01Trade cost
Security and low-voltage cost in Canada
Access control, cameras, intrusion detection, structured cabling and audio-visual. Almost always excluded from a general contractor's price, and almost always needed on day one.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$95 – $160
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$85 – $145
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$3 – $7
4% of hard cost
General $/sf
$11 – $17
From the residential band
The cost per square foot above is not a separate dataset. It is 1% 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 | $85 – $145 | $3 – $4 | $11 – $17 |
| Commercial | $95 – $160 | $2 – $3 | $3 – $7 |
Why commercial security and low-voltage bills higher
Commercial systems are networked, integrated with access control and fire alarm, and commissioned to an IT standard. Residential systems are self-contained consumer devices.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Device supply and installation; Structured cabling and terminations; Programming and commissioning. Normally not: Network hardware, servers and licensing; Monitoring subscriptions; Door hardware and electric strikes; Integration with an existing base-building system.
Buildlor facts
- Security and low-voltage is 1% of hard cost on a new build.
- Security and low-voltage 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
- Device count and cable pathway length are the entire quantity.
- Door count for access control drives both hardware and door modification cost.
- Integration with a base-building system usually means the incumbent vendor sets the price.
- Recurring licensing and monitoring are operating cost, not capital, and are routinely missed.
05By market
Security and low-voltage 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 | $3 – $8 | $12 – $18 |
| Montreal, QC | $3 – $7 | $11 – $16 |
| Calgary, AB | $3 – $7 | $11 – $17 |
| Ottawa, ON | $3 – $7 | $11 – $17 |
| Edmonton, AB | $3 – $7 | $11 – $16 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $3 – $7 | $10 – $16 |
| Mississauga, ON | $3 – $8 | $12 – $18 |
| Vancouver, BC | $4 – $8 | $13 – $19 |
06Questions
How much does security and low-voltage cost per hour?
Security and low-voltage 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 security and low-voltage more expensive than residential?
Commercial systems are networked, integrated with access control and fire alarm, and commissioned to an IT standard. Residential systems are self-contained consumer devices.
What share of a construction budget is security and low-voltage?
1% 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