What Construction Material Prices Are Doing in 2026
- Lumber is the biggest mover: +34.8% year-over-year. From $409/MBF in April 2025 to $476/MBF in April 2026. Market-driven — no tariff on framing lumber.
- Steel up 26.1% — but tariffs make it worse. Tracked market price $1,602/ton. With 25% tariff applied: $1,975/ton. Combined market + tariff effect is significant.
- All copper products up 20%+. Copper wire +22.2%, plumbing copper +21.1%, electrical wire +19.3%. All carry a 7.5% tariff on top of market increases.
- HVAC up 13.1% — tariff makes it 10% worse. Tracked market price $1,842/ton capacity. Tariff-adjusted: $2,035/ton.
- Concrete is the most stable at +7.2%. Lowest increase of any tracked material. No tariff exposure.
- Nothing got cheaper. Every one of 9 tracked materials is up year-over-year. Average across all 9 materials: +18.4% from April 2025 to April 2026.
Current Prices — May 2026
Most recent monthly averages from BuildStackHub's weekly tracking database. Tariff exposure flagged.
Lumber (Framing)
$476
per MBF (thousand board feet)
↑ +34.8% vs Apr 2025
No Tariff
Structural Steel
$1,602
per ton (market) / $1,975 tariff-adj.
↑ +26.1% vs Apr 2025
25% Tariff
Copper Wire
$4.84
per lb / $5.21 tariff-adjusted
↑ +22.2% vs Apr 2025
7.5% Tariff
Plumbing Copper
$28.03
per 10ft section (3/4 in) / $30.13 adj.
↑ +21.1% vs Apr 2025
7.5% Tariff
Roofing Shingles
$93.58
per square (100 sqft)
↑ +17.0% vs Apr 2025
No Tariff
Electrical Wire (12 AWG)
$71.78
per 250ft roll / $77.16 tariff-adj.
↑ +19.3% vs Apr 2025
7.5% Tariff
HVAC Equipment
$1,842
per ton capacity (residential) / $2,026 adj.
↑ +13.1% vs Apr 2025
10% Tariff
Drywall (4x8 sheet)
$14.44
per 4x8 sheet (1/2 in gypsum)
↑ +12.3% vs Apr 2025
No Tariff
Concrete (Ready-Mix)
$164
per cubic yard (national avg)
↑ +7.2% vs Apr 2025
No Tariff
2026 Construction Material Price Summary Table
12-month tracking data with year-over-year change, 12-month range, and tariff status. BuildStackHub proprietary data.
| Material | Unit | Apr 2025 | Apr 2026 | YoY Change | 12-Mo Low | 12-Mo High | 12-Mo Avg | Tariff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber (Framing) | /MBF | $409 | $476 | +34.8% | $358 | $483 | $415 | 0% |
| Structural Steel | /ton | $1,267 | $1,602 | +26.1% | $1,242 | $1,613 | $1,421 | 25% |
| Copper Wire | /lb | $3.96 | $4.84 | +22.2% | $3.91 | $4.87 | $4.40 | 7.5% |
| Electrical Wire (12 AWG) | /250ft roll | $60.16 | $71.78 | +19.3% | $59.43 | $72.69 | $66.16 | 7.5% |
| Plumbing Copper (3/4in) | /10ft section | $23.15 | $28.03 | +21.1% | $23.10 | $28.57 | $25.41 | 7.5% |
| Roofing Shingles | /square | $79.99 | $93.58 | +17.0% | $79.21 | $95.77 | $87.39 | 0% |
| HVAC Equipment | /ton capacity | $1,629 | $1,842 | +13.1% | $1,607 | $1,876 | $1,757 | 10% |
| Drywall (4x8 sheet) | /sheet | $12.86 | $14.44 | +12.3% | $12.70 | $14.62 | $13.70 | 0% |
| Concrete (Ready-Mix) | /cu yard | $153 | $164 | +7.2% | $145 | $171 | $154 | 0% |
Source: BuildStackHub material price tracking database. 542 weekly observations. Apr 2025 = monthly average for April 2025. Apr 2026 = monthly average for April 2026. 12-Mo Low/High based on weekly readings. Tariff rates per USITC schedules effective 2025–2026.
Month-by-Month Price History: April 2025 – April 2026
Monthly averages computed from weekly observations. Full dataset: 542 observations across 9 materials.
| Month | Steel /ton | Lumber /MBF | Copper /lb | HVAC /unit | Concrete /yd | Roofing /sq | Drywall /sheet | Plumb Cu /10ft | Elec Wire /250ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | $1,267 | $409 | $3.96 | $1,629 | $153 | $79.99 | $12.86 | $23.15 | $60.16 |
| May 2025 | $1,258 | $386 | $3.95 | $1,656 | $153 | $80.37 | $12.99 | $23.53 | $60.82 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,257 | $385 | $4.03 | $1,700 | $154 | $81.19 | $12.90 | $23.63 | $61.04 |
| Jul 2025 | $1,267 | $404 | $4.04 | $1,716 | $155 | $81.54 | $13.03 | $23.77 | $61.58 |
| Aug 2025 | $1,298 | $388 | $4.15 | $1,703 | $157 | $83.08 | $13.16 | $24.20 | $62.40 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,355 | $398 | $4.22 | $1,718 | $150 | $85.43 | $13.36 | $24.62 | $64.77 |
| Oct 2025 | $1,393 | $411 | $4.35 | $1,750 | $154 | $87.39 | $13.57 | $25.30 | $66.26 |
| Nov 2025 | $1,471 | $409 | $4.51 | $1,802 | $154 | $89.82 | $13.94 | $26.21 | $68.70 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,491 | $412 | $4.53 | $1,798 | $152 | $92.35 | $14.06 | $26.83 | $69.92 |
| Jan 2026 | $1,480 | $421 | $4.53 | $1,770 | $154 | $93.10 | $14.00 | $27.25 | $70.83 |
| Feb 2026 | $1,516 | $426 | $4.64 | $1,801 | $155 | $94.51 | $14.18 | $27.19 | $71.99 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,570 | $451 | $4.79 | $1,825 | $155 | $95.02 | $14.34 | $27.39 | $71.37 |
| Apr 2026 | $1,602 | $476 | $4.84 | $1,842 | $164 | $93.58 | $14.44 | $28.03 | $71.78 |
| YoY Change | +26.1% | +34.8% | +22.2% | +13.1% | +7.2% | +17.0% | +12.3% | +21.1% | +19.3% |
Source: BuildStackHub material price tracking database. Monthly averages of weekly observations. 542 total data points. Highlighted row = most recent full month data.
Material-by-Material Analysis
12-month context for each tracked material with key price drivers.
Lumber (Framing)
per MBF (thousand board feet)
Current (Apr 2026)
$476
YoY Change
+34.8%
12-Mo Low
$358
12-Mo High
$483
Biggest mover in the tracker. No tariff exposure — this is pure market movement driven by housing demand recovery, West Coast mill constraints, and persistent supply chain tightness. Contractors should budget $450–$490/MBF for 2026 framing work.
Structural Steel
per ton
Market Price
$1,602
Tariff-Adjusted
$1,975
YoY (Market)
+26.1%
Tariff Add
+$395/ton
Double exposure: market prices up 26.1% AND a 25% Section 232 tariff on top. For steel-frame commercial buildings, this is the single biggest cost driver. Tariff-adjusted price exceeds $1,975/ton. Budget accordingly — the market price alone understates true procurement cost for imported steel.
Copper Wire
per pound
Current (Apr 2026)
$4.84
YoY Change
+22.2%
12-Mo Low
$3.91
Tariff-Adj.
$5.21/lb
Strong upward trend throughout the 12-month period. Tariff adds $0.36/lb on top of market appreciation. Electricians doing large commercial installs with hundreds of pounds of wire feel this meaningfully. Plan for $5.00–$5.50/lb in 2026 budget estimates.
HVAC Equipment
per ton of residential capacity
Market Price
$1,842
Tariff-Adjusted
$2,026
YoY (Market)
+13.1%
Tariff Add
+$184/ton
10% tariff adds $184/ton above an already rising market price. For a 3-ton residential system: $552 tariff surcharge per install. HVAC contractors should quote at tariff-adjusted prices — the market price understates actual equipment cost when procuring from tariff-exposed channels.
Concrete (Ready-Mix)
per cubic yard
Current (Apr 2026)
$164
YoY Change
+7.2%
12-Mo Low
$145
12-Mo Avg
$154
Most stable tracked material. No tariff exposure. 7.2% year-over-year increase is entirely market-driven by fuel costs, labor, and aggregate pricing. Regional variation is high — urban markets 30–50% above national average. Budget $150–$200/yd depending on market.
Roofing Shingles
per square (100 sqft)
Current (Apr 2026)
$93.58
YoY Change
+17.0%
12-Mo Low
$79.21
12-Mo High
$95.77
Consistent upward trend throughout 2025 before slight pullback in April 2026. No tariff exposure. A 1,500 sqft roof (~17 squares) now costs $1,591 in materials alone vs. $1,360 in April 2025 — a $231 increase. Quote at $90–$100/square for current material cost planning.
Construction Material Price FAQs
-
How much has lumber gone up in 2026?Lumber framing prices rose 34.8% from April 2025 to April 2026, from $409/MBF to $476/MBF, per BuildStackHub's weekly price tracking. The 12-month average was $415/MBF. Lumber reached a tracked high of $483/MBF and a low of $358/MBF. Lumber carries no 2026 tariff — the increase is entirely market-driven, primarily from housing demand and mill capacity constraints.
-
What is the current price of structural steel per ton in 2026?Structural steel averaged $1,602/ton in April 2026, up 26.1% from $1,267/ton in April 2025, per BuildStackHub's weekly tracking. Steel carries a 25% Section 232 tariff, making the tariff-adjusted price $1,975/ton. The 12-month tracked range was $1,242 to $1,613 (market prices before tariff adjustment).
-
How much is ready-mix concrete per cubic yard in 2026?Ready-mix concrete averaged $164/cubic yard in April 2026, up 7.2% from $153/cubic yard in April 2025, per BuildStackHub's weekly tracking. Concrete is not subject to any 2026 tariff. Regional pricing varies: urban markets like New York City, San Francisco, and Boston can be 30–50% above the national average.
-
What are roofing shingle prices in 2026?Roofing shingles averaged $93.58/square in April 2026, up 17.0% from $79.99/square in April 2025. The 12-month average was $87.39/square. A typical 1,500 sqft roof requires approximately 17 squares — current material cost of $1,591, up from $1,360 in April 2025.
-
How much have HVAC equipment costs increased in 2026?HVAC equipment averaged $1,842/ton of residential capacity in April 2026, up 13.1% from $1,629/ton in April 2025. With a 10% tariff applied, the tariff-adjusted price is $2,026/ton. For a 3-ton residential system, the tariff adds approximately $552 per unit. HVAC contractors should quote at tariff-adjusted prices for current bids.
Methodology & Data Sources
How This Data Is Collected
Tracking period: April 13, 2025 through May 3, 2026. Weekly observations published as monthly averages.
Total observations: 542 data points across 9 materials. Individual material coverage varies from 53 to 66 weekly observations.
Materials tracked and units:
- Structural steel — per ton (2,000 lbs)
- Lumber (framing, 2x4 equivalent) — per MBF (thousand board feet)
- Copper wire — per pound
- HVAC equipment (residential split system) — per ton of capacity
- Concrete (ready-mix, standard mix) — per cubic yard
- Roofing shingles (architectural laminated) — per square (100 sqft)
- Drywall (1/2 in gypsum, 4x8 sheet) — per sheet
- Plumbing copper (3/4 in type L) — per 10ft section
- Electrical wire (12 AWG Romex) — per 250ft roll
Price basis: National average wholesale/distributor pricing. Does not include local delivery, labor, or retailer markup. Regional variation can be ±15–35%.
Tariff rates applied (when shown): Section 232 National Security Tariff (steel 25%), Section 301 tariffs (copper products 7.5%, HVAC equipment 10%). Rates per USITC schedules effective 2025–2026.
Year-over-year change: April 2025 monthly average vs. April 2026 monthly average.
Cross-references: BLS Producer Price Index (validation), RSMeans 2026 (benchmark comparison).
Update frequency: Monthly. Next update: June 2026.
Last updated: May 3, 2026.
Use Current Prices in Your Estimate
BuildStackHub's AI estimator applies these tracked prices automatically. Free, no signup required.
Get Free Tariff-Adjusted Estimate See Tariff Breakdown