Construction Cost Calculator for Ontario

Most new commercial buildings in the Greater Toronto Area cost $95 to $740 per square foot to build in 2026, before land, design fees, development charges and HST. Retail plazas run about $180 to $265 per square foot, low-rise offices about $240 to $340 per square foot for the base building, and restaurants, clinics and daycares $360 to $530 per square foot or more because of their plumbing, ventilation and finishes.

Use the calculator above for your exact size, location and finish level; it also adds site work, soft costs and a contingency to give you a full project budget.

A new warehouse or distribution centre in the GTA costs about $110 to $175 per square foot to build in 2026, including a small office, dock doors and ESFR sprinklers. A 50,000 sq ft warehouse usually lands between $5,500,000 and $8,750,000 for the building, before site work, development charges and HST.

Smaller buildings, higher clear heights, cold storage and larger office areas push the cost up; big distribution centres over 200,000 sq ft come in at the low end of the range.

A new purpose-built child care centre in the GTA costs about $360 to $530 per square foot to build. Converting an existing commercial unit into a licensed daycare costs about $115 to $230 per square foot for the interior fit-out.

Daycares cost more per square foot than most buildings because each playroom needs its own washrooms and sinks, extra ventilation, sleep rooms and a kitchen, plus fenced outdoor play space that meets provincial licensing rules.

A new stand-alone sit-down restaurant costs about $305 to $515 per square foot to build in the GTA. Fitting out an existing unit as a restaurant costs about $210 to $435 per square foot, and a fast food or coffee shop fit-out about $145 to $335 per square foot.

Kitchen exhaust hoods, grease interceptors, gas lines and extra electrical capacity drive the cost. Cooking equipment, furniture and signage are extra.

An office interior fit-out in the GTA costs about $70 to $205 per square foot in 2026, excluding furniture and IT. Basic open-plan offices sit at the low end; offices with glass walls, custom millwork and upgraded lighting sit at the high end.

A new stand-alone medical or dental clinic costs about $360 to $590 per square foot to build in the GTA, and fitting out a clinic in an existing unit costs about $170 to $380 per square foot. Plumbing at every exam room, x-ray shielding, dental air and vacuum lines and stronger ventilation make clinics one of the more expensive fit-outs.

A new surface parking lot in the GTA costs about $13 to $29 per square foot of paved area in 2026, or about $5,000 to $10,000 per stall. That covers grading, a gravel base, asphalt, curbs, catch basins, storm pipes and stormwater control, pole lights and painted lines. Small lots, soft ground, EV chargers and interlock paving cost more. Most lots take about 2 months to build.

Underground parking in the GTA costs about $155 to $270 per square foot in 2026, or about $59,000 to $102,000 per stall, against $115 to $180 per square foot for an above-ground garage. The site is dug out and shored, and every level needs thick concrete, waterproofing, exhaust fans and sprinklers. Poor soil adds about 11%, high groundwater about 18%, and each extra level down adds more.

Usually, yes. Fitting out or renovating existing space typically costs $45 to $435 per square foot in the GTA, against $95 to $740 for a new building, because the structure, roof and site work already exist. The gap narrows when an older building needs a new roof, structural upgrades, asbestos removal or a full mechanical and electrical replacement.

The construction (hard) cost covers everything the builder does on site: foundations, structure, walls, roof, windows, interior finishes, plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical, fire protection and the general contractor's supervision, insurance and fee. It does not include land, design and engineering fees, permits, development charges, furniture and equipment, or HST.

This calculator shows the construction cost first, then a total project budget that adds the soft costs, development charges and contingency.

HKC's cost guides recommend budgeting 10% to 15% on top of construction for soft costs such as design, engineering, permits and legal fees (more for daycares and seniors housing), plus development charges on new floor area. Keep a contingency of about 10% for a new building and 12% to 20% for a renovation of an older building, where hidden conditions are more likely.

For new non-residential buildings, 2026 development charges in GTA municipalities range from about $20 to $52 per square foot for industrial space and about $42 to $104 per square foot for retail and commercial space, combining city, region and school board charges. Toronto charges its city rate only on ground-floor non-residential space.

Schools, places of worship and many public buildings are exempt or reduced. Charges change every year, so confirm with your municipality before you commit.

Design and permits usually take 6 to 18 months, depending on the size of the project and whether you need site plan approval or a rezoning. Construction then takes about 8 months for a 40,000 sq ft store, 10 months for a large warehouse and 18 months or more for multi-storey buildings.

Interior fit-outs are much faster: most take 2 to 5 months once the permit is issued.

Mostly flat to slightly down in the GTA. The Altus Group 2026 Canadian Cost Guide reports that overall Toronto costs eased as competitive bidding returned, with formwork, earthworks, finishes and windows coming down while mechanical and electrical prices held steady. Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Winnipeg rose 4% or more. The calculator adds 3.5% a year if you plan to start later.

Higher trade wages, busy subcontractors, tight urban sites and some of the highest development charges in Canada all add cost. Building costs outside the GTA usually run about 2% to 8% lower, while Northern Ontario can cost more because crews and materials travel further. The calculator applies a cost factor for each city.

No. Prices on this page and in the calculator exclude the 13% HST because most businesses recover it as an input tax credit. Charities, some non-profits and residential landlords may not recover all of it, so switch it on under More options if it applies to you.

It gives an early budget range built from 2026 market prices and HKC's own tender data, with a likely low and high around each result. Before drawings exist, tender prices can land outside any calculator's range, because site conditions, design choices and the market on tender day all move the number. A firm price needs drawings, a site visit and current subcontractor quotes, which HKC provides for serious projects.

Send your drawings, a sketch or a description of the project to info@hkcconstruction.com, or call 905-565-1220. You can also use the Email it to HKC button under your estimate, which sends us your exact inputs. HKC Construction is a general contractor based in Mississauga, building commercial, industrial, institutional and retail projects across the GTA and Ontario since 2010.