Wall Framing Type by Geography
Where Are Builders Framing with 2×6?
This interactive dashboard tracks the wall framing type used in Ekotrope HERS-rated new homes — 2×4, 2×6, double-stud, or other (ICF, SIP, masonry, mixed, or unclassified assemblies) — across every state and IECC 2021 climate zone since January 2024.
The national picture is a slow, steady shift away from the traditional 2×4 wall. Comparing Q1 2024 to Q1 2026, 2×4 framing slipped from 67% to 61% of all rated homes, while 2×6 climbed from 20% to 26% — a meaningful move in just two years, even though 2×4 remains the most common assembly nationwide. That national trend, though, is really two different stories layered on top of each other. In the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest, 2×6 is already the default driven by colder climate zones that reward the extra wall-cavity depth. Notably however, penetration into warmer markets is led by states including New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Missouri. Across the South, the opposite holds: Texas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina each build the overwhelming majority of homes — 85% or higher in several cases — with standard 2×4 walls. Despite the 2×6 benefits in colder, Northern climates, states including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan still hold over 65% of new homes using 2×4 framing. Florida stands as its own outlier entirely, with "other" assemblies (largely masonry and ICF, consistent with hurricane-code requirements) making up 39% of homes, nearly matching its 2×4 and 2×6 shares combined.
Ekotrope's dataset covers about 30% of all new construction in the U.S., offering a uniquely reliable window into these trends, verified at the point of field inspection rather than self-reported. Please note that some states may have lower HERS Rating adoption than others, so this data does not necessarily reflect the overall framing mix in every state.
If you are interested in exploring this data further, please contact us to learn about our data offerings.
Wall Framing Type by Geography
All Ekotrope HERS Rated homes registered since January 2024. Framing categories: 2×4, 2×6, double stud, and other.
Share of homes using 2×4 framing
Percent of each state's HERS rated homes (Jan 2024–present) built with the selected framing type. States with multiple IECC 2021 climate zones are aggregated. Hover a state for its home count.
Color scale is fixed 0–100% so categories are directly comparable. Double-stud and other framing are rare nationwide, so those maps read light by design. AK & HI shown as insets (lower left); DC & PR shown as squares (lower right), not to scale.
National 2×4 framing share over time
Share of all Ekotrope HERS Rated homes (every state & IECC 2021 climate zone, since Jan 2024) built with the selected framing each month — home counts are summed nationwide, then converted to a percentage. Hover any point for that month's home count.
States & climate zones
The trend is aggregated across every state, so individual selection is turned off in this view.
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