analytics2026 Data Report

2026 Ontario Renovation Cost Report

The most comprehensive renovation pricing data covering 25 services, 15 GTA cities, and real contractor rates. Updated Q1 2026 with verified pricing from Ontario's largest contractor network.

Services

Cities

2026 Market Highlights

Six data-driven findings from our analysis of Ontario renovation pricing.

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Oakville

Most Expensive City (2% above baseline)

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Oshawa

Most Affordable City (12% below baseline)

construction

$250,000

Highest Project Cost (Basement Second Unit)

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64% / 36%

Average Labour / Material Split

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16%

Price Spread Across GTA

engineering

Services Require Engineering

location_cityRegional Analysis

City-by-City Cost Comparison

How labour and material costs vary across the Greater Toronto Area, with waterproofing as a benchmark service.

City	Region	Labour Multiplier	Material Multiplier	Overall	Waterproofing (Full Perimeter)
Oakville	Halton Region	1.03	1.00	1.02	$18,324 – $40,720
Toronto	City of Toronto	1.00	1.00	1.00	$18,000 – $40,000
Vaughan	York Region	0.96	0.99	0.97	$17,496 – $38,880
Markham	York Region	0.95	0.99	0.97	$17,388 – $38,640
Richmond Hill	York Region	0.95	0.98	0.96	$17,316 – $38,480
Burlington	Halton Region	0.95	0.97	0.96	$17,244 – $38,320
Mississauga	Peel Region	0.93	0.98	0.95	$17,100 – $38,000
Aurora	York Region	0.92	0.97	0.94	$16,920 – $37,600
Brampton	Peel Region	0.90	0.96	0.92	$16,632 – $36,960
Milton	Halton Region	0.90	0.96	0.92	$16,632 – $36,960
Pickering	Durham Region	0.90	0.96	0.92	$16,632 – $36,960
Ajax	Durham Region	0.88	0.95	0.91	$16,344 – $36,320
Whitby	Durham Region	0.87	0.95	0.90	$16,236 – $36,080
Hamilton	City of Hamilton	0.87	0.94	0.90	$16,164 – $35,920
Oshawa	Durham Region	0.85	0.94	0.88	$15,948 – $35,440

Multipliers are relative to Toronto baseline (1.00). Waterproofing example uses full-perimeter exterior waterproofing scope (base: $18,000 – $40,000).

categoryService Breakdown

All 25 Services by Category

Comprehensive pricing across structural, trades, building, and professional services.

pie_chartCost Breakdown

Labour vs Material Split by Service

Understanding where your renovation dollars go helps you make smarter decisions.

Structural

Underpinning

$500 – $800

65%

35%

Labour

Material

Waterproofing

$5,000 – $12,000

65%

35%

Labour

Material

Foundation Repair

$500 – $1,500

70%

30%

Labour

Material

Concrete Works

$2,500 – $4,500

55%

45%

Labour

Material

Masonry

$15 – $30

75%

25%

Labour

Material

Framing

$5 – $10

65%

35%

Labour

Material

Trades

Electrical

$2,500 – $5,000

65%

35%

Labour

Material

Plumbing

$3,000 – $6,000

65%

35%

Labour

Material

Handyman

$50 – $90

85%

15%

Labour

Material

HVAC

$3,000 – $6,000

35%

65%

Labour

Material

Insulation

$1 – $3

50%

Labour

Material

Drains

$200 – $400

85%

15%

Labour

Material

Painting

$400 – $800

70%

30%

Labour

Material

Cleaning

$500 – $1,500

85%

15%

Labour

Material

Building

Home Additions

$200 – $400

55%

45%

Labour

Material

Basement Second Unit

$80,000 – $175,000

55%

45%

Labour

Material

Roofing

$5,000 – $10,000

55%

45%

Labour

Material

Demolition

$2,000 – $5,000

75%

25%

Labour

Material

Decks

$5,000 – $10,000

50%

Labour

Material

Professional

General Contractor

$15 – $25

95%

Labour

Material

Project Management

$5 – $15

95%

Labour

Material

Building Permits

$200 – $800

90%

10%

Labour

Material

Drafting

$1,500 – $3,500

95%

Labour

Material

Estimating

$500 – $1,500

95%

Labour

Material

Equipment Rental

$300 – $600

30%

70%

Labour

Material

workspace_premiumPremium Projects

Top 10 Most Expensive Renovations

The highest-cost projects in Ontario, ranked by maximum project price.

Basement Second Unit

Premium basement unit (high-end finishes)

$150,000 – $250,000

4-8 months

Basement Second Unit

Underpinning + conversion (combined)

$125,000 – $225,000

4-8 months

Basement Second Unit

Legal basement apartment (complete)

$80,000 – $175,000

4-8 months

Underpinning

Full basement lowering (typical Toronto semi)

$75,000 – $150,000

6-12 weeks

Basement Second Unit

Budget basement conversion (no lowering)

$50,000 – $80,000

4-8 months

Home Additions

Sunroom or 3-season room

$20,000 – $50,000

3-6 months

Waterproofing

Full-perimeter exterior waterproofing

$18,000 – $40,000

3-14 days

Decks

Multi-level deck (300+ sq ft)

$18,000 – $40,000

3-10 days

Decks

Rooftop/balcony deck

$15,000 – $35,000

3-10 days

Decks

Deck with built-in features (benches, planters, lighting)

$12,000 – $30,000

3-10 days

savingsExpert Advice

12 Money-Saving Tips from the Data

Actionable cost tips aggregated from verified contractors across Ontario.

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Get the geotechnical report — at $2,500-$5,000 it's cheap insurance for a $100K+ project.

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Bundle waterproofing with underpinning to save 30-40% vs doing them separately.

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Fix grading and extend downspouts first — $1,000-$3,000 in drainage work solves 80% of moisture problems.

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Bundle electrical with other renovation work — opening walls for framing saves re-work on wiring.

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Upgrade to 200A panel during renovation — doing it later costs $2,000+ more.

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Install a backwater valve — many GTA cities offer $1,000-$2,500 rebates and it prevents sewer backup.

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Second-storey additions cost more per sq ft but don't require new foundation — compare total cost.

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Design to municipal setback limits upfront — Committee of Adjustment variances cost $5,000-$15,000.

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Stack rebates: federal MHRTC ($7,500) + provincial ($40,000 forgivable loan) + CMHC refinancing.

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GC markup of 15-25% is standard — compare net cost, not just the management fee.

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Fixed-price contracts protect you from overruns — cost-plus contracts give the GC less incentive to control costs.

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PM saves 10-15% on construction costs through better coordination — the fee often pays for itself.

scienceMethodology

How We Built This Report

Transparency in data sourcing and analysis.

verified

Based on verified contractor pricing across the Greater Toronto Area from our network of licensed, insured contractors.

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Prices reflect Q1 2026 market rates including labour inflation, material costs, and seasonal demand patterns.

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City multipliers based on labour and material cost variations across 15 GTA municipalities, accounting for regional demand, permit fees, and contractor availability.

update

Updated quarterly to reflect changing market conditions, new construction technologies, and regulatory updates.

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