01Trade cost
HVAC cost in Canada
Heating, ventilation, cooling, distribution and controls. Ventilation rates and zoning are code-driven, so the specification is usually decided before anyone talks about budget.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$115 – $195
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$95 – $170
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$19 – $30
13% of hard cost
General $/sf
$36 – $55
From the residential band
The cost per square foot above is not a separate dataset. It is 9% of the curated new-build hard-cost band and 13% 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 | $95 – $170 | $25 – $38 | $36 – $55 |
| Commercial | $115 – $195 | $19 – $30 | $10 – $23 |
Why commercial hvac bills higher
Commercial HVAC is engineered to a ventilation code, balanced and commissioned by a third party, and controlled by a building management system. A residential furnace-and-split system carries none of that overhead.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Equipment supply and setting; Ductwork, diffusers and distribution; Controls, thermostats and start-up. Normally not: Structural support and roof curbs for rooftop units; Independent testing, balancing and commissioning reports; Gas service and metering; Kitchen exhaust and make-up air, which price separately.
Buildlor facts
- HVAC is 9% of hard cost on a new build.
- HVAC is 13% 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
- Zone count: every enclosed room is a zone, and every zone is equipment, duct, controls and a balancing line item.
- Base-building condition: usable existing distribution can save 15 percent of a fit-out mechanical budget.
- Ventilation code: outdoor-air rates for assembly, medical or restaurant occupancies force larger equipment than office use.
- Rooftop access and crane time on a live building are schedule cost, not equipment cost.
05By market
HVAC 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 | $21 – $32 | $38 – $59 |
| Montreal, QC | $19 – $29 | $35 – $53 |
| Calgary, AB | $19 – $30 | $35 – $54 |
| Ottawa, ON | $20 – $31 | $36 – $56 |
| Edmonton, AB | $19 – $29 | $35 – $53 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $18 – $28 | $33 – $51 |
| Mississauga, ON | $20 – $32 | $38 – $59 |
| Vancouver, BC | $22 – $34 | $41 – $63 |
| Brampton, ON | $20 – $31 | $38 – $58 |
| Hamilton, ON | $20 – $31 | $36 – $56 |
| Surrey, BC | $21 – $32 | $39 – $60 |
| Quebec City, QC | $18 – $28 | $33 – $51 |
| Halifax, NS | $18 – $28 | $34 – $52 |
| Laval, QC | $18 – $28 | $34 – $52 |
| London, ON | $19 – $29 | $35 – $53 |
| Victoria, BC | $21 – $32 | $38 – $59 |
| Markham, ON | $20 – $31 | $38 – $58 |
| Vaughan, ON | $20 – $32 | $38 – $59 |
| Saskatoon, SK | $18 – $28 | $33 – $51 |
| Gatineau, QC | $18 – $28 | $34 – $52 |
| Kitchener, ON | $19 – $30 | $36 – $55 |
| Longueuil, QC | $18 – $28 | $33 – $51 |
| Regina, SK | $18 – $28 | $33 – $51 |
| Burnaby, BC | $22 – $34 | $40 – $62 |
| Windsor, ON | $18 – $28 | $34 – $52 |
06Questions
How much does hvac cost per hour?
HVAC 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 hvac more expensive than residential?
Commercial HVAC is engineered to a ventilation code, balanced and commissioned by a third party, and controlled by a building management system. A residential furnace-and-split system carries none of that overhead.
What share of a construction budget is hvac?
9% of hard cost on a new build and 13% 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