Costs, drivers and 2026 rules
What kitchens, bathrooms, basements and additions cost, what pushes the price up, and the tax and program rules that apply in 2026.
home renovation cost estimator
Home renovation cost estimator for Canada
Build a realistic budget for a kitchen, bathroom, basement, secondary suite or addition, then check quotes, contracts, taxes and holdbacks against the rules in your province.
- Illustrative cost ranges with the method shown, never fake price lists
- Calculators for project range, sales tax, contingency and holdback
- Provincial rules on contracts, liens, permits and licensing, with official sources
Explore by topic
Estimates, quotes and contracts
Step-by-step estimating, worked budgets, contingency, comparing quotes, contracts, deposits, holdbacks and contractor checks.
Pitfalls, disputes and official sources
Permits and inspections, cost overruns and change orders, warranties, scams, disputes and where to complain.
Start here
Estimates, quotes and contracts
How to compare renovation contractor quotes in Canada
How to get comparable renovation quotes, normalise scope and allowances, spot exclusions and low-ball pricing, and choose the best-fit contractor without relying on reviews.
Estimates, quotes and contracts
Renovation deposits, payment schedules and lien holdbacks in Canada
How big a renovation deposit should be, how to tie payments to stages, the 10% holdback under Ontario, BC and Alberta lien acts, Quebec legal hypothecs, and worked payment examples.
Costs, drivers and 2026 rules
How much does a home renovation cost in Canada? Cost drivers and illustrative ranges
What drives renovation prices in Canada, illustrative per-square-foot ranges for common projects, how those ranges are built and how to turn them into a budget.
Estimates, quotes and contracts
How to estimate a home renovation cost yourself: a step-by-step method
A seven-step method to estimate a Canadian renovation before you call contractors, from scope and measurements to unit ranges, one-time costs, contingency and GST/HST.
Costs, drivers and 2026 rules
Kitchen renovation cost in Canada: what drives the price and how to budget
Illustrative kitchen remodel ranges for Canadian homes, the cost of cabinets, counters, layout changes and trades, a worked budget and how to read kitchen quotes.
Pitfalls, disputes and official sources
Renovation problems in Canada: common failure patterns and the official sources to check
The most common ways Canadian renovations go wrong, which official body or statute deals with each, and a directory of federal, provincial and municipal sources to verify rules.
Tools
Renovation cost estimator
Turn the floor area of your project into an illustrative low-to-high price range by project type, plus one-time costs such as design, permits and disposal.
GST/HST and sales tax calculator for renovations
Add GST/HST, or GST plus QST or PST, to a renovation contract price to see the tax and the total you will actually pay.
Renovation contingency calculator
Add a contingency percentage and fixed allowances to your base estimate to get a total renovation budget you can plan around.
Holdback and progress payment calculator
Work out how much to keep back from a renovation progress invoice under a provincial lien act, and how much to pay now after deposits.
Renovation quote comparison checklist
Check that every contractor quote covers the same scope and the protections you need before you compare prices or pay a deposit.
Ways to price and run a renovation, compared
| Arrangement | How it works | Best fit when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed price (stipulated sum) | One price for a defined scope; changes are priced through written change orders | Plans and finishes are chosen before signing and the house has few unknowns | Thin scope descriptions, low allowances and expensive change orders; hidden conditions may be excluded |
| Fixed price with allowances | Fixed price for labour and most materials, plus dollar allowances for items you pick later | You need to start before every finish is selected | Allowances set unrealistically low to make the quote look cheaper; check whether they include installation and tax |
| Cost-plus (percentage or fixed fee) | You pay actual costs of labour, materials and subtrades plus a markup or fixed fee | Older houses with many unknowns, or high-end work where choices evolve | No ceiling unless the contract sets one; you need invoices and regular cost reports |
| Time and materials | Hourly or daily labour rate plus materials, billed as work proceeds | Small repairs and jobs where the scope cannot be defined | Budgets drift; ask for a written estimate and, in Ontario, note the CPA's limit on charging more than 10% above an estimate |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home renovation cost in Canada?
It depends on the project, the floor area, the finish level, the age of the house and your local labour market. As an illustration only, finishing an 800 sq ft basement without a bathroom might fall somewhere around $39,000–$71,000 before tax with our preset assumptions, while a mid-range kitchen or a full bathroom costs far more per square foot. Use the estimator and then replace the presets with written quotes.
Are your cost ranges real market prices?
No. They are illustrative ranges we build from typical components and round, explained on each page. They are not surveys, averages or quotes, and they can be wrong for your city, your house or this year's material prices. Their purpose is to help you sanity-check a budget and ask better questions.
Do I pay GST/HST on a renovation?
Generally yes. Renovation services and materials supplied by a GST/HST-registered contractor are taxable, at 13% HST in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia, 15% in the other Atlantic provinces and 5% GST elsewhere, plus QST in Quebec and PST in Saskatchewan. See GST/HST on renovations.
How much contingency should I add?
There is no official figure. A common planning rule is around 10% for straightforward cosmetic work and 15–20% or more for older houses, structural changes or projects without final plans. The contingency calculator does the arithmetic.
How big a deposit should I pay a contractor?
Keep it modest and tied to real costs such as custom-ordered materials, and pay the rest in stages as work is completed and inspected. In Quebec, an RBQ-licensed contractor's licence security can help in limited cases if a deposit is lost. See deposits and holdbacks.
Do I need a building permit to renovate?
Often. Structural changes, additions, new plumbing, basement finishing and secondary suites generally need a permit from your municipality, while painting or replacing cabinets in the same layout usually does not. Your city's building department decides; see permits and inspections.
Is there a federal tax credit for renovations in 2026?
There is no general one. The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit applies when you create a secondary unit for a senior or an adult with a disability to live with a relative, and the Home Accessibility Tax Credit applies to accessibility work for qualifying individuals. The Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan are closed to new applicants. See renovation tax credits in 2026.
Do you rank or recommend contractors?
No. We do not publish rankings, ratings, reviews or testimonials, and we are not paid by contractors to appear on the site. We explain how to compare quotes and what to check on official registers so you can choose the best fit for your project.
How this site is made
Scope & Sum is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.