01Trade cost
Millwork and cabinetry cost in Canada
Reception desks, casework, counters, shelving and architectural woodwork. Priced by linear foot of cabinet and by specification grade, so brand standards decide the number.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$85 – $150
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$75 – $135
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$11 – $25
14% of hard cost
General $/sf
$39 – $60
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 14% 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 | $75 – $135 | $6 – $9 | $39 – $60 |
| Commercial | $85 – $150 | $4 – $7 | $11 – $25 |
Why commercial millwork and cabinetry bills higher
Commercial millwork is built to a published architectural woodwork standard, in commercial-grade substrate and hardware, and shop-drawn before fabrication. Residential cabinetry is largely a catalogue order.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Shop drawings, fabrication and installation; Specified substrate, finish and hardware; Counters and integral supports. Normally not: Stone and solid-surface tops unless specified; Appliance and equipment supply; Electrical and plumbing connections into casework; Feature finishes and metal fabrication.
Buildlor facts
- Millwork and cabinetry is 2% of hard cost on a new build.
- Millwork and cabinetry is 14% 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
- Linear footage of upper and lower runs is the whole quantity; area is irrelevant.
- Specification grade: custom grade to a published woodwork standard prices well above premium catalogue.
- Finish: a factory-applied catalysed finish costs more than melamine and is worth it in a public area.
- Feature pieces such as a reception desk are engineered one-offs and priced as such.
05By market
Millwork and cabinetry 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 | $12 – $27 | $41 – $64 |
| Montreal, QC | $11 – $24 | $37 – $57 |
| Calgary, AB | $11 – $25 | $38 – $59 |
| Ottawa, ON | $11 – $25 | $39 – $61 |
| Edmonton, AB | $11 – $24 | $37 – $57 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $10 – $23 | $36 – $55 |
| Mississauga, ON | $12 – $26 | $41 – $63 |
| Vancouver, BC | $13 – $28 | $44 – $68 |
06Questions
How much does millwork and cabinetry cost per hour?
Millwork and cabinetry 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 millwork and cabinetry more expensive than residential?
Commercial millwork is built to a published architectural woodwork standard, in commercial-grade substrate and hardware, and shop-drawn before fabrication. Residential cabinetry is largely a catalogue order.
What share of a construction budget is millwork and cabinetry?
2% of hard cost on a new build and 14% 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