CBRE's 2026 US data center outlook projects another record leasing year with preleasing in the mid-70 percent range, far above the historical 40 to 50 percent norm, and vacancy at historic lows. The binding constraint is now power delivery, with large campuses facing 24-to-48-month build timelines and multi-year interconnection delays.
Home › Founders News › Real Estate & Premises
CBRE: US data centers head for record 2026 leasing as power delivery becomes the limit
Why this matters for founders
Founders needing heavy compute should lock capacity and power commitments 18-plus months ahead, since single-tenant blocks above 500 MW are scarce and pricing is climbing.
Source: Data Center Frontier
Related updates
More that helps you.
US data-center land deals jump 79% as powered sites draw ~$6B
Reported September 8, 2026, US data-center land deals rose 79% in the first half of 2026, with investors spending nearly $6 billion on future data-center sites. Premium powered lan…
US data-center vacancy hits record-low ~1.4% as power caps supply
CBRE's Global Data Center Trends 2026 reports vacancy across primary US markets at a record-low ~1.4% — Northern Virginia just 0.3% and Atlanta ~1% — with the vast majority of unde…
Buildcheck raises $12M Series A for vision AI that reviews construction drawings
Stanford-founded Buildcheck raised a $12 million Series A led by Telescope Partners, with DPR Construction's venture arm WND Ventures joining, bringing total funding to $18 million…
North America data center vacancy stuck at 1.4% with 80% of new capacity preleased
CBRE reported H1 2026 North American data center vacancy held at 1.4%, leaving under 1,500 MW available across primary markets, roughly six months of supply. Over 80% of the record…
Get briefs like this tuned to you.
In the app, Founder Briefs are personalized to your country, industry and stage, and you can save the ones that matter.
See plans →
Keep exploring
Related across the site
Case studyJensen HuangNVIDIACase studyRay KrocMcDonald'sChecklistHire an accountant that saves you moneyChoose between a CPA, an EA, and a bookkeeper, hire with confidence, and build a quarterly rhythm that catches tax savings before deadlines hit.ChecklistLaunch a food truck, start servingGet your food truck from idea to first service day, covering permits, equipment, menu, and the spots that sell.ChecklistOpen a hair salon that books fullOpen a salon that stays booked, from location and licenses to chairs, staffing, and the marketing that fills the calendar.GuideAutomate QuickBooks with bank rulesBank rules teach QuickBooks how to categorize recurring transactions automatically, turning weekly bookkeeping into a quick review instead of tedious manual data entry.