase a subscription, and how much does it cost?

Will my subscription renew automatically each year?

Can multiple people use one subscription? Do you offer multi-user pricing?

Is the platform suitable for academic library access?

Which payment methods are accepted?

Do you offer a free demo or trial so I can try it first?

Data & Updates

How often is the cost data updated? Will I always have the latest rates?

How do I know the data is accurate and reliable?

Transition & Legacy (for Existing Customers)

How does the new subscription-based platform compare to the old Rawlinsons ePublication? What’s different or new?

Do you still publish the hardcopy Rawlinsons Handbook and Cost Guide (printed books)?

Will there be a 2026 digital PDF of the Handbook or Cost Guide?

Can I access older cost data on the new platform? (For example, what if I need 2025 or earlier data for reference or legal reasons?)

I’m an existing customer; have me and my team already been set up on the new system?

Support & Resources

What support is available if I have questions or run into issues?

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