The prices for constructing new conventional residential buildings in Germany rose by 3.3 percent in February 2026 compared to February 2025. In the previous reporting month, November 2025, the year-on-year price increase was 3.2 percent, according to a statement from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Friday. Destatis also reported that construction prices increased by 1.5 percent in February 2026 compared to November 2025. All price figures cited include VAT and relate to construction services.
During the same period, the cost of structural shell work on residential buildings increased by 2.7 percent from February 2025 to February 2026. Concrete work and masonry work account for the largest portion of the structural shell costs and the overall index for new residential construction. While the prices for concrete work rose by 1.6 percent compared to the previous year, prices for masonry work saw a stronger increase of 2.0 percent. Roof covering work was 4.0 percent more expensive in February 2026 than in February 2025; earthwork costs rose by 3.5 percent, and carpentry and timber framing costs increased by 5.5 percent.
The costs for finishing work in February 2026 were 3.8 percent higher than in the same month last year. Within these costs, the prices for heating systems and central hot water systems (including heat pumps, for instance) rose by 4.2 percent. These systems, alongside metal construction work, represent the largest components of the cost index for residential buildings in finishing work. For metal construction, prices increased by 3.0 percent. In contrast, prices for electrical, security, and information technology systems-which include items like electric hot water heaters and communication systems-increased by 5.4 percent, while prices for thermal insulation composite systems rose by 3.3 percent.
In addition to new construction costs, the prices for maintaining residential buildings (excluding mere cosmetic repairs) were also measured, rising by 4.1 percent in February 2026 compared to the previous year.
Finally, new construction prices for office buildings rose by 3.6 percent between February 2025 and February 2026, and for commercial operational buildings by 3.4 percent to the same period. According to the Federal Office, road construction prices increased by 3.7 percent in February 2026 compared to February 2025.