National Building Cost Manual 2026

By: Ben Moselle

Square-foot costs for more than 80 building types including: residential, commercial, industrial, military, schools, greenhouses, manufactured homes, multi-family homes, fire stations, libraries, churches, government offices and farm buildings.

Includes important variables that can make any building unique from a cost standpoint. A smart resource for adjusters and appraisers using the cost approach.

Quickly work up a reliable budget estimate based on actual materials and design features, class of construction, area, shape, wall height, number of floors, and support requirements. Includes easy-to-use software that calculates total in-place cost estimates. Use the regional cost adjustment factors provided to tailor the estimate to any jobsite in the U.S. Then view, print, email or save the detailed PDF report as needed.

2026 Total In-Place Costs for Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural and Military Structures

Single Family Residences – With 4, 6, 8, or 10 Corners, Masonry or Wood Frame
Multi-Family Residences – 2 or 3 Units, 4 or 9 Units, 10 or more Units
Motels – 9 Units or Less, 10 to 24 Units, Over 24 Units, by Quality Class
Cabins & Recreational Dwellings – With 4, 6, 8, or 10 Corners, by Quality Class
A-Frame Cabins – With 4, 6, or 8 Corners, by Square Foot Area and Quality Class
Urban Stores – Masonry, Concrete, or Wood Frame, by Size and Number of Floors
Suburban Stores – Masonry, Concrete, or Wood Frame, by Shape, Size and Floors
Supermarkets – Masonry, Concrete, Wood or Steel Frame, by Size and Quality
Small Food Stores – Masonry or Wood Frame, by Size, Height and Quality Class
Discount Houses – Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, by Size, Height and Quality
Banks & Savings Offices – Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, by Number of Floors
Department Stores – Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, by Area on each Floor
Offices – Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, with Interior or Exterior Entrances
Medical-Dental Buildings - Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, by Entrance Type
Convalescent Hospitals – Wood Frame, by Quality Class and Square Foot Area
Funeral Homes – Masonry or Wood Frame, by Quality Class and Square Foot Area
Restaurants – Self-Service, Coffee Shops, Conventional, and A-Frame Types
Theaters - Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, by Shape, Size, and Quality Class
Mobile Home Parks – By Quality, Type of Facilities, and Square Feet per Space
Service Stations – Wood, Masonry, or Steel, Conventional or Rustic Design
Service Garages – Masonry, Concrete or Wood Frame, by Shape and Floor Area
Industrial Buildings – Tilt-up Concrete Warehouses and Factory Buildings
Steel Buildings – Prefabricated Steel Warehouse and Factory Buildings
Farm Buildings – Barns, Shops, Sheds, Dairy Buildings, Poultry Houses and Camps
Churches – Places of Worship and Sunday Schools by Square Foot and Quality Class
Greenhouses – Steel Frame or Wood Frame by Square Foot and Quality Class
Modular Building – by Square Footage and Quality Class

Contents:

Explanation of the Cost Tables, 4
Area Modification Factors, 7
Construction Cost Index, 9

Residential Structures Section, 10
Single Family Residences, 10
Manufactured Housing, 16
Multi-Family Residences, 19
Motels, 23
Additional Costs for Residences, 27
Multi-Family and Motel Garages, 31
Cabins and Recreational Dwellings, 32
Conventional Recreational Dwellings, 33
“A-Frame” Cabins, 38
Additional Costs for Recreational Dwellings, 42
Life in Years and Depreciation for Residences, 43

Public Buildings Section, 44
Elementary Schools, 44
Secondary Schools, 53
Government Buildings, 56

Commercial Structures Section, 63
Urban Stores, Masonry or Concrete, 64
Urban Stores, Wood or Wood and Steel, 70
Suburban Stores, Masonry or Concrete, 77
Suburban Stores, Wood or Wood and Steel, 82
Supermarkets, Masonry or Concrete, 91
Supermarkets, Wood or Wood and Steel, 93
Small Food Stores, Masonry or Concrete, 95
Small Food Stores, Wood Frame, 97
Discount Houses, Masonry or Concrete, 99
Discount Houses, Wood or Wood and Steel, 101
Banks and Savings Offices, Masonry or Concrete, 103
Banks and Savings Office, Wood Frame, 108
Department Stores, Reinforced Concrete, 114
Department Stores, Masonry or Concrete, 117
Department Stores, Wood Frame, 120
General Office Buildings, Masonry or Concrete, 123
General Office Buildings, Wood Frame, 131
Medical-Dental Buildings, Masonry or Concrete, 139
Medical-Dental Buildings, Wood Frame, 147
Convalescent Hospitals, Masonry or Concrete, 155
Convalescent Hospitals, Wood Frame, 157
Funeral Homes, 159
Ecclesiastic Buildings, 161
Self Service Restaurants, 163
Coffee Shop Restaurants, 166
Conventional Restaurants, 169
“A-Frame” Restaurants, 171
Theaters, Masonry or Concrete, 173
Mobile Home Parks, 184
Service Stations, Wood, Masonry or Steel, 186
Service Stations, Porcelain Finished Steel, 188
Service Stations, Ranch or Rustic, 190
Additional Costs for Service Stations, 192
Service Garages, Masonry or Concrete, 196
Service Garages, Wood Frame, 201
Auto Service Centers, Masonry or Concrete, 206

Industrial Structures Section, 212
Warehouses, 212
Light Industrial Buildings, 213
Factory Buildings, 214
Internal Offices, 215
External Offices, 215
Steel Buildings, 216
Alternate Costs for Steel Buildings, 218
Commercial and Industrial Building Lives, 223
Additional Commercial and Industrial Costs, 224
Material Handling System, 230
Display Fronts, 231
Satellite Receiver Systems, 233
Signs, 234
Yard Improvements, 235

Agriculture Structures Section, 238
General Purpose Barns, 238
Hay Storage Barns, 239
Feed Barns, 240
Shop Buildings, 241
Machinery and Equipment Sheds, 242
Small Sheds, 243
Pole Barns, 244
Low Cost Dairy Barns, 245
Stanchion Dairy Barns, 246
Walk-Through Dairy Barns, 247
Modern Herringbone Barns, 248
Miscellaneous Dairy Costs, 249
Poultry Houses, Conventional, 250
Poultry Houses, Modern Type, 251
Poultry Houses, High Rise Type, 252
Poultry Houses, Deep Pit Type, 253
Poultry House Equipment, 254
Green Houses, 255
Migrant Worker Housing, 256
Miscellaneous Agricultural Structures, 257
Typical Lives for Agricultural Buildings, 257

Military Construction Section, 258
Facility Costs, 259
Index, 261

Softcover -  280 Pages
8-1/2 x 11 in.