Lumber jumped 14% last quarter. Steel dropped 8%. If your bids are based on last month's prices, you're either leaving profit on the table or eating the difference.
Build Cost Index tracks real-time pricing for lumber, steel, concrete, copper, and drywall across 5 US regions -- so your estimates match reality.
Skip to dashboard →You call three suppliers, get three different numbers, and by the time you submit the bid, they've all changed.
A 10% lumber spike on a $200K project is $20,000 straight out of your pocket if you quoted last month's rate.
Regional price differences, seasonal trends, and volatile commodities can't be tracked in a static Excel file.
Pick from lumber, steel, concrete, copper, or drywall. Choose your region or compare all five at once.
See current unit prices, month-over-month changes, 12-month trend charts, and AI-generated market forecasts.
Enter material quantities, select a pricing region, and get an instant cost estimate you can drop into your proposal.
See where prices have been and where they're headed. Every material gets its own historical trendline with month-over-month change indicators.
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, and Southwest. Compare regional price differences side-by-side to spot arbitrage and plan procurement.
Enter quantities for each material, select a region, and get a total cost estimate in seconds. Export to CSV for your proposal spreadsheet.
Get a Monday morning email with material price changes, regional hotspots, and market commentary so you start the week informed.
What construction consultants charge for material pricing data
Build Cost Index. Same data. Always free.
Join contractors and estimators who check Build Cost Index before every proposal. Real-time pricing, trend data, and a bid calculator -- all free.
Or go straight to the dashboard →Build Cost Index aggregates data from public commodity indices, regional supplier networks, and industry reports. Our AI model synthesizes these sources into a unified price per material per region, updated with every analysis run.
100% free, no catch. Build Cost Index is a tool built for contractors by builders. There are no premium tiers, no paywalls, no data limits. We may introduce optional paid features in the future, but the core pricing dashboard and bid calculator will always be free.
Our prices reflect broad market trends and regional averages. They are designed for estimation and bid planning, not as exact purchase orders. Always confirm final pricing with your local suppliers before committing. Think of it as a reliable starting point, not a binding quote.
We currently track five core construction materials: Lumber (2x4 framing), Steel (hot rolled), Concrete (ready mix), Copper (Cat 6 wiring), and Drywall (4x8 sheets). Pricing is available for Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, and Southwest US regions. More materials and international regions are on the roadmap.
Yes. After running a price analysis, click "Export CSV" to download a spreadsheet with all material prices, regional breakdowns, percentage changes, and forecasts. Paste it straight into your bid document or estimating software.