# Data Center Build vs Buy Calculator Are you wondering how much it will take to build your own data center or are you unsure if you have everything accounted for in your construction budget? Use this calculator to see what it really takes to build out a Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4 data center. Source: https://expedient.com/knowledgebase/tools-and-calculators/data-center-build-vs-buy-calculator/ # Data Center Build vs Buy Calculator Expedient’s Disaster Recovery as a Service solutions have been recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for DRaaS and offer fast, total network failover without IP and DNS changes. Subscribe to receive the latest articles related to DRaaS[Subscribe Now](#newsletter) Are you wondering how much it will take to build your own data center or are you unsure if you have everything accounted for in your construction budget? Use this calculator to see what it _really_ takes to build out a Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4 data center. ## Options Data Center TierTier ITier IITier IIITier IV Are You Currently Staffed 24x7x365NoYes Number of Cabinets\* [ ? ### Number of Cabinets: Enter how many cabinets you need. ](#) Total kW of Redundant Power\* [ ? ### Total kW of Redundant Power: Kw can be calculated by either adding up the name plate power supply capacities of your hardware and dividing by 1,000, or by taking the amps X the volts of your power circuits powering your equipment and dividing by 1,000. ](#) Evaluation Period in Years [ ? ### Evaluation Period: 5 years is the average evalutation period and equipment will need refreshed starting year 6. ](#) Square Feet Watts Per Sq Ft % of Available Power Consumed [ ? ### % of Available Power Consumed: An average enterprise data center operates at 60%. ](#) Cost Per kWh in Cents [ ? ### Cost Per kWh in Cents: The average cost of power in the United State in 2012 was $.12. ](#) Internet Connection in Mbps ## Power Density Meter As you adjust the number of cabinets and the total available KW, this graphic will display the watts per square foot capacity of your data center and show how your design compares to industry standards. Low \<80Average 80-150Medium 150-200High 200+ [Email My Configuration & Results](#calc-optin-form) ## Cost Summary ## ## BUILD YOUR OWN VS [? This is the total over the course of your chosen evaluation period in years.](#) ## ## Total Construction Cost \*\* ## ENGINEERING AND PREPERATION [Show Details ∨](#table1-wrap)[Hide Details ∧](#table1-wrap) | **DESCRIPTION** | **MATERIAL COST** | **LABOR COST** | **TOTAL** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Engineering | | | | | Permits and Approvals | | | | | Demolition & Outside Preparation | | | | ## POWER [Show Details ∨](#table1A-wrap)[Hide Details ∧](#table1A-wrap) | **DESCRIPTION** | **MATERIAL COST** | **LABOR COST** | **TOTAL** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Utility Improvements | | | | | Main Switch Gear | | | | | Transfer Switches | | | | | UPS Systems | | | | | TVSS System | | | | | Generators with Enclosures | | | | | Counduit and Cabling for Generators | | | | | Data Center Lighting with HMT | | | | | Lightining Protection | | | | | Room PDU's | | | | ## ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS [Show Details ∨](#table1B-wrap)[Hide Details ∧](#table1B-wrap) | **DESCRIPTION** | **MATERIAL COST** | **LABOR COST** | **TOTAL** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HVAC | | | | | Raised Floor | | | | | Condesate Drains | | | | | Leak Detection | | | | | Intergen Fire Suppresion | | | | ## SECURITY AND MONITORING [Show Details ∨](#table1C-wrap)[Hide Details ∧](#table1C-wrap) | **DESCRIPTION** | **MATERIAL COST** | **LABOR COST** | **TOTAL** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Facility Management System | | | | | CCTV System | | | | | Building Access system | | | | ## NEWORK [Show Details ∨](#table1D-wrap)[Hide Details ∧](#table1D-wrap) | **DESCRIPTION** | **MATERIAL COST** | **LABOR COST** | **TOTAL** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Core Network Equipment | | | | The total construction costs and the category breakdowns are based on Expedient’s experiences from the 9 data centers that they have brought online. ## DATA CENTER: TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP [Show Details ∨](#mobile-wrap2)[Hide Details ∧](#mobile-wrap2) | | **BUILD YOUR OWN** | | | --- | --- | --- | | Construction Cost | | | | Floor Space | | | | Electricity | | | | Electrical Maintenance | | | | HVAC Maintenanance | | | | Other Systems Maintenance | | | | 24x7x365 Staff | | | | Redundant Internet Circuits | | | \* This tool uses a minimum internal data center space for 10 cabinets.   The equipment needed to build a data center do not scale below this capacity. \*\* The breakdown of the total construction costs are broken down using a percentage    allocation based off a facility designed for 100 cabinets. Expedient and Intel provide the Complete Data Center Build vs. Buy Calculator (the “Data Center Cost Calculator”) as a tool to help customers analyze potential cost‑savings associated with purchasing and using colocation services as compared to “build‑your‑own” alternatives, and the Data Center Cost Calculator is provided solely for your convenience in that regard. Please carefully read ALL of the terms of this Disclaimer as stated on our [FULL DISCLAIMER](#full-disclaimer). By viewing and utilizing the Data Center Cost Calculator, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to this Disclaimer. Expedient and Intel provide the Complete Data Center Build vs. Buy Calculator (the “Data Center Cost Calculator”) as a tool to help customers analyze potential cost‑savings associated with purchasing and using colocation services as compared to “build‑your‑own” alternatives, and the Data Center Cost Calculator is provided solely for your convenience in that regard. MORE SPECIFICALLY, ALL COST FIGURES INCLUDED IN THE DATA CENTER COST CALCULATOR, INCLUDING BOTH THE “BUILD YOUR OWN” COST COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE COMPARABLE EXPEDIENT COST OF SERVICE, ARE ESTIMATES BASED SOLELY ON EXPEDIENT’S EXPERIENCE AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, INDUSTRY BENCHMARKS. HOWEVER, YOUR ACTUAL “BUILD YOUR OWN” COSTS AND/OR THE ACTUAL COSTS OF EXPEDIENT’S SERVICES WILL VARY BASED ON MANY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION’S SPECIFIC NEEDS. ACCORDINGLY, THE FIGURES REFLECTED IN THE DATA CENTER COST CALCULATOR ARE ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND THESE COST ESTIMATES ARE NOT A GUARANTEE OF ANY ACTUAL COSTS OR OF ANY SAVINGS THAT MAY RESULT FROM USING EXPEDIENT SERVICES. Please carefully read ALL of the terms of this Disclaimer. By viewing and utilizing the Data Center Cost Calculator, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to this Disclaimer. EXPEDIENT AND INTEL PROVIDES THE DATA CENTER COST CALCULATOR AND ALL INFORMATION INCLUDED THEREIN “AS IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF THE DATA CENTER COST CALCULATOR OR ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL EXPEDIENT OR INTEL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE, OR ANY RELIANCE ON, THE DATA CENTER COST CALCULATOR OR ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED THEREIN. The Data Center Cost Calculator is provided to you at no charge. Expedient and Intel have included in this Disclaimer terms that disclaim all warranties and liability for use of the Data Center Cost Calculator and the information included therein. To the full extent allowed by law, YOU HEREBY RELEASE EXPEDIENT AND INTEL FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE DATA CENTER COST CALCULATOR OR ITS USE. The laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will apply to this Disclaimer. ### Related Posts [ #### The VMware Wait Tax: Why Every Quarter of Delay... Inaction on a VMware migration is widely treated as a neutral position, a de... Learn More ](/knowledgebase/blog/2026-08-04-the-vmware-wait-tax-why-every-quarter-of-delay-has-a-price-tag/)[ #### The Great Inversion What was easy is now hard. What was hard is now easy. Key Takeaways ... Learn More ](/knowledgebase/blog/2026-07-29-the-great-inversion/)[ #### Your New Cloud Strategy: Rebalancing for Cost a... Key Takeaways Workloads placed in hyperscale cloud fi... Learn More ](/knowledgebase/blog/2026-07-15-your-new-cloud-strategy-rebalancing-for-cost-and-performance/) ## The best of Expedient delivered to your inbox. 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