01Trade cost
Painting and coatings cost in Canada
Surface preparation, priming and finish coats to walls, ceilings and millwork. Preparation, not paint, is the cost — the coating itself is a small fraction of the line.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$65 – $110
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$55 – $95
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$6 – $10
6% of hard cost
General $/sf
$17 – $26
From the residential band
The cost per square foot above is not a separate dataset. It is 3% of the curated new-build hard-cost band and 6% 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 | $55 – $95 | $8 – $13 | $17 – $26 |
| Commercial | $65 – $110 | $6 – $10 | $5 – $11 |
Why commercial painting and coatings bills higher
Commercial painting is specified by coating system and dry film thickness, applied to a scrubbable or intumescent standard, and usually scheduled around an occupied building or after hours.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Surface preparation and priming; Two finish coats at specified sheen; Standard protection and clean-up. Normally not: Substrate repair beyond minor patching; Intumescent and specialty coatings unless specified; After-hours and premium-time work; Colour changes after the schedule is issued.
Buildlor facts
- Painting and coatings is 3% of hard cost on a new build.
- Painting and coatings is 6% 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
- Surface condition: repainting a repaired substrate can cost more in preparation than in coating.
- Cut lines and colour count: each additional colour is a separate mobilisation of the same crew.
- Height: anything above rolling-scaffold reach adds access equipment and time.
- Specified system: a scrubbable or epoxy system for a clinic or kitchen prices far above builder-grade latex.
05By market
Painting and coatings 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 | $7 – $11 | $18 – $27 |
| Montreal, QC | $6 – $10 | $16 – $25 |
| Calgary, AB | $6 – $10 | $16 – $25 |
| Ottawa, ON | $7 – $10 | $17 – $26 |
| Edmonton, AB | $6 – $10 | $16 – $25 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $6 – $9 | $15 – $23 |
| Mississauga, ON | $7 – $11 | $18 – $27 |
| Vancouver, BC | $7 – $11 | $19 – $29 |
| Brampton, ON | $7 – $10 | $17 – $27 |
| Hamilton, ON | $7 – $10 | $17 – $26 |
| Surrey, BC | $7 – $11 | $18 – $28 |
| Quebec City, QC | $6 – $9 | $15 – $23 |
| Halifax, NS | $6 – $9 | $16 – $24 |
| Laval, QC | $6 – $9 | $16 – $24 |
| London, ON | $6 – $10 | $16 – $25 |
| Victoria, BC | $7 – $11 | $18 – $27 |
| Markham, ON | $7 – $10 | $17 – $27 |
| Vaughan, ON | $7 – $11 | $18 – $27 |
| Saskatoon, SK | $6 – $9 | $15 – $24 |
| Gatineau, QC | $6 – $9 | $16 – $24 |
| Kitchener, ON | $6 – $10 | $16 – $25 |
| Longueuil, QC | $6 – $9 | $15 – $24 |
| Regina, SK | $6 – $9 | $15 – $23 |
| Burnaby, BC | $7 – $11 | $19 – $29 |
| Windsor, ON | $6 – $9 | $16 – $24 |
06Questions
How much does painting and coatings cost per hour?
Painting and coatings 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 painting and coatings more expensive than residential?
Commercial painting is specified by coating system and dry film thickness, applied to a scrubbable or intumescent standard, and usually scheduled around an occupied building or after hours.
What share of a construction budget is painting and coatings?
3% of hard cost on a new build and 6% 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