US public works unit prices report, Q4 2026
Updated · BuildGets Team
In Q4 2026, the BuildGets BID index tracks 190 public works bid items from 767 public bid tabulations in 35 states (33,275 bidder prices). The most-bid item, catch basin or inlet, has a median bid of $7,610 per EA (middle 50 %: $3,780 – $13,000).
Key figures
- 767 public bid tabulations from 35 states, bid openings Jan 2022 to Oct 2026.
- 33,275 bidder unit prices in 190 published bid items (engineer's estimates excluded).
- Catch basin or inlet: median $7,610 per EA (1465 bids).
- Concrete curb and gutter: median $42.00 per LF (1444 bids).
- Pavement marking line: median $4.64 per LF (1062 bids).
Headline unit prices
| Bid item | Unit | Median | Middle 50 % | Bids | Bid tabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch basin or inlet | EA | $7,610 | $3,780 – $13,000 | 1465 | 117 |
| Concrete curb and gutter | LF | $42.00 | $32.00 – $58.00 | 1444 | 170 |
| Pavement marking line | LF | $4.64 | $2.50 – $8.00 | 1062 | 76 |
| Hot mix asphalt paving | TON | $145 | $100 – $223 | 915 | 129 |
| Portland cement concrete pavement | SY | $100 | $66.26 – $147 | 804 | 92 |
| Mobilization | LS | $75,000 | $36,000 – $150,000 | 794 | 254 |
| Water service connection or replacement | EA | $2,800 | $1,400 – $4,471 | 780 | 77 |
| Traffic control | LS | $16,000 | $10,000 – $32,578 | 687 | 209 |
| 48-inch manhole | EA | $7,605 | $5,000 – $11,847 | 628 | 87 |
| Unclassified excavation | CY | $35.00 | $20.00 – $60.00 | 625 | 145 |
By trade
Water
Water service connection or replacement $2,800 / EA; 8-inch gate valve with box $2,900 / EA; 8-inch PVC water main $107 / LF; Fire hydrant assembly $7,800 / EA.
Sanitary sewer
48-inch manhole $7,605 / EA; CCTV sewer inspection $3.50 / LF; 60-inch manhole $12,000 / EA; Manhole $14,250 / EA.
Storm drainage
Catch basin or inlet $7,610 / EA; 24-inch reinforced concrete storm pipe (RCP) $197 / LF; Concrete box culvert $1,350 / LF; Riprap $113 / SY.
Earthwork and site prep
Unclassified excavation $35.00 / CY; Select or imported trench backfill $50.00 / CY; Subgrade preparation $3.75 / SY; Clearing and grubbing $6,000 / AC.
Paving
Hot mix asphalt paving $145 / TON; Portland cement concrete pavement $100 / SY; Pavement removal $18.20 / SY; Hot mix asphalt paving $20.25 / SY.
Concrete and structures
Concrete curb and gutter $42.00 / LF; Concrete sidewalk $12.00 / SF; Structural concrete $966 / CY; Concrete sidewalk $90.00 / SY.
Traffic, striping and signs
Pavement marking line $4.64 / LF; Traffic control $16,000 / LS; Pavement marking symbol or word $330 / EA; Traffic sign $128 / EA.
Electrical and lighting
Electrical pull box or handhole $1,690 / EA; Street light pole and fixture $1,695 / EA; 2-inch electrical conduit $31.00 / LF; 3-inch electrical conduit $35.00 / LF.
Erosion control
Inlet protection $150 / EA; Silt fence $4.00 / LF; Stabilized construction entrance $3,000 / EA; Erosion control blanket $5.25 / SY.
Landscaping and restoration
Chain link fence $10.00 / LF; Sod or seeding and restoration $11.00 / SY; Tree removal $828 / EA; Tree planting $880 / EA.
General conditions
Mobilization $75,000 / LS; Construction staking $14,730 / LS; Storm water pollution prevention (SWPPP) $2,515 / LS.
Where bids spread the most
Items where the 75th percentile bid is furthest above the 25th: scope varies a lot between bid forms (what is included in the item), so check the sources before using the median.
- 10-inch connection to existing main: $1,096 – $8,625 per EA (×7.9)
- Traffic sign: $75.00 – $465 per EA (×6.2)
- Traffic signal installation: $2,000 – $12,092 per EA (×6.0)
- 6-inch underdrain: $10.00 – $52.00 per LF (×5.2)
- 12-inch flared end section or headwall: $500 – $2,500 per EA (×5.0)
By state
Texas (168 bid tabs) · Michigan (74 bid tabs) · Illinois (34 bid tabs) · North Carolina (32 bid tabs) · Kentucky (30 bid tabs) · Ohio (26 bid tabs) · Washington (22 bid tabs) · New Mexico (17 bid tabs) · Arizona (10 bid tabs) · Colorado (6 bid tabs) · Georgia (5 bid tabs) · Iowa (4 bid tabs) · Minnesota (3 bid tabs)
How to cite
BuildGets BID, US public works unit prices report, Q4 2026, https://www.buildgets.com/us/unit-prices/report/ (data licensed CC BY 4.0).
Method
Every figure comes from public bid tabulations: the documents owners publish after bid opening, with every bidder's unit price. Only bids from 2022 onward count, engineer's estimates are excluded, and an item is published only with at least 8 bid prices from at least 3 bid tabs. Full tables, sources and CSV: public works unit price index.