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

Material Costs
Oct 16, 2026
U.S. Cuts Duties on Canadian Lumber

Following its annual review, the U.S. Department of Commerce lowered antidumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports from about 35.16% to 24.75%.

Legal
Oct 15, 2026
Supreme Court Leaves New York City’s SoHo/NoHo Arts Fee in Place

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a New York City law that requires certain property owners to pay a substantial fee to convert their properties to unrestricted residential use. NAHB filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to review the case.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Oct 14, 2026
Labor Shortages a Growing Problem

Labor shortages in the home building industry are becoming more widespread, according to recent results from the NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey.

Economics
Oct 14, 2026
Inflation Accelerated in September

Higher energy prices pushed inflation to a four-month high in September, keeping pressure on the Fed as inflation has remained above its 2% target for more than five years.

Economics
Oct 13, 2026
Existing Home Sales Increased in September

Existing home sales rose after three months of declines as improved inventory gave buyers more negotiating power. As buyers wait for rate relief, homes are sitting on the market longer and for-sale inventory reached the highest level in over a decade.