KEY POINTS
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ConstructConnect recorded $9.4 billion in Data Center construction starts across 18 U.S. projects in September, less than half of August’s revised record $25.8 billion. Year-to-date starts reached $135.8 billion across 178 projects.
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The median data center construction cost reached $540.96 per square foot from January through September 2026, up 31% from a year earlier as costs rose faster than project size.
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ConstructConnect is tracking $74.8 billion across 115 planned data center projects expected to start in the next six months.
This exclusive data center report was prepared by ConstructConnect Chief Economist, Michael Guckes, and Associate Economist, Devin Bell.
Data Center Construction Spending
ConstructConnect recorded $9.4 billion in construction spending starts across 18 US Data Center projects in September 2026.
September spending came in below half of August’s revised $25.8 billion, which set an all-time record. The latest monthly Data Center construction spending lowered the 12-month moving average to $14.9 billion.
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Two Data Center projects in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, each worth $2 billion, broke ground in September 2026 and ranked as the largest US Data Center projects that month.
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US Data Center projects generated $135.8 billion in spending across 178 projects year-to-date (YTD) through September 2026.
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ConstructConnect recorded $500.2 billion in total US Nonresidential Building construction starts, and Data Center presently account for 27% of that total in 2026.
Total Data Center starts are on pace to eclipse $180 billion in 2026, which is approximately $20 billion above our latest full year forecast.
ConstructConnect recorded $9.4 billion in construction spending starts across 18 US Data Center projects in September 2026. Data center spending in 2026 has been highly concentrated. Shown is a map of US Data Center construction spending by state January through September 2026. Image and Data: ConstructConnect
Data Center Construction Costs Rising Faster Than Size
The average US Data Center, in the year-to-date sample with known prices and square footage, costs $1.3 billion and covers 1.1 million square feet.
Data Centers are rising in costs faster than they are in size, pushing cost per square foot prices steeply higher.
The median cost per square foot of Data Center construction is $540.96 per square foot from January through September 2026. This figure is 31% above last year’s price and has lifted the 5-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of Data Center construction cost per square foot to 16.2%.
Data Centers are rising in costs faster than they are in size, pushing cost per square foot prices steeply higher. Shown in a chart is the square footage costs of US Data Centers from 2020 to year-to-date 2026, through September. Image and Data: ConstructConnect
How Data Center Construction Spending is Spread Across the US
Data center spending in 2026 has been highly concentrated in three identifiable areas:
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In the West South Central division which includes Texas and Arkansas among others the year’s data center starts spending has totaled $33.6B.
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To the East, the South Atlantic division which includes states along the seaboard from Maryland to Florida has netted a slightly greater total data center spending of $36.2 billion.
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The largest geographic concentration of data center spending has occurred in the traditional “rust belt” region of the country from Wisconsin moving Southeast through Ohio where total data center spending has topped $40 billion.
Planned US Data Center construction starts value by US Census Region is shown on a map for October 2026 to April 2027. These projects are still in the preconstruction phase and are not guaranteed to break ground. Image and Data: ConstructConnect
Where are the US Data Center Projects in Planning
ConstructConnect Project Intelligence is tracking $74.8 billion across 115 planned data center projects with start dates in the next six months.
These projects remain in various stages of preconstruction, meaning there is no guarantee that any single project reaches groundbreaking.
Planned spending continues to concentrate in the South, which accounts for nearly 80% of the total over the next six months. The Midwest and Northeast make up most of the remaining planned spending, taking up 11.9% and 7.2% respectively.
How Power Infrastructure Starts are Performing
The rapid Data Center buildout has significantly raised energy demand, making power generation and transmission an increasingly important piece of the construction industry.
Power Infrastructure construction starts have benefitted, growing at an average annual rate of 52.2% in the US from 2021 to 2025.
That momentum has carried into 2026, with year-to-date Power Infrastructure starts up 167.4% from the same period in 2025. The growth figure should come down, however, as the comparison reaches 2025's unusually strong final three months.
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About ConstructConnect
At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information that construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings—including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software—help our clients find, bid on, and win more projects.
ConstructConnect operates as a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.
For more information, visit constructconnect.com
