01Trade cost
Framing and carpentry cost in Canada
Structural wood or light-gauge steel framing, sheathing, blocking and rough carpentry. Repetition and floor count drive the labour rate more than the material list.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$75 – $125
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$65 – $110
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$11 – $17
5% of hard cost
General $/sf
$14 – $21
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 4% 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 | $65 – $110 | $14 – $21 | $11 – $17 |
| Commercial | $75 – $125 | $11 – $17 | $3 – $7 |
Why commercial framing and carpentry bills higher
Commercial framing is engineered light-gauge steel or bracketed wood with tested connections and inspection hold points. Residential framing follows prescriptive code with far less documentation.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Framing members, sheathing and fasteners; Blocking and backing for fixtures; Standard rough carpentry. Normally not: Engineered connection design and review; Fire-retardant treated lumber unless specified; Temporary bracing and weather protection; Hoisting and material handling above grade.
Buildlor facts
- Framing and carpentry is 5% of hard cost on a new build.
- Framing and carpentry is 4% 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
- Storey count: framing above the third floor adds hoisting, bracing and inspection.
- Repetition: identical floors frame quickly, while irregular geometry does not.
- Lumber price volatility can move this trade double digits within a single quarter.
- Treated or fire-rated material for exposed and rated assemblies is a specification decision with a real premium.
05By market
Framing and carpentry 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 | $11 – $18 | $15 – $23 |
| Montreal, QC | $10 – $16 | $13 – $20 |
| Calgary, AB | $11 – $16 | $14 – $21 |
| Ottawa, ON | $11 – $17 | $14 – $22 |
| Edmonton, AB | $10 – $16 | $13 – $20 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $10 – $15 | $13 – $20 |
| Mississauga, ON | $11 – $18 | $15 – $23 |
| Vancouver, BC | $12 – $19 | $16 – $24 |
06Questions
How much does framing and carpentry cost per hour?
Framing and carpentry 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 framing and carpentry more expensive than residential?
Commercial framing is engineered light-gauge steel or bracketed wood with tested connections and inspection hold points. Residential framing follows prescriptive code with far less documentation.
What share of a construction budget is framing and carpentry?
5% of hard cost on a new build and 4% 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