Procore Company Logo
    • Americas
    • América Latina (Español)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • United States (English)
Request a DemoLog InRequest a Demo
Request a Demo

Material retainage

A portion of the agreed-upon contract price for materials that is deliberately withheld until the work is substantially complete to assure that contractor or subcontractor will satisfy its obligations and complete a construction project.

Material retainage is a percentage of payment withheld from contractors or suppliers until project completion to ensure performance and compliance. It provides leverage for project owners to ensure quality standards are met and any deficiencies are addressed before final payment is released.

Used in a sentence

A portion of each payment is held as material retainage until the project is satisfactorily completed.

Synonyms/variation
  • Retention

Stay updated on what’s happening in construction.

Subscribe to Blueprint, Procore’s free construction newsletter, to get content from industry experts delivered straight to your inbox.

Learn More

Learn more about Material retainage

article-image

Construction Accounting Software: Key Features and What To Look For

Commercial contractors manage large and complicated budgets that can have slow payment rates and volatile costs. They also have to accurately allocate job costs based on specific factors such as project, phase, or cost codes. Compliance requirements add another layer of complexity to construction budgets, since contractors have to track measures such as prevailing wages […]

article-image

BIM for Construction Cost Control & Budget Management

As the construction industry advances in its digital transformation journey, building information modeling (BIM) is becoming increasingly common. Teams and individuals who push back against using the 3D model and its associated processes usually have one common complaint: cost. Certainly, there’s some investment in BIM software, plus the training required to help team members use […]

article-image

Construction Invoice Factoring: A Quick Guide

Construction companies need to maintain consistent cash flow. Projects can take years to complete, and delays and unforeseen events may keep expenses mounting. Adding to this load are typically high upfront costs, like materials, equipment and labor. One way to stay solvent while waiting for clients to make their final payments is construction invoice factoring. This […]

article-image

Sales Tax on Construction Materials: Who Pays It and When

Sales tax plays a major role in construction, influencing everything from material costs to contract pricing and compliance requirements. But deciding when and how sales tax on construction work applies isn’t always straightforward. With rules varying by state, contract type and client, even experienced contractors can run into unexpected tax liabilities. Whether submitting a local […]

Previous word: Mastic sealantUp Next: Materials management

How can we improve this glossary entry?

Thank you!

Thanks for the feedback and helping us improve this glossary entry!

Procore is committed to advancing the construction industry by improving the lives of people working in construction, driving technology innovation, and building a global community of groundbreakers. Our connected global construction platform unites all stakeholders on a project with unlimited access to support and a business model designed for the construction industry.

LinkedIn Icon
LinkedIn
Facebook icon
Facebook
Twitter icon
Twitter
Instagram Icon
Instagram
YouTube icon
YouTube

Call us at (844) 692-0626 to speak with a product expert.

Apple LogoApple App StoreGoogle Play logoGoogle Play

Downloads

Apple LogoApple App StoreGoogle Play logoGoogle Play
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Service
  • Do Not Sell Personal Information

© 2025 Procore Technologies, Inc.