The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) is the leading provider of cost and carbon data to the UK built environment. Over 4,000 subscribing consultants, clients and contractors use BCIS products to control costs, manage budgets, mitigate risk and improve project performance.
Published: 08/10/2026
Construction rates in the BCIS Major Works and SMM7 Major Works estimating datasets increased overall by 4.2% in the second quarter of 2026, compared with the same period last year.
The increase is an average of all rates across all trades covered in the datasets.
The figures point to a market that has settled compared with the sharper cost swings of recent years, though the pattern is far from uniform. Structural steelwork rates increased by 8.2% and piling and diaphragm walling rates increased by 6.2%, reflecting continued pressure on the frame and substructure trades that dominate larger schemes, while masonry rates increased by just 0.7%.
Source: BCIS Major Works and SMM7 Major Works Estimating Prices
Karl Horton, data services director at BCIS, said: ‘Structural steelwork and piling saw the greatest increases in this quarter’s Major Works update, reflecting continued cost pressure on the frame and substructure trades.
‘Even though headline inflation has settled, trades exposed to global commodity markets, such as structural steel, can still rise faster than the average.’
The datasets have undergone a thorough review and update, with new rates and resources added.
2027 Edition Updates
The BCIS Major Works Estimating Prices 2027 dataset now contains 27,574 total rates and 9,735 total resources, including 754 new or additional rates. The BCIS SMM7 Major Works Estimating Prices 2027 dataset contains 26,178 total rates and 9,695 total resources, including 735 new or additional rates.
New and additional items added across both datasets include painting and decorating, beam and block flooring, testing of fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, stonework, SIP panel walling, boiling and chilled water supply (zip taps or similar), and brushed finish to unset concrete.
Horton added: ‘This update also adds more than 200 new fabricated steelwork rates, plus new curtain walling rates, giving estimators a fuller picture of frame and envelope costs on larger buildings.’
BCIS databases are created on a national average ‘best trade price’ basis and estimates can be rebased to suit project location, date and contract value. Custom percentages can also be applied for preliminaries, overheads and profit levels.
In the Major Works dataset, prices are based on a building of two or three storeys of the Administrative or Recreational type, such as offices, libraries, community centres and sports halls, architect-designed and supervised with a tender price of up to approximately £4.5 million, providing reasonable quantities of work in all trades. The SMM7 Major Works dataset provides the equivalent pricing structured to the SMM7 classification.
The Major Works and SMM7 Major Works datasets are available to subscribers of BCIS CapX.
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