2026 Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook

Printed book PLUS A FULL ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot ✓

We're excited to announce a new partnership between BNi and eConverge, combining the trusted BNi Costbook data with eConverge’s leading software. This powerful integration transforms the Costbook into a streamlined online estimating tool - saving time, reducing errors, and boosting efficiency.

Here is a quick tour video of BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot:

The 2026 Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook is your essential guide for MEP system budgeting and planning

The 2026 Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook compiles detailed cost data from 65 actual building projects - spanning a wide range of types and sizes, including commercial, institutional, residential, healthcare, and industrial buildings.

Each case study includes a project narrative, MEP system descriptions, and a detailed cost breakdown - giving readers the context and confidence needed to make informed cost decisions. Costs are escalated to January 2026 levels, ensuring relevance to today’s pricing climate. The costbook covers both new construction and renovation projects, with many featuring high-efficiency systems, geothermal installations, and green design strategies.

In addition to square foot costs, the costbook also provides unit-in-place cost data for specific mechanical and electrical components. These figures are essential for quick concept-level estimates or detailed budgeting and value engineering.

To support localized estimating, the book includes metro area multipliers, allowing users to adjust costs based on regional construction price variations. Whether you’re comparing HVAC systems, evaluating plumbing layouts, or budgeting for low-voltage systems, this costbook is a trusted reference used by estimators, architects, engineers, and facility planners across the country.

Option #1: Order Premium Edition

Order the 2026 Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook and start estimating immediately with your BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot account. Work from anywhere, explore costs by project type, roof, or wall system, apply regional modifiers for precise local pricing, and easily share estimates as PDFs.

Premium Edition Includes: 

• • Printed book
  • BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot powered by eConverge™ for one full year
  • Includes access to over 1,400 cost models
  • Includes unit-in-place and assembly costs for refinement
  • Adjust project costs by location with 600+ Metro Area Multipliers 
  • Designed to reflect the challenges of working around existing conditions
  • Covers public, educational, healthcare, housing, and commercial projects

 
Option #2: Order Book Only

Get all the information you need in a fully-indexed printed book format. Perfect for those who prefer the reliability and feel of a physical book for learning or reference.

Please note that by ordering this 2026 edition, you will automatically receive a copy of the 2027 edition for a no-obligation 30-day trial, as soon as it is released.  This is to ensure you are always working with the latest available data.  You can opt-out of this auto-renew program at any time.

Disclaimer: BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot is designed for general estimating and project planning purposes. It is not intended for use with Job Order Contracting (JOC) and should not be used for JOC- specific pricing, procurement, or contractual decisions.