How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in Canada? Per Square Foot by Province (2026)
Updated
What it costs to build a house in Canada depends mostly on three things: where you build, the build level you choose, and the size of the house. This page puts numbers on each: cost per square foot by province and build level, three worked totals from land to contingency, a breakdown by category, and the soft and hidden costs that sit outside the builder’s price. It is part of our guide to property types in Canada.
The steps of the project itself (choosing a lot, permits, picking a builder, the contract, warranties and the timeline) are covered in buying land and building a house in Canada, and the checks for the lot purchase in buying vacant land in Canada. Closing a land purchase and arranging a build also carry closing costs of their own.
Cost per square foot by province
Province / Region
Basic Build
Mid-Range
High-End Custom
Ontario (GTA)
$280–$380
$400–$550
$600–$1,000+
Ontario (other)
$220–$320
$320–$450
$500–$750
British Columbia (GVA)
$300–$400
$420–$580
$600–$1,000+
British Columbia (other)
$230–$330
$330–$470
$500–$750
Alberta
$200–$300
$300–$420
$450–$700
Quebec
$200–$290
$280–$400
$420–$650
Manitoba
$190–$280
$270–$380
$400–$600
Saskatchewan
$190–$280
$270–$380
$400–$600
Atlantic Canada
$180–$270
$260–$360
$380–$550
Northern Canada
$350–$500+
$500–$700+
$700–$1,200+
Costs do not include land, site preparation or GST/HST.
Basic builds use standard plans and builder-grade finishes; mid-range builds add more custom layouts and finishes; high-end custom homes are architect-designed with premium materials throughout. The cost per square foot covers construction only, which is why the worked totals below add land, site work, servicing, soft costs, sales tax and a contingency.
Total cost examples
The three examples below use typical mid-range figures from the table above. Sales tax is applied to the construction cost, and the contingency is figured on the construction cost.
Example 1: 1,500 sq ft bungalow in rural Ontario
Category
Cost
Land (1-acre lot)
$100,000
Construction (1,500 sq ft × $320 per sq ft)
$480,000
Site preparation (clearing, grading)
$15,000
Servicing (well, septic)
$35,000
Driveway and landscaping
$20,000
Permits and fees
$10,000
Architectural and design
$15,000
HST on construction (13%)
$62,400
Contingency (10% of construction)
$48,000
Total
$785,400
Example 2: 2,500 sq ft two-storey in suburban Calgary
Category
Cost
Land (serviced suburban lot)
$180,000
Construction (2,500 sq ft × $370 per sq ft)
$925,000
Site preparation
$10,000
Servicing (municipal connection fees)
$15,000
Driveway, fence and landscaping
$30,000
Permits and development charges
$20,000
Architectural and design
$25,000
GST on construction (5%)
$46,250
Contingency (10% of construction)
$92,500
Total
$1,343,750
Example 3: 3,000 sq ft custom home in the GTA
Category
Cost
Land (suburban GTA lot)
$600,000
Construction (3,000 sq ft × $500 per sq ft)
$1,500,000
Site preparation (demolition of existing house, grading)
$40,000
Servicing (municipal connection fees)
$20,000
Driveway, landscaping and fencing
$50,000
Permits and development charges
$40,000
Architectural and engineering
$50,000
HST on construction (13%)
$195,000
Contingency (10% of construction)
$150,000
Total
$2,645,000
Detailed cost breakdown by category
Foundation ($80–$120/sq ft of foundation area)
Type
Cost
When Used
Full basement
$30,000–$80,000
Standard in Ontario, Quebec, Prairies
Slab-on-grade
$15,000–$35,000
Common in BC, milder climates
Crawlspace
$15,000–$40,000
Some BC and Atlantic builds
ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms)
$40,000–$100,000
Energy-efficient option: costs more upfront, less to heat and cool
Framing ($30–$60/sq ft)
Component
Cost Range
Lumber package
$25,000–$60,000
Labour
$20,000–$50,000
Trusses / roof structure
$10,000–$30,000
Sheathing, housewrap
$5,000–$15,000
Exterior ($25–$50/sq ft)
Component
Cost Range
Roofing (asphalt shingles)
$8,000–$20,000
Roofing (metal)
$15,000–$40,000
Siding (vinyl)
$10,000–$20,000
Siding (fibre cement / Hardie)
$15,000–$35,000
Siding (stone / brick veneer)
$25,000–$60,000+
Windows and doors
$15,000–$60,000
Mechanical systems ($40–$80/sq ft)
System
Cost Range
Electrical (200A service, full wiring)
$15,000–$35,000
Plumbing
$12,000–$30,000
HVAC (forced air furnace + AC)
$10,000–$25,000
HVAC (geothermal)
$30,000–$60,000
Insulation (fibreglass batt)
$5,000–$12,000
Insulation (spray foam)
$10,000–$25,000
Interior finishes ($60–$150/sq ft)
Component
Budget
Mid-Range
High-End
Kitchen cabinets + countertops
$10K–$20K
$25K–$50K
$50K–$100K+
Bathrooms (per bathroom)
$5K–$10K
$12K–$25K
$25K–$50K+
Flooring (whole house)
$8K–$15K
$15K–$35K
$35K–$80K+
Trim and doors
$5K–$12K
$12K–$25K
$25K–$50K
Paint
$3K–$5K
$5K–$10K
$10K–$20K
Light fixtures
$2K–$5K
$5K–$15K
$15K–$40K+
Soft and hidden costs
Cost
Typical Amount
Notes
Development charges
$10,000–$100,000+
Municipal charges on new construction; each municipality sets its own
New construction is taxable; see the rebate note below
Temporary housing
$1,500–$3,000/month × 12–18 months
Somewhere to live during construction
GST/HST applies to new construction, including a builder’s work on your own lot. The GST/HST new housing rebate can return part of it on a home you will live in, owner-built homes claim it under their own rules, and first-time buyers may qualify for a larger federal rebate; that page has the conditions and limits.
How to reduce building costs
Strategy
Potential Savings
Simpler design (rectangular footprint, standard roof)
10%–20%
Standard finishes with selective upgrades
15%–25% on interior costs
Less basement finishing (leave some unfinished for later)
$30K–$60K
Standard ceiling height (9 ft vs 10 ft)
$5K–$15K
Vinyl siding instead of brick or stone
$15K–$40K
A slightly smaller house
Every 100 sq ft saved = $30K–$50K
A municipality with lower development charges
$10K–$80K
Phased landscaping (basic now, upgrade later)
$10K–$30K deferred
Paying for the build
Most builds are financed with a construction mortgage that releases money in draws as each stage is finished, with interest charged only on the amounts drawn until the house is complete and the loan converts to a regular mortgage; the draw schedule, lenders and qualifying rules are on construction loans in Canada. The lot is often financed separately, as compared in mortgages for vacant land.
Building vs buying: when does building make sense?
Factor
Building
Buying Existing
Cost
Land, construction, soft costs and sales tax, plus carrying costs during the build
Purchase price plus closing costs; older homes may need repairs or updates
Customization
Complete: the home is designed to the owner’s plan
Limited to what is for sale, or what a renovation can change
Timeline
Typically 12 to 24 months from land purchase to move-in
30–90 days from accepted offer to closing
Maintenance
Everything is new, so little maintenance for the first years
May need immediate repairs or updates
Warranty
A provincial new home warranty applies in the provinces that have one
No builder warranty; condition is checked with a home inspection, and a home sold as-is comes with no seller assurances
Location
Limited to available lots
Full range of established neighbourhoods
Energy efficiency
Built to current codes, with better insulation and systems
Older homes may be less efficient
Surprise costs
Overruns of 10–20% are common on custom builds
An inspection can catch many issues before purchase
Energy-efficient building options
Building new is the cheapest time to add efficiency features, since walls, windows and mechanical systems are being chosen anyway. Typical added costs and savings:
Feature
Additional Cost
Annual Savings
Payback
Heat pump (vs furnace)
$8,000–$15,000
$800–$1,500
8–12 years
Solar panels (10 kW)
$20,000–$30,000
$1,500–$2,500
10–15 years
Triple-pane windows
$5,000–$10,000
$300–$600
10–20 years
Spray foam insulation
$3,000–$8,000
$400–$800
5–12 years
EV charger (Level 2)
$1,500–$3,000
Convenience
N/A
Net-zero package
$40,000–$80,000
$2,500–$4,000
12–25 years
Savings depend on local energy prices and the home’s design. The same upgrades in an existing house are compared in energy-efficiency upgrades for a home, provincial and utility programs are listed in energy rebates by province, and a newly built energy-efficient home bought with a CMHC-insured mortgage may qualify for a partial premium refund under CMHC Eco Plus.
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Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on September 24, 2026. How we check facts.