Construction Material Prices in 2026

In 2026, framing lumber runs $400–$440 per thousand board feet, ready-mix concrete $155–$180 per cubic yard, drywall $13–$16 per sheet, architectural shingles $105–$130 per square, and structural steel $950–$1,150 per ton. Overall materials are up modestly (~3–5% year over year), with metals and copper rising fastest and lumber roughly flat.

Mostly up, but modestly. Lumber is flat to +3% after 2025’s correction, while metals (steel, copper, aluminum) are up 6–9% and pulling up everything containing them — wiring, HVAC equipment, windows, appliances. The big wildcard is tariff policy: the temporary broad tariff expired mid-2026 and the follow-on schedule will set the tone for late 2026 and 2027.

Materials typically make up 40–50% of construction cost. For an average 2,000 sq ft home at $170 per square foot ($340,000 total), that’s roughly $140,000–$170,000 in materials. Lumber and framing hardware are the biggest single line, followed by mechanical systems, windows/doors and finishes.

Freight distance from mills and plants, fewer regional suppliers, and sustained building demand along the Front Range — Denver, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs — keep Mountain West material indexes 5–15% above the national average. Concrete is the standout: limited local aggregate and long haul distances push Front Range ready-mix well above Gulf South pricing.

Ask your builder for early procurement of tariff-exposed and volatile items (windows, steel, appliances, copper) at contract signing; negotiate a fixed-price contract with a capped escalation clause instead of open-ended cost-plus; and time lumber purchases against the futures curve when possible. A 10–15% contingency weighted toward metals is prudent for 2026–2027 builds.