Lumber costs jump
- Gordian said April 24 that U.S. framing lumber costs jumped 5.11% entering the second quarter of 2026, reversing two quarterly declines and pushing national average pricing to $916.62 per thousand board feet. - The April RSMeans update put framing lumber 4.21% above a year earlier, marking the ninth straight quarter of annual gains and signaling fresh budget pressure for contractors pricing homes and renovations. - Builders are also bracing for tariff-driven volatility in Canadian supply, with industry groups warning combined duties now approach 45% on key imports. (nahb.org)
Framing lumber got more expensive again in April, with Gordian putting the national average at $916.62 per thousand board feet entering the second quarter of 2026. (gordian.com) Gordian’s April 24 update said that was a 5.11% quarterly increase after two straight quarterly declines. Year over year, framing lumber was up 4.21%. (gordian.com) (bdcnetwork.com) RSMeans is a cost database used by contractors, architects and owners to budget projects, so its lumber number feeds directly into early estimates for new construction and renovation work. Gordian says its database is updated quarterly and localized across more than 970 North American locations. (rsmeans.com) (gordian.com) The increase lands as builders are already dealing with tariff risk on Canadian softwood lumber, a core input for U.S. homebuilding. The National Association of Home Builders says Canada supplies roughly 85% of U.S. softwood lumber imports and about one-quarter of total U.S. supply. (nahb.org) That trade pressure has intensified. The builders’ group says antidumping and countervailing duties on Canadian lumber were increased to 35% in 2025, and a separate 10% Section 232 tariff on timber and lumber imports pushes the combined rate to about 45%. (nahb.org 1) (nahb.org 2) NAHB says softwood lumber prices have been volatile for years because demand swings, tariffs, supply bottlenecks and limited domestic production all hit the market at once. Its latest framing-lumber page says the 10% Section 232 tariff remains in effect, resulting in a 35.9% rate on Canadian imports under that measure. (nahb.org) The group has argued the import taxes will show up in housing costs. In March, it said members were planning for tariffs to add $7,500 to $10,000 to the cost of the average new single-family home as suppliers reset prices. (nahb.org) Gordian’s own broader first-quarter cost report had shown lumber slipping at the start of 2026, which makes the April rebound notable. That report said major materials including lumber and steel had eased from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 before this latest jump. (gordian.com 1) (gordian.com 2) For contractors and homeowners, the immediate issue is not just the April price itself but the return of fast quarterly moves after a brief cooldown. Gordian’s latest number suggests lumber is climbing again just as builders head into the spring and summer building season. (gordian.com)
