LocatePrime

    Research note

    Data center capacity available in primary markets, H1 2026

    Data updated:

    Geography: CBSA (metropolitan statistical area), OMB Bulletin 23-01 (July 2023) — never city limits.


    Question

    How much data center capacity is still available in North American primary markets?

    Short answer

    Under 1,500 MW across all primary markets as of H1 2026 — roughly six months of demand at the current absorption rate. Primary-market vacancy is 1.4% and 80.4% of capacity under construction is already preleased.

    Market-wide position

    The figures below are the market-wide findings published in CBRE's H1 2026 report. They describe colocation and wholesale supply in primary markets, not utility load availability for a self-built campus.

    Primary market aggregates, H1 2026
    IndicatorValueNote
    Primary market vacancy rate1.4%Record low across primary markets.
    Share of under-construction capacity preleased80.4%Capacity is committed before delivery.
    Future capacity available, all primary marketsUnder 1,500 MWRoughly six months of demand at the current absorption rate.
    Investor survey selection, CBRE 2026Dallas-Fort Worth, 78%Northern Virginia second at 72%.

    Source: CBRE North America Data Center Trends, H1 2026

    Published figures by market

    Only figures published in the report are shown. Where CBRE did not publish a figure for a market, the cell reads "Not available"; nothing is estimated.

    Selected primary markets, H1 2026
    MarketInventory (MW)Under construction (MW)Vacancy
    Northern Virginia4,496.52,420.20.2%
    AtlantaNot available2,882Not available
    Dallas-Fort WorthNot availableNot availableNot available
    PhoenixNot availableNot availableNot available
    ChicagoNot availableNot availableNot available

    Source: CBRE North America Data Center Trends, H1 2026

    What this means for a site search

    With vacancy near zero and most construction preleased, a requirement that cannot be met from existing leased supply depends on new utility load service. That is set by the serving utility's large-load tariff and study queue, which this dataset does not measure.

    Metro-level power indicators — industrial retail price, SAIDI and SAIFI, grid market — are shown in the Power & Energy section of each scorecard.

    Related data

    Sources

    1. CBRE, North America Data Center Trends, H1 2026