01Trade cost
Drywall and partitions cost in Canada
Steel or wood studs, board, taping and finishing. Linear feet of wall and the specified finish level drive the rate far more than the floor area behind it.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$70 – $120
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$60 – $105
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$10 – $21
12% of hard cost
General $/sf
$33 – $51
From the residential band
The cost per square foot above is not a separate dataset. It is 5% of the curated new-build hard-cost band and 12% of the curated fit-out band that the market pages already publish, so this page can never contradict them.
03General versus commercial
The two segments, side by side
| Segment | Hourly | New build $/sf | Fit-out $/sf |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / residential | $60 – $105 | $14 – $21 | $33 – $51 |
| Commercial | $70 – $120 | $11 – $17 | $10 – $21 |
Why commercial drywall and partitions bills higher
Commercial partitions are steel-stud assemblies built to a tested fire and acoustic rating, often full height to the deck, with firestopping at every penetration. Residential drywall is board over wood framing.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Framing, board and fasteners; Taping and finishing to specified level; Standard corner bead and trim. Normally not: Firestopping inspection and documentation; Acoustic sealant and insulation unless specified; Access panels and specialty trims; Level 5 finish where only level 4 is priced.
Buildlor facts
- Drywall and partitions is 5% of hard cost on a new build.
- Drywall and partitions is 12% of hard cost on a fit-out.
- Hard cost is typically 60 to 75 percent of an all-in budget, so a trade's share of the total is smaller again.
04What moves the number
Cost drivers
- Wall length per square foot: an office of enclosed rooms carries several times the partition of an open plan.
- Rated assemblies: a one-hour or two-hour wall changes board layers, framing gauge and firestopping.
- Deck height: framing to an exposed structure above a ceiling is more expensive than stopping at the grid.
- Finish level: level 5 for critical lighting is a materially different price from level 4.
05By market
Drywall and partitions cost by city
Every market below carries a curated cost factor, so the trade rate moves with it. Markets we publish a dedicated page for are linked.
| Market | Commercial $/sf | General $/sf |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | $10 – $23 | $35 – $55 |
| Montreal, QC | $9 – $21 | $32 – $49 |
| Calgary, AB | $9 – $21 | $33 – $50 |
| Ottawa, ON | $10 – $22 | $34 – $52 |
| Edmonton, AB | $9 – $21 | $32 – $49 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $9 – $20 | $30 – $47 |
| Mississauga, ON | $10 – $23 | $35 – $54 |
| Vancouver, BC | $11 – $24 | $38 – $58 |
| Brampton, ON | $10 – $22 | $35 – $54 |
| Hamilton, ON | $10 – $22 | $34 – $52 |
| Surrey, BC | $10 – $23 | $36 – $55 |
| Quebec City, QC | $9 – $20 | $30 – $47 |
| Halifax, NS | $9 – $20 | $31 – $48 |
| Laval, QC | $9 – $20 | $31 – $48 |
| London, ON | $9 – $21 | $32 – $49 |
| Victoria, BC | $10 – $23 | $35 – $55 |
| Markham, ON | $10 – $22 | $35 – $54 |
| Vaughan, ON | $10 – $23 | $35 – $54 |
| Saskatoon, SK | $9 – $20 | $31 – $48 |
| Gatineau, QC | $9 – $20 | $31 – $48 |
| Kitchener, ON | $9 – $21 | $33 – $51 |
| Longueuil, QC | $9 – $20 | $31 – $48 |
| Regina, SK | $9 – $20 | $30 – $47 |
| Burnaby, BC | $11 – $24 | $37 – $57 |
| Windsor, ON | $9 – $20 | $31 – $48 |
06Questions
How much does drywall and partitions cost per hour?
Drywall and partitions is billed in a band, not at one rate. Commercial work bills above general work for the same hour because of documentation, inspection and coordination. The bands on this page are national baselines; the market table shows how they move by city.
Why is commercial drywall and partitions more expensive than residential?
Commercial partitions are steel-stud assemblies built to a tested fire and acoustic rating, often full height to the deck, with firestopping at every penetration. Residential drywall is board over wood framing.
What share of a construction budget is drywall and partitions?
5% of hard cost on a new build and 12% of a fit-out, on the division splits Buildlor publishes. Those shares are how the cost per square foot on this page is derived.
Is this a quote?
No. Buildlor is a data publisher, not a contractor. These are indicative benchmarks for the stage before you tender, and every page states what it excludes.
Buildlor Construction Cost Index · Last updated 2026-01-15 · Maintained by Buildlor Cost Desk
Not advice — Buildlor is a data publisher. We do not bid, price, estimate, or build work, and nothing here is a quote, a tender price, or construction advice. Figures are indicative order-of-magnitude benchmarks for early budgeting and must be confirmed by a qualified cost consultant, quantity surveyor, or general contractor before you rely on them. About Buildlor