JobTread Cost Catalog Template (NAHB Cost Codes)

This is a ready-to-use JobTread cost catalog template for home builders, structured on the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) cost code framework. It gives you the cost groups and cost items to build a complete catalog in JobTread, organized in the standard construction sequence every builder recognizes, with a clean numbering scheme you can adapt. Instead of staring at an empty cost catalog, you start from a proven structure and customize it to your business.

A cost catalog is the foundation of everything in JobTread. Estimates pull from it, budgets are built on it, and job costing reconciles against it. Get it structured right and the whole system works; get it wrong and your reports never add up. For the how-and-why of building one, see our JobTread cost catalog setup guide. This page gives you the actual structure to copy.

How JobTread's cost catalog is organized

JobTread uses two levels:

• Cost groups are the categories (Foundation, Framing, Plumbing). They keep your catalog and your reports organized.
• Cost items are the specific lines within a group (Footings, Framing Labor, Plumbing Fixtures). Each carries a unit and a cost, and these are what you pull into estimates and budgets.

The template below is organized exactly that way: each cost group is a section, and the table under it lists the cost items, a suggested code, a typical unit, and the usual cost type (Material, Labor, or Subcontract). Units use standard abbreviations: LS (lump sum), EA (each), LF (linear foot), SF (square foot), SQ (roofing square), CY (cubic yard).

The cost catalog template

1000: Preconstruction & Permits

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
1010	Plans & Design	LS	Sub
1020	Engineering & Structural	LS	Sub
1030	Survey & Staking	LS	Sub
1040	Permits & Fees	LS	Sub
1050	Impact & Utility Fees	LS	Sub

2000: Site Work & Excavation

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
2010	Lot Clearing & Demolition	LS	Sub
2020	Excavation & Rough Grading	LS	Sub
2030	Erosion Control	LS	Sub
2040	Temporary Utilities & Facilities	LS	Sub
2050	Fill & Compaction	CY	Sub

3000: Foundation & Concrete

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
3010	Footings	LF	Sub
3020	Foundation Walls / Stem Walls	LF	Sub
3030	Slab & Garage Floor	SF	Sub
3040	Waterproofing & Dampproofing	LS	Sub
3050	Foundation Drainage	LF	Sub
3060	Flatwork (Porches, Patios)	SF	Sub

4000: Rough Framing & Structure

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
4010	Framing Lumber & Materials	LS	Material
4020	Framing Labor	SF	Labor
4030	Roof Trusses	EA	Material
4040	Wall & Roof Sheathing	SF	Material
4050	Structural Steel & Beams	EA	Sub
4060	Exterior Decks & Porches	SF	Sub

5000: Roofing

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
5010	Roofing Material	SQ	Material
5020	Roofing Labor	SQ	Sub
5030	Underlayment & Flashing	LS	Sub
5040	Gutters & Downspouts	LF	Sub

6000: Windows & Exterior Doors

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
6010	Windows	EA	Material
6020	Exterior Doors	EA	Material
6030	Garage Doors	EA	Sub
6040	Skylights	EA	Material

7000: Exterior Finishes

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
7010	Siding	SF	Sub
7020	Brick & Stone Veneer	SF	Sub
7030	Stucco	SF	Sub
7040	Exterior Trim, Soffit & Fascia	LF	Sub
7050	Exterior Paint & Stain	SF	Sub

8000: Plumbing

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
8010	Plumbing Rough-In	LS	Sub
8020	Plumbing Fixtures	EA	Material
8030	Water Heater	EA	Sub
8040	Well & Septic	LS	Sub

9000: Electrical

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
9010	Electrical Rough-In	LS	Sub
9020	Fixtures & Devices	EA	Material
9030	Panel & Service	LS	Sub
9040	Low-Voltage & Data	LS	Sub

10000: HVAC

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
10010	HVAC Equipment	EA	Material
10020	Ductwork	LS	Sub
10030	HVAC Rough-In & Labor	LS	Sub
10040	Ventilation	LS	Sub

11000: Insulation

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
11010	Wall & Attic Insulation	SF	Sub
11020	Air Sealing	LS	Sub
11030	Spray Foam	SF	Sub

12000: Drywall

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
12010	Drywall Hang	SF	Sub
12020	Drywall Finish & Tape	SF	Sub
12030	Texture	SF	Sub

13000: Interior Trim & Millwork

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
13010	Interior Doors	EA	Material
13020	Casing & Base Trim	LF	Material
13030	Trim Labor	LS	Labor
13040	Stairs & Railings	LS	Sub
13050	Closet & Pantry Shelving	LS	Sub

14000: Cabinets & Countertops

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
14010	Kitchen Cabinets	LF	Material
14020	Bath Vanities	EA	Material
14030	Countertops	SF	Sub
14040	Cabinet Hardware	EA	Material

15000: Painting

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
15010	Interior Paint	SF	Sub
15020	Staining	LS	Sub

16000: Flooring

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
16010	Tile	SF	Sub
16020	Hardwood	SF	Sub
16030	Carpet	SF	Sub
16040	LVP & Laminate	SF	Sub
16050	Floor Prep & Underlayment	SF	Sub

17000: Appliances & Fixtures

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
17010	Appliances	EA	Material
17020	Bath Accessories	EA	Material
17030	Mirrors & Shower Doors	EA	Sub

18000: Specialties

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
18010	Fireplace	EA	Sub
18020	Garage & Storage Systems	LS	Sub
18030	Window Treatments	LS	Sub
18040	Security & Smart Home	LS	Sub

19000: Landscaping & Site Improvements

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
19010	Final Grade	LS	Sub
19020	Driveway & Walks	SF	Sub
19030	Sod & Landscaping	LS	Sub
19040	Fencing	LF	Sub
19050	Irrigation	LS	Sub

20000: Final Cleaning & Completion

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
20010	Rough Clean	LS	Sub
20020	Final Clean	LS	Sub
20030	Punch List	LS	Labor
20040	Warranty Reserve	LS	Labor

21000: General Conditions & Overhead

Code	Cost Item	Unit	Type
21010	Supervision & Project Management	LS	Labor
21020	Dumpster & Waste Removal	EA	Sub
21030	Portable Toilet	EA	Sub
21040	Temporary Power	LS	Sub
21050	Insurance & General Liability	LS	Labor

How to set this up in JobTread

Build it in this order so the structure holds:

1. Create the cost groups first. Add each numbered group (Preconstruction, Site Work, Foundation, and so on) as a cost group in JobTread. This gives you the skeleton.
2. Add cost items under each group. Enter the items from each table, setting the unit and cost type as you go.
3. Set your real costs. Add your actual unit costs, updating them over time as you complete jobs and learn your true numbers.
4. Build templates on top. Once the catalog is in place, your estimate templates pull from it, which is what makes estimating fast. See the estimating workflow guide.

The JobTread cost catalog setup guide walks the mechanics in detail.

Customizing it for your business

Treat this as a starting structure, not a finished catalog:

• Trim what you do not do. A remodeler will drop foundation-heavy items; a production builder will expand them. See JobTread for remodelers for a remodeling-leaning view.
• Add your specialties. Whatever is specific to your trade, region, or product line belongs in here.
• Rename to your language. Use the terms your team actually says on the job.
• Keep the structure and sequence. The group order matters for clean reporting. Adjust the contents, not the framework.

The goal is a catalog that reflects how you actually build, sitting on a structure that keeps your job costing and reports consistent.

Want it built for you?

Setting up a full cost catalog and getting it right is one of the most valuable, and most tedious, parts of a JobTread implementation. This template gives you the structure; building it out with your real items and costs, then connecting it to estimating and QuickBooks, is where a proper setup pays off.

That is exactly what we do. If you want your JobTread cost catalog built around how you actually build, tell us about your business and we will set it up, or have a JobTread virtual assistant keep it current for you. Get in touch and we will map it.