Share of Wood-Framed Homes Dips in 2023

Trends
Published

Wood framing remains the most dominant construction method for completed single-family homes in the U.S., according to NAHB analysis of 2023 Census Bureau data. For 2023 completions, 93% of new homes were wood-framed, another 7% were concrete-framed homes, and less than half a percent were steel-framed.

On a count basis, there were 930,000 wood-framed homes completed in 2023. This was a 3% decrease compared to the 2022 total. The wood-framed market share decreased to 93% in 2023, after it increased for three consecutive years from 2019 (90%) to 2022 (94%). As noted above, steel-framed homes are relatively uncommon, with 3,000 housing completions in 2023, the same amount as the 2021 and 2022 completions.

Meanwhile, the concrete-framed market share increased from 6% in 2022 to 7% in 2023. On a count basis, there were 65,000 concrete-framed homes completed in 2023, up 3% from the previous year. This is the first increase after three straight years of declines (down 13% in 2020, 5% in 2021 and 11% in 2022).

Jing Fu, NAHB director of forecasting and analysis, provides more in this Eye on Housing post.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Environmental Issues | Advocacy

Feb 27, 2026

New Army Corps Initiative Will Streamline Permitting Process

The Army Corps of Engineers on Feb. 23 announced a new initiative called “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” that the agency said will “shorten permitting timelines, and reduce or eliminate extraneous regulations and paperwork.”

Labor

Feb 27, 2026

Labor Department Proposes New FLSA Independent Contractor Rule

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today published notice of its intent to revise its regulations that distinguish covered employees from exempt independent contractors for enforcement purposes under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other laws.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Feb 27, 2026

Gains for Student Housing Construction in the Last Quarter of 2025

Private fixed investment for student dormitories was up 1.5% in the last quarter of 2025, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.9 billion. This gain followed three consecutive quarterly declines before rebounding in the final two quarters of the year.

Economics

Feb 27, 2026

Price Growth for Building Materials Slows to Start the Year

Residential building material prices rose at a slower rate in January, according to the latest Producer Price Index release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was the first decline in the rate of price growth since April of last year. Metal products continue to experience price increases, while specific wood products are showing declines in prices.

Economics

Feb 26, 2026

Home Improvement Loan Applications Moderate as Borrower Profile Gradually Ages

Home improvement activity has remained elevated in the post-pandemic period, but both the volume of loan applications and the age profile of borrowers have shifted in notable ways. Data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), analyzed by NAHB, show that total home improvement loan applications have eased from their recent post-pandemic peak, and the distribution of borrowers across age groups has gradually tilted older.