01Trade cost
Elevators and lifts cost in Canada
Passenger and freight elevators, lifts and accessibility devices. Priced per unit and per stop, with a long lead time and a mandatory provincial inspection before use.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$120 – $210
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$110 – $190
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$4 – $7
2% of hard cost
General $/sf
$6 – $9
From the residential band
The cost per square foot above is not a separate dataset. It is 2% of the curated new-build hard-cost band and 0% 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 | $110 – $190 | $6 – $9 | — |
| Commercial | $120 – $210 | $4 – $7 | — |
Why commercial elevators and lifts bills higher
Commercial units are code-sized for occupancy and firefighter operation and maintained under contract. Residential lifts are a smaller, lighter and cheaper class of device entirely.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Equipment supply, installation and commissioning; Cab finishes at specified grade; Initial provincial inspection and permit. Normally not: Hoistway construction, pit and machine room; Standby power and fire-alarm interface; Ongoing maintenance contract; Temporary use of the elevator during construction.
Buildlor facts
- Elevators and lifts is 2% of hard cost on a new build.
- Elevators and lifts is 0% 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
- Stops and travel: each additional stop is equipment, hoistway and inspection.
- Speed and code-driven capacity are set by occupancy, not by budget.
- Lead times of six months or more are normal and are a schedule cost.
- Cab and entrance finishes are the only genuinely discretionary part of the price.
05By market
Elevators and lifts 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 | $5 – $7 | $6 – $9 |
| Montreal, QC | $4 – $6 | $5 – $8 |
| Calgary, AB | $4 – $7 | $5 – $8 |
| Ottawa, ON | $4 – $7 | $6 – $9 |
| Edmonton, AB | $4 – $6 | $5 – $8 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $4 – $6 | $5 – $8 |
| Mississauga, ON | $5 – $7 | $6 – $9 |
| Vancouver, BC | $5 – $8 | $6 – $10 |
06Questions
How much does elevators and lifts cost per hour?
Elevators and lifts 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 elevators and lifts more expensive than residential?
Commercial units are code-sized for occupancy and firefighter operation and maintained under contract. Residential lifts are a smaller, lighter and cheaper class of device entirely.
What share of a construction budget is elevators and lifts?
2% of hard cost on a new build and 0% 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