Independent building-materials discovery platform

Compare materials. Estimate cost. Source with confidence.

Wood, steel, aluminum, concrete, plastics, and composites — all in one place. Compare specs, read buying guides, run calculators, and find local and online suppliers built for real projects.

Built for
Homeowners

Plan a deck, shed, or garage without getting sold.

DIYers

Compare kits and buy direct — no contractor markup.

Contractors

Spec sheets, supplier shortlists, and bulk pricing in one place.

Engineers & pros

Independent material data with sources — for real design decisions.

No paid rankings
Independent reviews
Ship 50 states
Vetted suppliers
Updated monthly
Real prices
Sourced & cited
Pro-grade specs
Shop by material

Pick your material, see specs & suppliers

$25–$60 / ton delivered

Gravel

Driveways, drainage, and base material — priced by the ton

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$30–$65 / ton

Crushed Stone

Angular aggregate that locks in place — great for base

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$15–$50 / ton

Sand

Bedding, leveling, and paver joint fill

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$20–$50 / yd³

Topsoil

Screened black dirt for lawns, gardens, and grading

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$10–$25 / yd³

Fill Dirt

Cheap, unscreened dirt for building up grade

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$25–$45 / yd³

Mulch

Bark, hardwood, and dyed mulch by the yard

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$60–$180 / ton

Decorative Rock

River rock, lava rock, and colored aggregate

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$18–$35 / sq ft installed

Steel

Long-span, low-maintenance, engineered strength

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$28–$50 / sq ft installed

Aluminum

Light, rust-proof, coastal-friendly

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$15–$28 / sq ft installed

Wood

Familiar, flexible, and forgiving to build with

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$0.50–$2 / linear ft

Lumber

Dimensional framing lumber, boards, and timbers

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$25–$90 / sheet

Plywood

Sheathing, subfloor, and cabinet-grade sheet goods

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$140–$180 / yd³ delivered

Concrete

Ready-mix, bagged mix, and precast for footings, slabs, and walls

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$400–$900 / 1,000 brick

Brick

Facing brick, pavers, and firebrick

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$3–$8 / sq ft (material)

Pavers

Concrete and clay pavers for patios and driveways

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$4–$12 / sq ft installed

Roofing

Asphalt shingles, metal panels, and underlayment

View roofing
$0.50–$3 / sq ft

Insulation

Fiberglass batts, mineral wool, foam board, spray foam

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$0.50–$4 / linear ft

PVC Pipe

Drain, waste, vent, and irrigation pipe

View pvc pipe
$1–$8 / sq ft

Plastic Sheets

Polycarbonate, acrylic, HDPE, and vapor barrier

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$15–$50 / linear ft installed

Fencing

Wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain-link, and composite

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$25–$60 / sq ft installed

Decking

PT, cedar, hardwood, and composite deck boards

View decking
$25–$45 / sq ft for decking

Plastic & Composite

Zero-maintenance for decking and small storage

View plastic & composite
5–10% of total project cost

Concrete & Hardware

Footings, fasteners, connectors, and anchors

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By project

What are you building?

How Project Central works

From first question to purchase order, without a sales funnel in sight.

Step 1

Research

Compare materials, read specs, and use calculators to size the job.

Step 2

Shortlist

Filter suppliers by material, category, and the state you're building in.

Step 3

Source

Buy direct from the supplier or store — the same brands the pros use.

Free buyer's guide

The Building Materials Buyer's Guide

A 12-page PDF: material cost tables, supplier shortlists by state, and the 5 mistakes that blow every project budget. Sent instantly, free forever.

No spam. One email a week max.

The go-to resource for building materials.

Compare, learn, calculate, and source — all in one place.

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