How Do Contractors Stack Up Against Design Firms in SEO?
Our 2025 Construction SEO Report just got a major upgrade. This year, we didn’t stop with the ENR Top 400 Contractors—we also analyzed the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. That means for the first time, we can compare how contractors and design firms measure up in the digital space.
The Results?
- Across most benchmarks, design firms edged out contractors—but not by much.
- Contractors held their own in backlinks and site speed, while architects and engineers pulled ahead in domain authority.
- Spam scores and mobile performance remain trouble spots across the industry, regardless of discipline.
These numbers aren’t just trivia. They’re indicators of how visible and credible firms appear online when prospective clients, employees, or even AI search engines come looking.
Why It Matters
Your website is often the first impression your company makes. Falling behind competitors in SEO benchmarks doesn’t just hurt rankings; it can impact recruiting, business development, and brand perception.
Metric |
Construction 2025 |
Design (AE) 2025 |
| Domain Authority | 32 | 37 |
| Backlinks | 1,744 | 1,521 |
| Spam Score | 2 | 2 |
| Desktop Speed | 75 | 75 |
| Mobile Speed | 56 | 57 |
| Domain Authority | Construction 2025 |
Design (AE) 2025 |
| Average | 32 | 37 |
| Median | 32 | 37 |
| Minimum | 1 | 7 |
| Maximum | 71 | 78 |
| Backlinks | Construction 2025 |
Design (AE) 2025 |
| Average | 24,616 | 25,442 |
| Median | 1,744 | 1,521 |
| Minimum | 21 | – |
| Maximum | 1,288,266 | 1,130,631 |
| Spam Score | Construction 2025 |
Design (AE) 2025 |
| Average | 7 | 7 |
| Median | 2 | 2 |
| Minimum | 1 | 1 |
| Maximum | 75 | 81 |
| Desktop Speed | Construction 2025 |
Design (AE) 2025 |
| Average | 73 | 74 |
| Median | 75 | 76 |
| Minimum | 14 | 14 |
| Maximum | 100 | 100 |
| Mobile Speed | Construction 2025 |
Design (AE) 2025 |
| Average | 57 | 57 |
| Median | 56 | 56 |
| Minimum | 13 | 8 |
| Maximum | 100 | 100 |
Get the Full Story
Our free, ungated 2025 Construction SEO Report includes:
- A detailed breakdown of SEO performance across contractors and design firms
- Benchmarks by design discipline
- ROI of SEO for A/E/C firms
- Practical steps to measure, compare, and improve your firm’s online visibility