EU procurement thresholds 2026–2027 (and what happens below them)

The EU procurement directives don't apply to every public purchase. They apply in full only when a contract's estimated value reaches a threshold. Above it, the buyer must follow an EU procedure and publish the tender on TED. Below it, national rules take over.

Knowing the thresholds helps you understand which rules a tender follows, why you find some tenders on TED and others only on national portals, and what to expect from the procedure.

EU thresholds valid from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027#

All values exclude VAT.

Defence and security contracts under Directive 2009/81/EC follow the utilities values (€432,000 for supplies and services, €5,404,000 for works).

These values were set by Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2025/2152 (public sector), 2025/2150 (utilities) and 2025/2151 (concessions). Most of them fell slightly compared with 2024–2025, when they were €5,538,000 for works, €143,000 and €221,000 for supplies and services, and €443,000 for utilities.

Valid

1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2027

Works

€5,404,000

Central government supplies/services

€140,000

Other authorities supplies/services

€216,000

Utilities supplies/services

€432,000

Light regime

€750,000

Why do the thresholds change every two years?#

The EU thresholds mirror the commitments in the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which are set in Special Drawing Rights (SDR). Every two years the Commission converts them into euro using recent exchange rates. That's why they move a little up or down each cycle.

Countries outside the euro area (for example Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Czechia) apply the same thresholds converted into their own currencies; the Commission publishes those values in the Official Journal.

Which supplies-and-services threshold applies?#

The lower €140,000 threshold applies to central government authorities, listed in Annex I of Directive 2014/24/EU (ministries and national agencies). Everyone else in the public sector (regions, municipalities, hospitals, universities) uses €216,000.

There's one exception for defence: central government authorities in the defence field apply €140,000 only to the products listed in Annex III; for other products they use €216,000.

Example: same purchase, two different rules#

A ministry and a city both buy a three-year IT support contract worth €180,000. For the ministry it's above its €140,000 threshold, so the contract must follow EU rules and be published on TED. For the city it's below €216,000, so the city follows national below-threshold rules and may publish only on the national portal.

How is the estimated value calculated?#

Buyers can't choose the rules by choosing a low number. Article 5 of Directive 2014/24/EU sets how the value is calculated:

• It's the total amount payable, excluding VAT, over the whole contract.

• It includes options and renewals, and any prizes or payments to bidders.

• When a contract is divided into lots, the value of all lots is added together.

• A contract may not be split to avoid the thresholds.

• The value is estimated when the notice is sent (or the procedure starts).

There is a small exception for lots: the buyer may award individual small lots (under €80,000 for supplies and services, or €1 million for works) outside the EU procedure, as long as those lots together make up no more than 20% of the total value.

What happens above the threshold?#

Once a contract is above the threshold, the full EU rules apply:

• the notice is published on TED using eForms;

• the buyer uses one of the directive's procedures with its minimum time limits;

• the ESPD must be accepted as preliminary evidence;

• the buyer can only use the directive's exclusion grounds, selection criteria and award criteria;

• unsuccessful bidders get a standstill period before the contract is signed and can seek review under the Remedies Directives.

What happens below the threshold?#

Below the EU thresholds, each country sets its own rules. Most have national thresholds, below which purchases can be made with very light procedures or directly. A few examples (always check the current national law):

Even below the thresholds, two things often still apply:

• EU Treaty principles: when a contract is of certain cross-border interest (for example because of its value or location near a border), the buyer must ensure adequate transparency and equal treatment.

• Buyer rules: many municipalities have internal rules requiring several quotes or publication above lower limits.

Why thresholds matter for SMEs#

Most public tenders by number are below the EU thresholds, and they're often the best entry point for small companies:

• smaller contracts mean proportionate requirements on turnover and references;

• procedures are simpler, sometimes with a single short form;

• buyers are often local, and knowing them helps.

At the same time, above-threshold tenders give you strong legal protections and a predictable process. A good strategy is to build references with below-threshold contracts, then move up to EU-level tenders, perhaps as part of a consortium.

Quick reference#

If you only remember three numbers for 2026–2027, make them these:

• €216,000: supplies and services for most public buyers;

• €140,000: supplies and services for central government;

• €5,404,000: works.

Check the tender notice to see which rules the buyer applied. It states the legal basis, and the national procurement authority's website publishes the current national thresholds.