Cost Guide · DFW Benchmarks
Commercial Construction Cost Per Square Foot in DFW (2026)
Directional, May 2026: DFW commercial construction generally runs ~$175–$650/SF by building type, with most projects landing $190–$340/SF. Warehouse is lowest (~$85–$160/SF); medical and hospitality are highest. The building type drives the number.
Directional, May 2026 · subject to preconstruction review
Commercial construction cost per square foot by building type — DFW, 2026 (directional)
Directional ranges — always a range, never a single number.
| Building type | Directional $/SF | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse / industrial (tilt-wall) | $85–$160/SF | Lowest cost; DFW is #1 nationally in industrial starts. |
| Office — tenant improvement (TI) | $50–$150/SF | $80–$150 for Class A finishes. |
| Office — core & shell (Class A) | $240–$300/SF | Plus tenant improvement on top. |
| Retail (shell + basic) | $200–$400/SF | Varies widely by storefront and finish. |
| Restaurant / QSR (incl. FF&E) | $250–$600/SF | Kitchen MEP is the driver; QSR with FF&E at the top. |
| Medical / healthcare TI | $150–$450/SF | Imaging and surgery push toward the top. |
| Multifamily (garden / mid-rise) | $270–$380/SF | Workforce product can run ~$150–$250/SF. |
Directional, May 2026 — not a quote. Always a range, subject to final preconstruction review. Equipment, FF&E, and soft costs are additional. [DFW cost benchmarks, May 2026]
What commercial construction costs per square foot in DFW
There is no single commercial cost-per-square-foot number, and any source that gives you one without asking the building type is guessing. The honest answer is a range driven first and foremost by what you are building. Directional, May 2026: DFW commercial construction generally runs about $175–$650 per square foot across all types, with most projects landing in a $190–$340/SF band. Warehouse and industrial are the cheapest (~$85–$160/SF); medical, restaurant, and hospitality are the most expensive.
Costs rose roughly 12–18% from 2023 to 2026, with growth slowing to about 3–4% in 2026, so early estimates should be treated as working ranges rather than fixed projections. DFW sits slightly above Houston, below Austin, and is competitive overall — Fort Worth and the outer suburbs trend a bit lower than Dallas proper, while major hubs with high subcontractor demand can run higher. These are directional planning ranges subject to final preconstruction review. [DFW cost benchmarks, May 2026]
What drives the number up and down
Once the building type sets the band, the same factors move a project within it. Specialty MEP density, imaging and shielding, finish level, structural choices, and site conditions push cost up; early preconstruction, design-build delivery, repetition, and buying in lower-volume periods pull it down.
- Up: specialty MEP density (operatories, kitchens, lab gas, sterile/negative-pressure HVAC).
- Up: imaging and shielding (lead-lined rooms for X-ray, CT, cone-beam) and premium finishes.
- Up: structural choices (steel vs. tilt-up vs. CMU swing 10–25%) and poor soils (~20% on the foundation).
- Up: site conditions, compressed schedules, and material escalation in an inflationary market.
- Down: early preconstruction and value engineering — the single biggest lever.
- Down: design-build delivery, repetition/prototypes, tilt-up where crews are abundant, and prefab/modular MEP.
Don't forget soft costs, FF&E, and contingency
The per-square-foot figure is the construction hard cost — it is not the total project cost. A defensible budget stacks several layers on top. Hard costs run roughly 70–80% of the total; soft costs (design fees, permits, financing carry, insurance, testing, legal, developer fee) add 15–30%; FF&E is budgeted separately and can be a large line for medical, dental, and restaurant projects; and a contingency of 5–15% (higher on renovation or rescue work) protects against the inevitable surprises.
A useful prospect framing: construction is the biggest piece, but plan for soft costs and FF&E on top — and a contingency. A project that pencils at $300/SF of construction is, fully loaded, meaningfully more than the per-SF number alone suggests. Budgeting only the construction hard cost is the most common way owners under-fund a project.
Where Pereff fits
Pereff builds across every one of these commercial types in DFW — dental, medical, veterinary, retail and restaurant, office, multifamily, industrial, and ground-up — so the per-SF benchmark conversation is grounded in projects actually delivered in this market. The value Pereff adds to a budget is on the cost-down side of the ledger: early preconstruction, value engineering, design-build delivery, and a correct first permit submittal that keeps the schedule (and the carry) tight.
Through the One Source Solution, architecture, construction, city permitting, and bank-relationship facilitation come from one accountable team. Pereff is not a lender, but facilitates bank relationships for qualifying projects based on the owner's financials and project viability. The fastest way past a generic per-SF estimate is a real preconstruction budget for your specific building type, city, and finish level.
Frequently asked
Straight, directional answers — every figure a range, dated, and subject to preconstruction review.
What is the average commercial construction cost per square foot in DFW in 2026?
Directional, May 2026: DFW commercial generally runs ~$175–$650/SF across all types, with most projects landing $190–$340/SF. Warehouse is lowest (~$85–$160/SF); medical, restaurant, and hospitality are highest. There is no single number — the building type drives it. Subject to final preconstruction review. [DFW cost benchmarks, May 2026]
Which commercial building type is cheapest to build per square foot?
Warehouse and industrial, at roughly $85–$160/SF. It is mostly structure, slab, and skin with little finish, and DFW is the #1 US industrial market, so tilt-up crews and the supply chain are deep here. Office TI ($50–$150/SF) is next; medical, restaurant, and hospitality sit at the top of the range.
Have DFW construction costs gone up?
Yes — commercial construction costs rose roughly 12–18% from 2023 to 2026, though growth slowed to about 3–4% in 2026. That is why early estimates should be treated as working ranges, not fixed projections, and why locking material orders early can protect a budget in an inflationary market.
Is the per-square-foot number the total project cost?
No — it is the construction hard cost. Hard costs are ~70–80% of the total; soft costs (design, permits, financing carry, insurance, legal) add 15–30%; FF&E is separate and large for medical/dental/restaurant; and a 5–15% contingency is prudent. Budgeting only the per-SF construction figure is the most common way owners under-fund a project.
Does Fort Worth cost less than Dallas?
Generally a bit, yes. Fort Worth and the outer suburbs trend somewhat below Dallas proper on labor and land basis, while major hubs with high subcontractor demand can run higher. DFW overall sits slightly above Houston and below Austin. The swing is modest relative to the building-type and finish-level drivers.
Related cost guides & pages
A benchmark is a starting point — not your budget.
The fastest way past a directional range is a real preconstruction budget for your specific project, city, and finish level. Stephen Pereff is personally involved from preconstruction through certificate of occupancy.