diff --git a/include/vcpkg/base/message-data.inc.h b/include/vcpkg/base/message-data.inc.h
index 4534b5665e..c103c7363d 100644
--- a/include/vcpkg/base/message-data.inc.h
+++ b/include/vcpkg/base/message-data.inc.h
@@ -1668,6 +1668,7 @@ DECLARE_MESSAGE(HelpTxtOptManifestFeature,
                 (),
                 "",
                 "Additional features from the top-level manifest to install (manifest mode)")
+DECLARE_MESSAGE(HelpTxtBuildType, (), "", "Build type (debug, release or both if not specified) (manifest mode)")
 DECLARE_MESSAGE(HelpTxtOptManifestNoDefault,
                 (),
                 "",
diff --git a/include/vcpkg/cmakevars.h b/include/vcpkg/cmakevars.h
index 097cd99f3c..c063a00df6 100644
--- a/include/vcpkg/cmakevars.h
+++ b/include/vcpkg/cmakevars.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <vcpkg/fwd/build.h>
 #include <vcpkg/fwd/dependencies.h>
 #include <vcpkg/fwd/portfileprovider.h>
 #include <vcpkg/fwd/vcpkgpaths.h>
@@ -35,5 +36,6 @@ namespace vcpkg::CMakeVars
         virtual void load_tag_vars(const ActionPlan& action_plan, Triplet host_triplet) const = 0;
     };
 
-    std::unique_ptr<CMakeVarProvider> make_triplet_cmake_var_provider(const VcpkgPaths& paths);
+    std::unique_ptr<CMakeVarProvider> make_triplet_cmake_var_provider(
+        const VcpkgPaths& paths, ConfigurationType default_build_type = ConfigurationType::BOTH);
 }
diff --git a/include/vcpkg/commands.build.h b/include/vcpkg/commands.build.h
index 5a4e2efe46..c0cdad90fa 100644
--- a/include/vcpkg/commands.build.h
+++ b/include/vcpkg/commands.build.h
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ namespace vcpkg
     StringLiteral to_string_view(DownloadTool tool);
     std::string to_string(DownloadTool tool);
 
+    StringLiteral to_string_view(ConfigurationType config_type);
+    std::string to_string(ConfigurationType config_type);
+
     struct BuildPackageOptions
     {
         BuildMissing build_missing;
@@ -74,6 +77,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
         Editable editable;
         BackcompatFeatures backcompat_features;
         PrintUsage print_usage;
+        ConfigurationType build_type;
     };
 
     static constexpr BuildPackageOptions default_build_package_options{
@@ -89,6 +93,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
         Editable::NO,
         BackcompatFeatures::ALLOW,
         PrintUsage::YES,
+        ConfigurationType::BOTH,
     };
 
     static constexpr BuildPackageOptions backcompat_prohibiting_package_options{
@@ -104,6 +109,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
         Editable::NO,
         BackcompatFeatures::PROHIBIT,
         PrintUsage::YES,
+        ConfigurationType::BOTH,
     };
 
     struct BuildResultCounts
@@ -157,7 +163,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
         Optional<std::string> platform_toolset_version;
         Optional<Path> visual_studio_path;
         Optional<std::string> external_toolchain_file;
-        Optional<ConfigurationType> build_type;
+        ConfigurationType build_type;
         Optional<std::string> public_abi_override;
         std::vector<std::string> passthrough_env_vars;
         std::vector<std::string> passthrough_env_vars_tracked;
diff --git a/include/vcpkg/fwd/build.h b/include/vcpkg/fwd/build.h
index c65ca91036..594e606947 100644
--- a/include/vcpkg/fwd/build.h
+++ b/include/vcpkg/fwd/build.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
 
     enum class ConfigurationType
     {
+        BOTH,
         DEBUG,
         RELEASE,
     };
diff --git a/locales/messages.json b/locales/messages.json
index 18c764cce4..19a8e7bf0c 100644
--- a/locales/messages.json
+++ b/locales/messages.json
@@ -948,6 +948,7 @@
   "HelpTextOptFullDesc": "Does not truncate long text",
   "HelpTopicCommand": "Displays specific help topic",
   "HelpTopicsCommand": "Displays full list of help topics",
+  "HelpTxtBuildType": "Build type (debug, release or both if not specified) (manifest mode)",
   "HelpTxtOptAllowUnsupportedPort": "Continues with a warning on unsupported ports, rather than failing",
   "HelpTxtOptCleanAfterBuild": "Cleans buildtrees, packages and downloads after building each package",
   "HelpTxtOptCleanBuildTreesAfterBuild": "Cleans buildtrees after building each package",
diff --git a/src/vcpkg/cmakevars.cpp b/src/vcpkg/cmakevars.cpp
index 5d1c199b5e..614b572e59 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg/cmakevars.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg/cmakevars.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ namespace vcpkg::CMakeVars
     {
         struct TripletCMakeVarProvider : CMakeVarProvider
         {
-            explicit TripletCMakeVarProvider(const vcpkg::VcpkgPaths& paths) : paths(paths) { }
+            explicit TripletCMakeVarProvider(const vcpkg::VcpkgPaths& paths, ConfigurationType default_build_type)
+                : paths(paths), default_build_type(default_build_type)
+            {
+            }
             TripletCMakeVarProvider(const TripletCMakeVarProvider&) = delete;
             TripletCMakeVarProvider& operator=(const TripletCMakeVarProvider&) = delete;
 
@@ -60,26 +63,32 @@ namespace vcpkg::CMakeVars
                                   std::vector<std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::string>>>& vars) const;
 
             const VcpkgPaths& paths;
+            const ConfigurationType default_build_type;
             mutable std::unordered_map<PackageSpec, std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>> dep_resolution_vars;
             mutable std::unordered_map<PackageSpec, std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>> tag_vars;
             mutable std::unordered_map<Triplet, std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>> generic_triplet_vars;
         };
     }
 
-    std::unique_ptr<CMakeVarProvider> make_triplet_cmake_var_provider(const vcpkg::VcpkgPaths& paths)
+    std::unique_ptr<CMakeVarProvider> make_triplet_cmake_var_provider(const vcpkg::VcpkgPaths& paths,
+                                                                      ConfigurationType default_build_type)
     {
-        return std::make_unique<TripletCMakeVarProvider>(paths);
+        return std::make_unique<TripletCMakeVarProvider>(paths, default_build_type);
     }
 
     static std::string create_extraction_file_prelude(const VcpkgPaths& paths,
-                                                      const std::map<Triplet, int>& emitted_triplets)
+                                                      const std::map<Triplet, int>& emitted_triplets,
+                                                      ConfigurationType default_build_type)
     {
         const auto& fs = paths.get_filesystem();
         std::string extraction_file;
 
-        extraction_file.append("cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)\n"
-                               "macro(vcpkg_triplet_file VCPKG_TRIPLET_ID)\n"
-                               "set(_vcpkg_triplet_file_BACKUP_CURRENT_LIST_FILE \"${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_FILE}\")\n");
+        fmt::format_to(std::back_inserter(extraction_file),
+                       "cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)\n"
+                       "macro(vcpkg_triplet_file VCPKG_TRIPLET_ID)\n"
+                       "set(VCPKG_BUILD_TYPE \"{}\")\n"
+                       "set(_vcpkg_triplet_file_BACKUP_CURRENT_LIST_FILE \"${{CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_FILE}}\")\n",
+                       to_string(default_build_type));
 
         for (auto&& p : emitted_triplets)
         {
@@ -116,7 +125,7 @@ endmacro()
         {
             emitted_triplets[spec_abi_setting.first.package_spec.triplet()] = emitted_triplet_id++;
         }
-        std::string extraction_file = create_extraction_file_prelude(paths, emitted_triplets);
+        std::string extraction_file = create_extraction_file_prelude(paths, emitted_triplets, default_build_type);
 
         // The variables collected here are those necessary to perform builds.
         extraction_file.append(R"(
@@ -196,7 +205,7 @@ endfunction()
             emitted_triplets[spec.triplet()] = emitted_triplet_id++;
         }
 
-        std::string extraction_file = create_extraction_file_prelude(paths, emitted_triplets);
+        std::string extraction_file = create_extraction_file_prelude(paths, emitted_triplets, default_build_type);
 
         // The variables collected here are those necessary to perform dependency resolution.
         // If a value affects platform expressions, it must be here.
diff --git a/src/vcpkg/commands.build.cpp b/src/vcpkg/commands.build.cpp
index 27e7f6b216..f13b045e6f 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg/commands.build.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg/commands.build.cpp
@@ -282,6 +282,18 @@ namespace vcpkg
 
     std::string to_string(DownloadTool tool) { return to_string_view(tool).to_string(); }
 
+    StringLiteral to_string_view(ConfigurationType config_type)
+    {
+        switch (config_type)
+        {
+            case ConfigurationType::DEBUG: return "debug";
+            case ConfigurationType::RELEASE: return "release";
+            default: return "";
+        }
+    }
+
+    std::string to_string(ConfigurationType config_type) { return to_string_view(config_type).to_string(); }
+
     Optional<LinkageType> to_linkage_type(StringView str)
     {
         if (str == "dynamic") return LinkageType::DYNAMIC;
@@ -777,6 +789,11 @@ namespace vcpkg
             variables.emplace_back("ARIA2", paths.get_tool_exe(Tools::ARIA2, stdout_sink));
         }
 
+        if (action.build_options.build_type != ConfigurationType::BOTH)
+        {
+            variables.emplace_back("VCPKG_DEFAULT_BUILD_TYPE", to_string(action.build_options.build_type));
+        }
+
         if (auto cmake_debug = args.cmake_debug.get())
         {
             if (cmake_debug->is_port_affected(scf.core_paragraph->name))
@@ -1166,6 +1183,10 @@ namespace vcpkg
         const auto& triplet_canonical_name = action.spec.triplet().canonical_name();
         abi_tag_entries.emplace_back("triplet", triplet_canonical_name);
         abi_tag_entries.emplace_back("triplet_abi", triplet_abi);
+        if (action.build_options.build_type != ConfigurationType::BOTH)
+        {
+            abi_tag_entries.emplace_back("build_type", to_string(action.build_options.build_type));
+        }
         auto& fs = paths.get_filesystem();
         abi_entries_from_pre_build_info(fs, grdk_cache, pre_build_info, abi_tag_entries);
 
@@ -1789,7 +1810,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
                     break;
                 case VcpkgTripletVar::BUILD_TYPE:
                     if (variable_value.empty())
-                        build_type = nullopt;
+                        build_type = ConfigurationType::BOTH;
                     else if (Strings::case_insensitive_ascii_equals(variable_value, "debug"))
                         build_type = ConfigurationType::DEBUG;
                     else if (Strings::case_insensitive_ascii_equals(variable_value, "release"))
diff --git a/src/vcpkg/commands.install.cpp b/src/vcpkg/commands.install.cpp
index 8ccd17875d..9ce09ed14c 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg/commands.install.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg/commands.install.cpp
@@ -618,6 +618,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
     static constexpr StringLiteral OPTION_ENFORCE_PORT_CHECKS = "enforce-port-checks";
     static constexpr StringLiteral OPTION_ALLOW_UNSUPPORTED_PORT = "allow-unsupported";
     static constexpr StringLiteral OPTION_NO_PRINT_USAGE = "no-print-usage";
+    static constexpr StringLiteral OPTION_DEFAULT_BUILD_TYPE = "x-build-type";
 
     static constexpr CommandSwitch INSTALL_SWITCHES[] = {
         {OPTION_DRY_RUN, msgHelpTxtOptDryRun},
@@ -643,6 +644,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
     static constexpr CommandSetting INSTALL_SETTINGS[] = {
         {OPTION_XUNIT, {}}, // internal use
         {OPTION_WRITE_PACKAGES_CONFIG, msgHelpTxtOptWritePkgConfig},
+        {OPTION_DEFAULT_BUILD_TYPE, msgHelpTxtBuildType},
     };
 
     static constexpr CommandMultiSetting INSTALL_MULTISETTINGS[] = {
@@ -1017,6 +1019,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
                                                  : UnsupportedPortAction::Error;
         const PrintUsage print_cmake_usage =
             Util::Sets::contains(options.switches, OPTION_NO_PRINT_USAGE) ? PrintUsage::NO : PrintUsage::YES;
+        ConfigurationType build_type = ConfigurationType::BOTH;
 
         get_global_metrics_collector().track_bool(BoolMetric::InstallManifestMode, paths.manifest_mode_enabled());
 
@@ -1039,6 +1042,27 @@ namespace vcpkg
                 msg::println_error(msgErrorInvalidManifestModeOption, msg::option = OPTION_EDITABLE);
                 failure = true;
             }
+            if (auto it = options.settings.find(OPTION_DEFAULT_BUILD_TYPE); it != options.settings.end())
+            {
+                auto& str = it->second;
+                if (str.empty())
+                {
+                    build_type = ConfigurationType::BOTH;
+                }
+                else if (Strings::case_insensitive_ascii_equals(str, "debug"))
+                {
+                    build_type = ConfigurationType::DEBUG;
+                }
+                else if (Strings::case_insensitive_ascii_equals(str, "release"))
+                {
+                    build_type = ConfigurationType::RELEASE;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    msg::println_error(msgUnknownSettingForBuildType, msg::option = str);
+                    failure = true;
+                }
+            }
             if (failure)
             {
                 msg::println(msgUsingManifestAt, msg::path = p->path);
@@ -1066,6 +1090,11 @@ namespace vcpkg
                 msg::println_error(msgErrorInvalidClassicModeOption, msg::option = OPTION_MANIFEST_FEATURE);
                 failure = true;
             }
+            if (Util::Sets::contains(options.settings, OPTION_DEFAULT_BUILD_TYPE))
+            {
+                msg::println_error(msgErrorInvalidClassicModeOption, msg::option = OPTION_DEFAULT_BUILD_TYPE);
+                failure = true;
+            }
             if (failure)
             {
                 print_usage(CommandInstallMetadataClassic);
@@ -1090,9 +1119,10 @@ namespace vcpkg
             PurgeDecompressFailure::NO,
             Util::Enum::to_enum<Editable>(is_editable),
             prohibit_backcompat_features ? BackcompatFeatures::PROHIBIT : BackcompatFeatures::ALLOW,
-            print_cmake_usage};
+            print_cmake_usage,
+            build_type};
 
-        auto var_provider_storage = CMakeVars::make_triplet_cmake_var_provider(paths);
+        auto var_provider_storage = CMakeVars::make_triplet_cmake_var_provider(paths, build_type);
         auto& var_provider = *var_provider_storage;
 
         const CreateInstallPlanOptions create_options{host_triplet, paths.packages(), unsupported_port_action};
diff --git a/src/vcpkg/postbuildlint.cpp b/src/vcpkg/postbuildlint.cpp
index 49f46681a1..36066f6873 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg/postbuildlint.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg/postbuildlint.cpp
@@ -1392,7 +1392,8 @@ namespace vcpkg
         std::vector<Path> release_libs = fs.get_regular_files_recursive(release_lib_dir, IgnoreErrors{});
         Util::erase_remove_if(release_libs, lib_filter);
 
-        if (!pre_build_info.build_type && !build_info.policies.is_enabled(BuildPolicy::MISMATCHED_NUMBER_OF_BINARIES))
+        if (pre_build_info.build_type == ConfigurationType::BOTH &&
+            !build_info.policies.is_enabled(BuildPolicy::MISMATCHED_NUMBER_OF_BINARIES))
         {
             error_count += check_matching_debug_and_release_binaries(debug_libs, release_libs, msg_sink);
         }
@@ -1424,7 +1425,7 @@ namespace vcpkg
             {
                 case LinkageType::DYNAMIC:
                 {
-                    if (!pre_build_info.build_type &&
+                    if (pre_build_info.build_type == ConfigurationType::BOTH &&
                         !build_info.policies.is_enabled(BuildPolicy::MISMATCHED_NUMBER_OF_BINARIES))
                         error_count += check_matching_debug_and_release_binaries(debug_dlls, release_dlls, msg_sink);