estimatedCost

estimatedCost · Not mentioned by Google

Appears in

HowTo

What is it?

The estimatedCost property specifies the approximate cost of completing a how-to task. It can represent the total cost of all supplies, or be attached to individual supply items to show per-item pricing.

Why this matters for AEO

When a user asks "how much does it cost to change a flat tire," AI answer engines pull estimatedCost to provide a direct monetary answer. Without this field, the AI must guess or decline to answer the cost question.

What the specs say

Schema.org:MonetaryAmount, Text. The estimated cost of the supply or supplies consumed when performing instructions.

Google: Not mentioned. HowTo rich result has been deprecated by Google as of September 2023. Source

How to find your value

• Project budgets — Total materials cost
• Shopping lists — Sum of supply prices
• Service quotes — Labor excluded, materials only
• Supplier catalogs — Current pricing for consumables

Format and code

As a MonetaryAmount at the HowTo level:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "Change a Flat Tire",
  "estimatedCost": {
    "@type": "MonetaryAmount",
    "currency": "USD",
    "value": "20"
  }
}

As plain text:

{
  "estimatedCost": "Under $20"
}

Per supply item:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "Paint a Room",
  "supply": [
    {
      "@type": "HowToSupply",
      "name": "Paint (1 gallon)",
      "estimatedCost": {
        "@type": "MonetaryAmount",
        "currency": "USD",
        "value": "35"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add estimatedCost as a MonetaryAmount object inside your HowTo JSON-LD block in Page Settings > Custom Code > Footer Code. Use ISO 4217 currency codes.

CMS template pages

Store price and currency in CMS number and text fields, then reference them in a custom code embed to build the MonetaryAmount object.

In Schema HQ

The estimatedCost field does not currently generate HowTo markup. Add cost data manually through Webflow custom code.

Real examples

From Schema.org HowTo Example:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "Change a Flat Tire",
  "estimatedCost": {
    "@type": "MonetaryAmount",
    "currency": "USD",
    "value": "20"
  }
}

Related fields

• supply
• tool
• step
• offers

FAQ

Should estimatedCost go on the HowTo or on individual supplies?

Both work. Place it on the HowTo for the total project cost. Place it on individual HowToSupply items for per-item pricing. Using both gives the most complete cost picture.

What currency format should I use?

Use ISO 4217 currency codes (USD, EUR, GBP) inside a MonetaryAmount object. Plain text like "$20" is valid but less machine-readable.