Cost guide, updated November 2026
A new data center in the US or Canada costs about $8.9 million to $23.3 million per MW before GPUs, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s 2026 guide. The average for modern facilities is about $17.6 million per MW, so a 10 MW build comes to roughly $176 million.
Figures are third party estimates for early planning, not a quote.
By size
Multiply your planned megawatts by the per MW range to get a first budget range.
| Capacity | Low | At average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 MW | $8.9M | $17.6M | $23.3M |
| 10 MW | $89M | $176M | $233M |
| 20 MW | $178M | $352M | $466M |
| 50 MW | $445M | $880M | $1.17B |
| 100 MW | $890M | $1.76B | $2.33B |
Our arithmetic using the 2026 range of $8.9M to $23.3M per MW and the $17.6M average, before GPUs. Small projects can fall outside the range, and costs don't always scale evenly.
Budget breakdown
Power, the building and contingency make up more than half of a typical budget once GPUs are set aside.
| Category | Share | Per MW | 20 MW example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power infrastructure | 21% | $3.7M | $73.9M |
| Core, shell and sitework | 17% | $3.0M | $59.8M |
| Contingency | 16% | $2.8M | $56.3M |
| Cooling | 12% | $2.1M | $42.2M |
| Owner furnished equipment | 8% | $1.4M | $28.2M |
| Site acquisition | 7% | $1.2M | $24.6M |
| IT and network, excluding GPUs | 7% | $1.2M | $24.6M |
| Design | 3% | $0.5M | $10.6M |
| Escalation | 3% | $0.5M | $10.6M |
| Not itemized | 6% | $1.1M | $21.1M |
| Total before GPUs | 100% | $17.6M | $352.0M |
Shares are Cushman & Wakefield 2026 figures as compiled by GR1D and CRE Daily. Dollar amounts are arithmetic on the $17.6M average, not published line items.
Cost drivers
Silicon Valley, Chicago, New York, Northern New Jersey, Toronto and Los Angeles are reported among the most expensive markets. Texas markets are reported among the least expensive.
JLL estimates liquid cooling adds about $1M to $2M per MW compared with air cooled designs, and AI ready designs add 15% to 25% to shell and core cost.
Reported increases from December 2021 to early 2026 include 60% for switchgear, 46% for copper, 33% for generators and motors, 32% for cooling equipment and 29% for transformers.
Reported lead times run 68 to 113 weeks for pad mounted transformers, 60 to 100 weeks for generators and 38 to 63 weeks for medium voltage switchgear.
Comparing reports
Published numbers measure different things. Check the scope before you use one in a budget.
| Benchmark | Figure | Source and scope |
|---|---|---|
| New build average | $17.6M per MW | Cushman & Wakefield, modern greenfield facilities in the US and Canada, before GPUs |
| New build range | $8.9M to $23.3M per MW | Cushman & Wakefield via CRE Daily, US and Canada, before GPUs |
| Global average forecast | $11.3M per MW | JLL forecast for 2026, as reported by Datacentres.com. GR1D describes this as shell and core scope |
| GPUs, servers and network | $29M to $42M per MW | GR1D estimate derived from order and rack pricing |
| 1 GW AI campus | About $30B | Bloomberg analysis with Cushman & Wakefield, Abilene, Texas, including about $17B of chips |
FAQ
A new data center in the US or Canada costs about $8.9 million to $23.3 million per MW before GPUs, with an average of about $17.6 million per MW for modern facilities, according to Cushman & Wakefield's 2026 guide.
Using the 2026 per MW range, a 10 MW data center works out to about $89 million to $233 million before GPUs. At the $17.6 million average, that is about $176 million. Use this as a rough planning figure, not a quote.
Excluding GPUs, power infrastructure is the largest category at about 21% of a greenfield budget. Core, shell and sitework is about 17%, contingency about 16% and cooling about 12%.
GR1D estimates that GPUs, servers and networking add about $29 million to $42 million per MW for high end AI systems. A Bloomberg analysis prepared with Cushman & Wakefield put a 1 GW AI campus at about $30 billion, with about $17 billion going to chips.
Site acquisition is about 7% of a greenfield budget in Cushman & Wakefield's category shares. GR1D also reports a powered land benchmark of about $584,000 per MW in primary US markets. These figures cover different scopes and do not reconcile exactly.
Reports measure different scopes. JLL forecasts a global average of $11.3 million per MW for 2026, while Cushman & Wakefield reports $17.6 million for modern greenfield facilities in the US and Canada. Always check what a figure includes before you compare it.
Cushman & Wakefield reports a 21% average increase per MW since its late 2024 guide. Between December 2021 and early 2026, reported price increases include 60% for switchgear, 46% for copper and 33% for generators and motors.
Reported lead times run 68 to 113 weeks for pad mounted transformers, 60 to 100 weeks for generators and 38 to 63 weeks for medium voltage switchgear. These lead times can shape your schedule as much as your budget.
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