CBRE reports US office vacancy fell 30 basis points to 18.3% in Q2 2026 — the largest quarterly drop since 2015 — while leasing volume rose 16% year-over-year to 62.4 million sq ft. Technology firms, led by AI companies, were the biggest source of new demand, and 23% of organizations say AI is already reshaping their space planning.
Home › Founders News › Real Estate & Premises
US office vacancy drops to 18.3% in Q2 2026, biggest fall since 2015
Why this matters for founders
The tenant-friendly window is narrowing in AI-heavy gateway markets; if you plan to sign or expand office space in the next year, lock terms and concessions now before landlords regain leverage.
Related updates
More that helps you.
US office vacancy falls to 17.7% in June 2026 as leasing recovers
The U.S. national office vacancy rate fell to 17.7% in June 2026, down 170 basis points year-over-year, while the average asking listing rate slipped 2.4% to $33.67 per square foot…
San Francisco office market rebounds on AI, with AI firms 80%+ of new leases
San Francisco office vacancy improved roughly 370 basis points year-over-year and net absorption hit nearly 800,000 sq ft in Q1 2026 — the strongest since 2019 — driven by AI tenan…
US office vacancy holds at 17.7% as listing rents hit $33.58 per sq ft
The national office vacancy rate was 17.7% in July 2026, down 130 basis points year-over-year, per Yardi Matrix data in the monthly national office report. Average listing rates re…
US office vacancy drops to 18.3% in Q2 2026 as rents rise fastest in 6 years
CBRE's Q2 2026 report shows US office vacancy fell 30 basis points to 18.3%, the largest quarterly decline since 2015, while average asking rent rose 2.6% year over year to $37.58…
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 studyRay KrocMcDonald'sChecklistLaunch 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.ChecklistOpen a restaurant, step by stepA clear path to opening your first restaurant, from concept and licenses to build out, staffing, and opening day.GuideEquip your kitchen to serve at volumeKitchen gear is a restaurant's biggest spend and easy to overbuy. Let your menu, not a wishlist, decide every station and purchase.GuideSign the lease, schedule build-out fastLock contractor dates the day you sign the lease. Every idle week is rent paid on a space that earns nothing, so treat the build-out schedule as part of the deal itself.