Calculators › Build cost — $/MW capex

Build cost — $/MW capex

How much does it cost to build an AI data center? Model facility shell+MEP ($11.3M/MW global average), IT fit-out, redundancy premiums (Tier IV, 2N), and regional multipliers into total program capex and $/W.

Build cost — capex per megawatt

IT capacityMWFacility (shell + MEP) (global avg 11.3 · hyperscale 10–12 · AI retrofit 5–10)$M/MWIT stack / fit-out (≈$27.9/W core stack all-in with facility)$M/MWRedundancy premium (Tier IV +20–40 · 2N MEP +30–50)%Regional multiplier (regions swing ±40%)

$2.79B total program

Facility (shell, electrical, cooling)$1,130M

IT stack / tenant fit-out$1,660M

All-in intensity$27.9/W

Benchmarks (2026): base building ≈ $11.3M/MW global average; a 1 GW AI campus runs ≈ $38B total program, ~$8.5B/yr. Electrical dominates the facility split → Ch 2.2, Ch 1.8.

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