01Ottawa · Millwork and cabinetry
Millwork and cabinetry cost in Ottawa, ON
Reception desks, casework, counters, shelving and architectural woodwork. Priced by linear foot of cabinet and by specification grade, so brand standards decide the number. In Ottawa, the band moves with the curated local cost factor of 0.95× the national baseline.
02The local rate
Commercial hourly
$81 – $143
Ottawa adjusted
General hourly
$71 – $128
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$11 – $25
14% of hard cost
General $/sf
$39 – $61
From the residential band
The per-square-foot figures come straight from the curated Ottawa hard-cost bands, taken at 2% for a new build and 14% for a fit-out. Nothing on this page is a separate estimate — it is the same market data, sliced by trade.
Local context: Federal tenant fit-outs set the quality benchmark in Ottawa, pulling office TI budgets above the provincial average.
03General versus commercial
The two segments in Ottawa
| Segment | Hourly | New build $/sf | Fit-out $/sf |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / residential | $71 – $128 | $6 – $9 | $39 – $61 |
| Commercial | $81 – $143 | $4 – $7 | $11 – $25 |
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.
What moves millwork and cabinetry pricing here
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.
Buildlor facts
- Ottawa runs at 0.95× the national construction cost baseline.
- Millwork and cabinetry is 2% of new-build hard cost.
- Millwork and cabinetry is 14% of fit-out hard cost.
04Questions
How much does millwork and cabinetry cost in Ottawa?
Millwork and cabinetry in Ottawa is billed in a band. The hourly and per-square-foot figures on this page are the national bands adjusted by the curated Ottawa cost factor, which is the same factor the Ottawa market page uses.
Is commercial millwork and cabinetry priced differently in Ottawa?
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.
Does Buildlor do the work?
No. Buildlor publishes cost data. Use these bands to sanity-check a quote before you tender, then price the full project in the Cost Stack Builder.
Buildlor Construction Cost Index · Last updated 2026-01-15 · Maintained by Buildlor Cost Desk
Scope: Millwork and cabinetry, Ottawa, ON
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