Research · Price data

Real wood beams vs faux: what lumber prices did from 2019 to 2026

US producer prices for lumber were 31.0% above their 2019 average in October 2026 (preliminary), down from a May 2021 peak of 119.6% above, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index.

By Elite Ceiling Designs · Published November 13, 2026 · Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Why are real wood beams so expensive, and how volatile is the price? Wood beams are cut from lumber, so the lumber market is the place to start. We followed the U.S. Producer Price Index for lumber month by month since 2016, next to the index for urethane foam products, the index for goods used in residential construction, and producer prices as a whole. The page shows how far and how fast the prices moved. It does not state any beam price.

Key numbers

The numbers at a glance

The chart

Lumber against foam, building goods and all producer prices

Each line is a producer price index set to its own 2019 average = 100.

  • Lumber
  • Urethane foam products
  • Residential construction inputs
  • All final demand (benchmark)
US producer price indexes, January 2016 to October 2026, each index set to its 2019 average = 100US producer prices for lumber were 31.0% above their 2019 average in October 2026 (preliminary), down from a May 2021 peak of 119.6% above, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index. The table below the chart lists every value.Preliminary100150200201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262019 average = 100May 2021: 219.6─ Residential inputs 155.8─ Final demand 135.6─ Lumber 131.0─ Foam products 119.0Jan 2016: Lumber 92.3, Foam products 94.9, Residential inputs 89.2, Final demand 92.8 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2016: Lumber 92.1, Foam products 95.7, Residential inputs 88.7, Final demand 92.7 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2016: Lumber 93.5, Foam products 95.0, Residential inputs 89.2, Final demand 92.8 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2016: Lumber 95.9, Foam products 95.0, Residential inputs 89.9, Final demand 93.1 (2019 average = 100)May 2016: Lumber 96.6, Foam products 95.0, Residential inputs 90.5, Final demand 93.2 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2016: Lumber 96.8, Foam products 94.9, Residential inputs 91.1, Final demand 93.7 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2016: Lumber 97.3, Foam products 94.9, Residential inputs 91.1, Final demand 93.7 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2016: Lumber 98.1, Foam products 94.8, Residential inputs 91.0, Final demand 93.5 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2016: Lumber 97.6, Foam products 94.7, Residential inputs 91.0, Final demand 93.6 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2016: Lumber 97.4, Foam products 94.9, Residential inputs 91.2, Final demand 93.9 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2016: Lumber 96.7, Foam products 95.2, Residential inputs 90.9, Final demand 93.7 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2016: Lumber 96.5, Foam products 95.7, Residential inputs 91.3, Final demand 93.9 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2017: Lumber 96.5, Foam products 95.8, Residential inputs 92.4, Final demand 94.4 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2017: Lumber 99.9, Foam products 95.4, Residential inputs 92.8, Final demand 94.6 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2017: Lumber 100.7, Foam products 95.3, Residential inputs 93.0, Final demand 94.8 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2017: Lumber 102.6, Foam products 95.9, Residential inputs 93.6, Final demand 95.3 (2019 average = 100)May 2017: Lumber 103.8, Foam products 96.1, Residential inputs 93.5, Final demand 95.3 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2017: Lumber 102.7, Foam products 95.9, Residential inputs 93.6, Final demand 95.5 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2017: Lumber 103.1, Foam products 95.7, Residential inputs 93.6, Final demand 95.6 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2017: Lumber 105.6, Foam products 96.2, Residential inputs 94.3, Final demand 95.8 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2017: Lumber 104.9, Foam products 96.7, Residential inputs 95.0, Final demand 96.0 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2017: Lumber 106.3, Foam products 96.7, Residential inputs 95.2, Final demand 96.5 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2017: Lumber 106.7, Foam products 99.4, Residential inputs 95.7, Final demand 96.5 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2017: Lumber 106.3, Foam products 99.6, Residential inputs 95.7, Final demand 96.3 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2018: Lumber 107.1, Foam products 99.9, Residential inputs 96.9, Final demand 96.9 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2018: Lumber 112.6, Foam products 99.8, Residential inputs 97.8, Final demand 97.2 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2018: Lumber 114.2, Foam products 100.1, Residential inputs 98.7, Final demand 97.6 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2018: Lumber 113.3, Foam products 100.7, Residential inputs 99.3, Final demand 97.9 (2019 average = 100)May 2018: Lumber 118.5, Foam products 100.9, Residential inputs 101.2, Final demand 98.3 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2018: Lumber 121.0, Foam products 101.9, Residential inputs 101.8, Final demand 98.6 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2018: Lumber 117.9, Foam products 101.7, Residential inputs 101.8, Final demand 98.8 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2018: Lumber 110.1, Foam products 101.6, Residential inputs 101.5, Final demand 98.6 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2018: Lumber 108.4, Foam products 101.3, Residential inputs 101.7, Final demand 98.6 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2018: Lumber 101.8, Foam products 101.3, Residential inputs 102.0, Final demand 99.5 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2018: Lumber 99.4, Foam products 101.3, Residential inputs 100.6, Final demand 99.1 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2018: Lumber 100.4, Foam products 101.3, Residential inputs 98.8, Final demand 98.8 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2019: Lumber 99.8, Foam products 101.4, Residential inputs 98.2, Final demand 98.7 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2019: Lumber 102.6, Foam products 101.3, Residential inputs 99.0, Final demand 99.1 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2019: Lumber 101.5, Foam products 101.2, Residential inputs 100.2, Final demand 99.6 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2019: Lumber 101.0, Foam products 101.1, Residential inputs 101.3, Final demand 100.3 (2019 average = 100)May 2019: Lumber 100.2, Foam products 101.0, Residential inputs 101.4, Final demand 100.3 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2019: Lumber 97.7, Foam products 100.6, Residential inputs 100.2, Final demand 100.3 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2019: Lumber 99.8, Foam products 100.6, Residential inputs 100.8, Final demand 100.4 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2019: Lumber 99.3, Foam products 98.4, Residential inputs 100.0, Final demand 100.5 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2019: Lumber 100.2, Foam products 98.5, Residential inputs 99.7, Final demand 100.1 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2019: Lumber 99.1, Foam products 98.6, Residential inputs 99.8, Final demand 100.5 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2019: Lumber 99.0, Foam products 98.6, Residential inputs 99.6, Final demand 100.1 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2019: Lumber 99.8, Foam products 98.6, Residential inputs 99.5, Final demand 100.2 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2020: Lumber 99.6, Foam products 98.5, Residential inputs 100.0, Final demand 100.7 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2020: Lumber 102.3, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 99.7, Final demand 100.2 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2020: Lumber 105.6, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 98.5, Final demand 99.9 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2020: Lumber 97.2, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 94.4, Final demand 98.7 (2019 average = 100)May 2020: Lumber 100.3, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 95.0, Final demand 99.2 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2020: Lumber 107.0, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 97.1, Final demand 99.6 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2020: Lumber 114.6, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 98.9, Final demand 100.2 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2020: Lumber 128.4, Foam products 98.2, Residential inputs 100.4, Final demand 100.3 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2020: Lumber 153.0, Foam products 98.4, Residential inputs 101.8, Final demand 100.4 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2020: Lumber 143.2, Foam products 98.1, Residential inputs 101.7, Final demand 101.1 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2020: Lumber 125.6, Foam products 98.1, Residential inputs 101.2, Final demand 100.9 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2020: Lumber 138.5, Foam products 98.1, Residential inputs 102.8, Final demand 101.0 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2021: Lumber 156.8, Foam products 98.4, Residential inputs 105.6, Final demand 102.3 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2021: Lumber 163.5, Foam products 98.3, Residential inputs 108.0, Final demand 103.1 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2021: Lumber 173.9, Foam products 98.7, Residential inputs 111.3, Final demand 104.1 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2021: Lumber 185.5, Foam products 99.0, Residential inputs 113.3, Final demand 105.2 (2019 average = 100)May 2021: Lumber 219.6, Foam products 103.6, Residential inputs 117.6, Final demand 106.2 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2021: Lumber 211.2, Foam products 106.2, Residential inputs 120.6, Final demand 107.1 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2021: Lumber 159.1, Foam products 109.3, Residential inputs 120.5, Final demand 108.1 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2021: Lumber 134.6, Foam products 110.7, Residential inputs 118.9, Final demand 108.9 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2021: Lumber 130.9, Foam products 114.8, Residential inputs 119.1, Final demand 109.2 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2021: Lumber 137.0, Foam products 114.8, Residential inputs 120.9, Final demand 110.1 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2021: Lumber 142.1, Foam products 114.8, Residential inputs 122.8, Final demand 110.9 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2021: Lumber 164.9, Foam products 115.4, Residential inputs 124.2, Final demand 111.1 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2022: Lumber 192.1, Foam products 116.2, Residential inputs 129.4, Final demand 112.6 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2022: Lumber 200.7, Foam products 116.2, Residential inputs 133.2, Final demand 113.9 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2022: Lumber 211.5, Foam products 117.7, Residential inputs 137.7, Final demand 116.2 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2022: Lumber 182.7, Foam products 118.0, Residential inputs 137.9, Final demand 116.9 (2019 average = 100)May 2022: Lumber 187.6, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 139.9, Final demand 118.0 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2022: Lumber 151.4, Foam products 121.5, Residential inputs 141.3, Final demand 119.1 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2022: Lumber 151.7, Foam products 121.7, Residential inputs 139.3, Final demand 118.7 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2022: Lumber 146.1, Foam products 121.2, Residential inputs 138.3, Final demand 118.4 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2022: Lumber 138.9, Foam products 121.2, Residential inputs 138.0, Final demand 118.5 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2022: Lumber 134.5, Foam products 121.0, Residential inputs 138.4, Final demand 119.1 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2022: Lumber 131.4, Foam products 121.8, Residential inputs 137.3, Final demand 119.1 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2022: Lumber 125.7, Foam products 123.8, Residential inputs 134.1, Final demand 118.3 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2023: Lumber 125.2, Foam products 123.8, Residential inputs 136.2, Final demand 119.0 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2023: Lumber 126.8, Foam products 120.8, Residential inputs 136.6, Final demand 119.3 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2023: Lumber 125.4, Foam products 119.4, Residential inputs 136.7, Final demand 119.3 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2023: Lumber 124.2, Foam products 118.1, Residential inputs 136.6, Final demand 119.5 (2019 average = 100)May 2023: Lumber 124.2, Foam products 117.9, Residential inputs 136.0, Final demand 119.2 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2023: Lumber 122.5, Foam products 118.0, Residential inputs 135.9, Final demand 119.4 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2023: Lumber 129.4, Foam products 117.2, Residential inputs 136.2, Final demand 120.0 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2023: Lumber 121.5, Foam products 116.6, Residential inputs 138.2, Final demand 120.7 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2023: Lumber 121.9, Foam products 116.5, Residential inputs 138.7, Final demand 120.7 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2023: Lumber 117.1, Foam products 116.5, Residential inputs 136.8, Final demand 120.4 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2023: Lumber 114.2, Foam products 116.4, Residential inputs 136.2, Final demand 120.0 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2023: Lumber 116.3, Foam products 115.9, Residential inputs 135.4, Final demand 119.5 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2024: Lumber 117.2, Foam products 116.0, Residential inputs 137.1, Final demand 120.3 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2024: Lumber 118.1, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 138.7, Final demand 121.2 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2024: Lumber 119.7, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 139.2, Final demand 121.6 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2024: Lumber 121.2, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 139.9, Final demand 122.3 (2019 average = 100)May 2024: Lumber 119.0, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 138.7, Final demand 122.3 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2024: Lumber 118.8, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 138.3, Final demand 122.9 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2024: Lumber 117.6, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 138.5, Final demand 122.9 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2024: Lumber 119.6, Foam products 116.2, Residential inputs 138.5, Final demand 123.2 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2024: Lumber 121.3, Foam products 116.1, Residential inputs 137.5, Final demand 123.2 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2024: Lumber 122.7, Foam products 116.3, Residential inputs 137.9, Final demand 123.8 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2024: Lumber 125.2, Foam products 116.4, Residential inputs 137.7, Final demand 123.5 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2024: Lumber 126.3, Foam products 116.4, Residential inputs 137.6, Final demand 123.7 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2025: Lumber 125.6, Foam products 118.1, Residential inputs 139.7, Final demand 124.9 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2025: Lumber 128.0, Foam products 118.0, Residential inputs 140.4, Final demand 125.4 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2025: Lumber 132.3, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 141.0, Final demand 125.5 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2025: Lumber 130.5, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 140.6, Final demand 125.2 (2019 average = 100)May 2025: Lumber 128.2, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 140.9, Final demand 125.6 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2025: Lumber 126.7, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 141.4, Final demand 125.9 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2025: Lumber 125.6, Foam products 118.4, Residential inputs 141.8, Final demand 126.8 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2025: Lumber 126.6, Foam products 118.4, Residential inputs 142.1, Final demand 126.5 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2025: Lumber 123.5, Foam products 118.4, Residential inputs 142.1, Final demand 127.0 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2025: Lumber 123.2, Foam products 118.5, Residential inputs 141.8, Final demand 127.3 (2019 average = 100)Nov 2025: Lumber 123.3, Foam products 118.7, Residential inputs 142.3, Final demand 127.4 (2019 average = 100)Dec 2025: Lumber 123.2, Foam products 118.7, Residential inputs 141.7, Final demand 127.6 (2019 average = 100)Jan 2026: Lumber 126.1, Foam products 117.6, Residential inputs 143.1, Final demand 128.7 (2019 average = 100)Feb 2026: Lumber 129.3, Foam products 117.6, Residential inputs 144.8, Final demand 129.6 (2019 average = 100)Mar 2026: Lumber 128.7, Foam products 117.6, Residential inputs 147.5, Final demand 130.9 (2019 average = 100)Apr 2026: Lumber 133.3, Foam products 117.6, Residential inputs 149.3, Final demand 132.4 (2019 average = 100)May 2026: Lumber 133.7, Foam products 118.7, Residential inputs 152.2, Final demand 133.0 (2019 average = 100)Jun 2026: Lumber 133.2, Foam products 119.9, Residential inputs 151.2, Final demand 133.0 (2019 average = 100)Jul 2026 (preliminary): Lumber 138.3, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 151.8, Final demand 133.0 (2019 average = 100)Aug 2026 (preliminary): Lumber 136.2, Foam products 118.2, Residential inputs 153.1, Final demand 133.4 (2019 average = 100)Sep 2026 (preliminary): Lumber 134.4, Foam products 119.0, Residential inputs 155.8, Final demand 135.0 (2019 average = 100)Oct 2026 (preliminary): Lumber 131.0, Foam products 119.0, Residential inputs 155.8, Final demand 135.6 (2019 average = 100)
Monthly, not seasonally adjusted. Each index is divided by its own 2019 annual average and multiplied by 100, so a value of 131 means 31% above the 2019 average. Hover over a month, or see the table below, for the values. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index; Jul 2026, Aug 2026, Sep 2026, Oct 2026 are preliminary.

Annual averages, as published by BLS

BLS annual average index values
YearLumberUrethane foam productsResidential construction inputsAll final demand (benchmark)
Base period1982=100Dec 2003=100Jun 1986=100Nov 2009=100
2016201.8157.5206.1110.4
2017217.2160.0214.3113.0
2018232.3167.3228.3116.2
2019210.4165.7227.9118.2
2020248.2163.4226.3118.4
2021346.991177.297266.382126.71
2022342.645198.633312.357138.753
2023257.541195.654311.403141.549
2024253.677192.48315.199144.885
2025265.909196.1322.069149.219

Index levels are not comparable across columns, because each index has its own base period. Compare each column with its own 2019 row.

Show the monthly values behind the chart (2019 average = 100)
Monthly index values, 2019 average = 100
MonthLumberUrethane foam productsResidential construction inputsAll final demand (benchmark)
Jan 201692.394.989.292.8
Feb 201692.195.788.792.7
Mar 201693.595.089.292.8
Apr 201695.995.089.993.1
May 201696.695.090.593.2
Jun 201696.894.991.193.7
Jul 201697.394.991.193.7
Aug 201698.194.891.093.5
Sep 201697.694.791.093.6
Oct 201697.494.991.293.9
Nov 201696.795.290.993.7
Dec 201696.595.791.393.9
Jan 201796.595.892.494.4
Feb 201799.995.492.894.6
Mar 2017100.795.393.094.8
Apr 2017102.695.993.695.3
May 2017103.896.193.595.3
Jun 2017102.795.993.695.5
Jul 2017103.195.793.695.6
Aug 2017105.696.294.395.8
Sep 2017104.996.795.096.0
Oct 2017106.396.795.296.5
Nov 2017106.799.495.796.5
Dec 2017106.399.695.796.3
Jan 2018107.199.996.996.9
Feb 2018112.699.897.897.2
Mar 2018114.2100.198.797.6
Apr 2018113.3100.799.397.9
May 2018118.5100.9101.298.3
Jun 2018121.0101.9101.898.6
Jul 2018117.9101.7101.898.8
Aug 2018110.1101.6101.598.6
Sep 2018108.4101.3101.798.6
Oct 2018101.8101.3102.099.5
Nov 201899.4101.3100.699.1
Dec 2018100.4101.398.898.8
Jan 201999.8101.498.298.7
Feb 2019102.6101.399.099.1
Mar 2019101.5101.2100.299.6
Apr 2019101.0101.1101.3100.3
May 2019100.2101.0101.4100.3
Jun 201997.7100.6100.2100.3
Jul 201999.8100.6100.8100.4
Aug 201999.398.4100.0100.5
Sep 2019100.298.599.7100.1
Oct 201999.198.699.8100.5
Nov 201999.098.699.6100.1
Dec 201999.898.699.5100.2
Jan 202099.698.5100.0100.7
Feb 2020102.399.099.7100.2
Mar 2020105.699.098.599.9
Apr 202097.299.094.498.7
May 2020100.399.095.099.2
Jun 2020107.099.097.199.6
Jul 2020114.699.098.9100.2
Aug 2020128.498.2100.4100.3
Sep 2020153.098.4101.8100.4
Oct 2020143.298.1101.7101.1
Nov 2020125.698.1101.2100.9
Dec 2020138.598.1102.8101.0
Jan 2021156.898.4105.6102.3
Feb 2021163.598.3108.0103.1
Mar 2021173.998.7111.3104.1
Apr 2021185.599.0113.3105.2
May 2021219.6103.6117.6106.2
Jun 2021211.2106.2120.6107.1
Jul 2021159.1109.3120.5108.1
Aug 2021134.6110.7118.9108.9
Sep 2021130.9114.8119.1109.2
Oct 2021137.0114.8120.9110.1
Nov 2021142.1114.8122.8110.9
Dec 2021164.9115.4124.2111.1
Jan 2022192.1116.2129.4112.6
Feb 2022200.7116.2133.2113.9
Mar 2022211.5117.7137.7116.2
Apr 2022182.7118.0137.9116.9
May 2022187.6118.2139.9118.0
Jun 2022151.4121.5141.3119.1
Jul 2022151.7121.7139.3118.7
Aug 2022146.1121.2138.3118.4
Sep 2022138.9121.2138.0118.5
Oct 2022134.5121.0138.4119.1
Nov 2022131.4121.8137.3119.1
Dec 2022125.7123.8134.1118.3
Jan 2023125.2123.8136.2119.0
Feb 2023126.8120.8136.6119.3
Mar 2023125.4119.4136.7119.3
Apr 2023124.2118.1136.6119.5
May 2023124.2117.9136.0119.2
Jun 2023122.5118.0135.9119.4
Jul 2023129.4117.2136.2120.0
Aug 2023121.5116.6138.2120.7
Sep 2023121.9116.5138.7120.7
Oct 2023117.1116.5136.8120.4
Nov 2023114.2116.4136.2120.0
Dec 2023116.3115.9135.4119.5
Jan 2024117.2116.0137.1120.3
Feb 2024118.1116.1138.7121.2
Mar 2024119.7116.1139.2121.6
Apr 2024121.2116.1139.9122.3
May 2024119.0116.1138.7122.3
Jun 2024118.8116.1138.3122.9
Jul 2024117.6116.1138.5122.9
Aug 2024119.6116.2138.5123.2
Sep 2024121.3116.1137.5123.2
Oct 2024122.7116.3137.9123.8
Nov 2024125.2116.4137.7123.5
Dec 2024126.3116.4137.6123.7
Jan 2025125.6118.1139.7124.9
Feb 2025128.0118.0140.4125.4
Mar 2025132.3118.2141.0125.5
Apr 2025130.5118.2140.6125.2
May 2025128.2118.2140.9125.6
Jun 2025126.7118.2141.4125.9
Jul 2025125.6118.4141.8126.8
Aug 2025126.6118.4142.1126.5
Sep 2025123.5118.4142.1127.0
Oct 2025123.2118.5141.8127.3
Nov 2025123.3118.7142.3127.4
Dec 2025123.2118.7141.7127.6
Jan 2026126.1117.6143.1128.7
Feb 2026129.3117.6144.8129.6
Mar 2026128.7117.6147.5130.9
Apr 2026133.3117.6149.3132.4
May 2026133.7118.7152.2133.0
Jun 2026133.2119.9151.2133.0
Jul 2026 (P)138.3118.2151.8133.0
Aug 2026 (P)136.2118.2153.1133.4
Sep 2026 (P)134.4119.0155.8135.0
Oct 2026 (P)131.0119.0155.8135.6

(P) = preliminary. The CSV also has the original index values.

What this means

What this means if you are choosing between real wood and faux beams

  • A real wood quote rests on a commodity that moves fast.

    Since January 2019 the lumber index moved 5% or more in a single month 21 times, and it fell 24.6% in one month (July 2021). If you are pricing solid timber, ask how long the quote holds.

  • A price you saw in 2019 is out of date.

    The lumber index is 31.0% above its 2019 average. That is a little below the 35.6% rise in producer prices for all final demand over the same span, so today's level is not the outlier. The swings are.

  • The foam index moved in a narrower band.

    Producer prices for urethane and other foam products are 19.0% above their 2019 average. Of its 94 monthly changes since January 2019, none moved 5% or more; the largest of the 94 was 4.6%. That index covers all urethane foam goods, such as cushioning and insulation, so it describes a steadier producer market, not the price of a faux beam.

  • Building materials as a whole rose more than lumber.

    Goods used in residential construction were 55.8% above their 2019 average in October 2026 (preliminary), well ahead of lumber. A beam is one line in a renovation budget, and the index for all goods used in residential construction, lumber included, rose faster.

  • No index is a beam price.

    Profile, length, finish, ceiling height and installation all shape a beam quote, and none of them show up in a producer price index. See what drives the price, or ask for a free rough estimate from photos.

Method

How we did it, and the limits

What we measured

Four monthly series from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index, not seasonally adjusted, January 2016 to October 2026. To put indexes with different base periods on one scale, each series is divided by its own 2019 annual average as published by BLS and multiplied by 100. The "moved 5% or more" count uses the 94 month-to-month changes from January 2019 to October 2026.

Sources

Limits

  • These are producer prices: what domestic producers receive. They are not retail prices, and not the price of a beam.
  • All four series are national. BLS does not publish a producer price index for lumber in California or any other state.
  • Jul 2026, Aug 2026, Sep 2026, Oct 2026 are preliminary. BLS revises each month once, four months after its initial release, so those values can change.
  • The lumber index covers softwood and hardwood lumber in general, not just the large timbers used for beams.
  • The urethane foam index is an industry index for NAICS 326150, urethane and other foam products except polystyrene. It covers many products besides decorative beams.
  • The values come from the BLS data viewer and were checked against the BLS Excel export of the same series on November 13, 2026.
Cite this study

Use the data

Elite Ceiling Designs. (2026, November 13). Real wood beams vs faux: what lumber prices did from 2019 to 2026. https://www.eliteceilingdesigns.com/research/lumber-prices-real-wood-beams. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index.

The monthly table is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit Elite Ceiling Designs and link to this page. Download the CSV.

Ready when you are

Send a photo and the room size. We will take it from there.

Room dimensions, ceiling height, a photo of the space as it is now, and whether you want it installed or supplied. That is enough to scope it and come back with a rough estimate — free.

Get in touchHow we price work

In Arizona? Call (520) 838-4766 or request an Arizona quote.