What Things Cost in Ontario (2026): 75 Prices and the Rules Behind Them

Every number on this page comes from a guide we researched and dated. Every guide tells you what to check before you pay.

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Trades in Ontario bill $75 to $190 an hour. One-off household jobs land between $150 and $700. Replacing a furnace or an air conditioner runs $3,500 to $8,500. Renovations start near $8,000 for a bathroom and pass $70,000 for a large kitchen.

That is the map. The table below is the territory — 44 services with real 2026 Ontario prices, each linked to the guide behind it.

And one thing worth knowing before any of it: in Ontario, a written estimate caps what you can be charged at 10 per cent above it. That rule costs nothing to use and almost nobody does.

What do common services cost in Ontario in 2026?

Ranges, not promises. Every figure links to the guide that explains what moves it.

Service	Typical 2026 price	Guide
Plumber	$120–$190 / hour	(rates, minimums, emergencies)
Electrician	$95–$150 / hour	(rates and panel upgrades)
Handyman	$75–$150 / hour, $100–$200 minimum	(what to batch into one visit)
House cleaning, standard	$150–$300 flat, or $45–$55 / hour	(hourly vs flat, and the checklist)
Movers, two and a truck	$130–$200 / hour, 3-hour minimum	(the hour nobody quotes)
Duct cleaning	$290–$700	(the $99 whole-home trap)
Eavestrough cleaning	$150–$350	(why the second storey doubles it)
Snow removal, seasonal contract	$500–$1,500 in the GTA	(when the lists close)
Lawn mowing	$40–$100 / visit; $1,200–$2,500 a season	(season packages and sod)
Furnace tune-up	$120–$250	(repairs and replacement)
Furnace replacement	$3,500–$7,500	(the winter surcharge)
Central air conditioning, installed	$3,500–$8,500	(sizing and efficiency)
Water heater, buy and install	$1,000–$1,600 (rental from ~$26 / month)	(why renting reaches $7,000)
Roof replacement	$8,500–$22,000	(shingles vs metal, per square foot)
Home inspection	$400–$600	(and why nobody is licensed)
Bathroom renovation	$8,000–$35,000	(three tiers of scope)
Kitchen renovation	$15,000–$70,000+	(where the money actually goes)
Basement finishing	$35–$140 per square foot	(four different builds, one phrase)
Garden suite	$275,000–$550,000	(garden vs laneway)
Winter tire changeover	$50–$150 on rims; $120–$351 off	(storage and the insurance date)
Brakes, pads and rotors, one axle	$350–$700 independent	(ask for the millimetres)
Men’s haircut	$25–$50	(colour, and what a consult is for)
Women’s cut	$40–$90; with wash and style $75–$150	(full price list)
Massage, 60 minutes with an RMT	$90–$140	(RMT vs non-RMT and your insurance)
Real estate lawyer, purchase	$1,000–$2,500 + HST, plus disbursements	(what a flat fee leaves out)
Accountant, simple personal return	$200–$400	(and who is allowed to file it)
Manicure, gel or shellac	$40–$80	(and what a year of it costs)
Laser hair removal, per session	$60–$330 by area; course of six	(who is allowed to operate it)
Pest control, single treatment	$200–$450; bed bugs far more	(and who pays in a rental)
Locksmith, lockout	$90–$250	(and the $19 advertisement)
Carpet cleaning	$35–$80 per room	(what counts as a room)
Junk removal	$100–$600 by truck fraction	(and where the load goes)
Self storage, monthly	$100–$400 by unit size	(the $1 first month, explained)
Moving on July 1	Up to 3× the off-season rate	(why, and what to do)
Certified translation	About $59 first page, $49 each after	(and who may not do it)
Ontario driver’s licence, G1 package	$159.75; exchange $90.00	(exchange list and the 12-month cap)
Credential evaluation	About $329–$335	(which report to order)
Immigration consultant	$3,000–$8,000 professional fees	(who may legally charge)
Real estate commission, seller	3.5–5% + 13% HST	(and why there is no standard rate)
Closing costs, buyer	1.5–4% of the price	(land transfer tax and the Toronto surcharge)
Rental deposit, lawful maximum	First and last month, plus key deposit at cost	(what cannot be charged)
Renovation quote, what is inside it	Labour 35–50%, markup 12–18%, HST 13%, contingency 15–20%	(a $60,000 quote needs $76,800)
Rental rule changes, 2026–27	Guideline 1.9% for 2027	(every date that matters)
Choosing an agent	Free — the register and the questions	(representation explained)
Notary or commissioner	$10–40 a document, or free at some city halls	(which one you need)
Mortgage broker	Usually $0 to you — the lender pays	(broker or bank)
Hydro bill, 1 November	Prices reset; winter peaks 7–11 a.m. and 5–7 p.m.	(the winter clock)
Toronto winter parking	Fines to $500 plus towing	(dates and streets)
Windshield replacement	$300–600 without a camera, $700–1,400 with one	(why ADAS doubles it)
Used vehicle information package	$20 — and the seller owes it to you	(what is inside)
Tree removal	$300–6,000, and a permit above 30 cm	(the 30 cm rule)
Appliance repair	$90–150 to diagnose, parts and labour on top	(repair or replace)
Sprinkler blowout	$80–180 — before the first hard freeze	(October or April, your choice)
Moving liability	$0.60 per pound, not per dollar of value	(what movers actually owe you)
Move-out cleaning	$250–900, and no deposit is lawful	(what a landlord may keep)
Chimney sweep and WETT inspection	$150–350 a sweep, $150–350 a Level 1	(who can actually be certified)
Lawn care and grass cutting	$45–75 a cut, $150–300 a month	(and what weed control can legally mean)
New lawn, sod installed	$1.20–2.50 per square foot	(where the money actually goes)
Checking a contractor	Free — three documents you verify yourself	(what “licensed and insured” means)
Basement flood protection	Toronto pays up to $6,650	(the subsidy and the deadline)
Window replacement	$800–1,500 a window installed	(and the rebate you may not qualify for)
Attic insulation	$2–4 per square foot	($1,250 or $7,700, depending)
Garage door repair	$200–450, springs $250–650	(the one job never to DIY)
Raccoon removal	$350–600, with babies $700–1,500	(and the 1 km rule)
Rustproofing	$120–250 a year, $800–1,500 at a dealer	(book it before the salt)
Insurance payout on a damaged car	The lower of repair cost or the car’s value	(when it gets written off)
Probate	$15 per $1,000 above $50,000	(and the deposit paid up front)
Apostille	$16 or $32 per document	(one stamp instead of three steps)
OHIP for newcomers	Free — and no waiting period since 2020	(eligibility and what to bring)
Finding a family doctor	Free to register, months to wait	(how Health Care Connect prioritises)
Botox and filler	$9–15 a unit, $500–900 a syringe	(and who may legally inject)
Interior painting	$400–700 a room, $4,000–8,000 a house	(why two quotes differ so much)
Fence on a property line	$45–90 per linear foot for pressure-treated, $60–120 for cedar	(why two quotes differ so much)
Window cleaning	$6–12 a window outside, $200–500 for a house inside and out	(why two quotes differ so much)
Post-construction cleaning	$0.30–0.70 per sq ft, or $500–2,500 for a house	(why two quotes differ so much)

Prices were checked against published Ontario sources in September 2026. They move — treat them as the range a quote should land near, not as a quote.

Five rules that apply to almost every quote in Ontario

The individual guides go deep. These five cut across all of them, and knowing them changes more conversations than any price table can.

A written estimate caps the bill at +10%. Ask for one before work starts. Once you have it, a supplier cannot charge more than ten per cent above it without your agreement — and using your property as leverage to collect more is an unfair practice. How the 10% rule works.
The certificate belongs to a person, not a company. Ontario has 23 compulsory trades, electricians and plumbers among them. “We’re a licensed company’’ is not an answer. Ask who is coming and search that name. Checking the public register.
Nobody may sell you a furnace at your door. Since 1 March 2018, unsolicited door-to-door agreements for water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, water treatment equipment and duct cleaning are void and unenforceable. Your cancellation rights.
The permit protects you, not the contractor. It is what proves the work was done to code, and its absence is a conversation with an insurer or a buyer years later. When a permit is required.
The minimum charge decides small jobs, not the hourly rate. One visit costs the same whether it fills ten minutes or ninety. Batch the small jobs. When to book each trade.

Home services

Heating, water, drains, gutters and the seasonal work that fills up before you think about it.

Plumber cost in Toronto — rates, the emergency multiplier, and finding your shut-off valve before you need it.
Electrician cost in Toronto — hourly rates, panel upgrades, and the ESA permit that is yours rather than theirs.
Furnace repair, tune-up and replacement — and the 15–25% surcharge for replacing one in January.
Air conditioning installation and repair — sizing, efficiency tiers and what changes the price.
Water heater: rent or buy — why $26 a month becomes roughly $7,000 over the life of a tank.
Duct cleaning cost in the GTA — and how the $99 whole-home offer actually works.
Eavestrough cleaning cost — priced per linear foot, and who should be on the ladder.
Roof replacement cost in Ontario — asphalt against metal, per square foot.
Hiring a handyman in the GTA — rates, minimum fees and which jobs legally are not handyman work.
Snow removal cost, 2026–27 season — seasonal contracts sell out in autumn.
Lawn care and landscaping prices — per visit, per season, and sod.
Leaf and yard waste collection across the GTA — how it actually works, city by city.
When to book each home service — the calendar that decides what you pay.
Pest control cost in Toronto — by pest, and why a tenant should rarely be paying it.
Locksmith cost in Toronto — real prices, and how the $19 call-out advertisement works.

Renovation and building

The projects where the spread between two quotes is widest, and where knowing why is worth the most money.

Kitchen renovation cost in Ontario — cosmetic, mid-range and full gut.
Bathroom renovation cost in the GTA — three tiers and what moves between them.
Basement finishing cost — why $35 and $140 a square foot are the same sentence.
Garden suites and laneway houses — per square foot, all-in, and what the lot decides.
When you need a building permit — and what happens at resale if you skipped it.
How to choose a contractor in Ontario — the checks that take ten minutes.
Anatomy of a renovation quote — labour, markup, allowances, HST and the contingency line nobody writes down.
Renovation rebates you can still claim in 2026.
Choosing a landscaper — what belongs in the scope before you sign.

Cleaning and moving

House cleaning cost in Toronto — hourly against flat rate, and the checklist that explains every quote.
How much movers cost in Toronto — the three-hour minimum, travel time, and what to do if a crew refuses to unload.
Carpet cleaning cost in Toronto — per room against per square foot, and what a company counts as a room.
Junk removal cost in Ontario — priced by truck volume, and why you should ask where the load goes.
Storage unit cost in the GTA — real monthly rates, and when a facility may sell what is inside.
Moving on July 1 in Ontario — the most expensive day of the year, and how to get off it.

Auto services

Brake replacement cost in Toronto — and the millimetre reading that decides whether you need them at all.
Winter tire changeover cost — on rims or off, storage, and the insurance discount date.
Safety Standards Certificate — what it covers, what it does not, and how long it lasts.
Your rights when your car is towed — consent, storage fees and where the vehicle may be taken.
Finding a mechanic you can trust — the questions that separate shops.
An Ontario licence as a newcomer — official fees, the exchange list, and the twelve-month experience cap.

Beauty and wellness

Haircut and colour prices in Toronto — barbershop, salon and where colour stops being predictable.
Massage therapy cost in Ontario — RMT against non-RMT, and which one your insurance pays for.
Checking a salon’s health inspection — the records are public, and 99.9% pass.
Nail salon prices in Toronto — manicure, gel, acrylic and pedicure, and what a gel habit costs over a year.
Laser hair removal in Toronto — per session and per course, and why nobody licenses the operator.

Professional services

Real estate lawyer fees in Ontario — purchase, sale, and what a flat fee leaves out.
Accountant cost in Ontario — and why nobody has to be qualified to file your return.
Home inspector cost in the GTA — nobody licenses them, so here is what to check instead.
Checking a real estate agent — five years of discipline history is public.
Certified translation in Ontario — what it costs, and why a family member cannot do it even if certified.
Credential evaluation in Canada — cost, real timelines, and which report type to order.
Immigration consultant fees — typical fees, and the three groups who may legally charge to represent you.
Real estate commission in Ontario — who pays it, what it comes to with HST, and why there is no standard rate.
How to choose a real estate agent — client or self-represented, and what multiple representation takes away.
Closing costs in Ontario — land transfer tax, the Toronto municipal tax, and the first-time buyer rebates.
Your first rental in Ontario — what a landlord may lawfully charge, and why no credit history is not bad credit.
Ontario rental rule changes, 2026–27 — every date that matters, the 1.9% guideline, and the 3 October deadline. Kept current.

Your rights and the public registers

The shortest route to a good decision in Ontario is usually a free database somebody else already built.

The 10% rule on written estimates — the single most useful consumer protection in the province.
Your right to cancel a contract — cooling-off periods and the door-to-door ban.
Checking a trade licence — the free register, and why the individual is what you search.
When a permit is required.
Public health inspection records for salons, barbers and studios.
The real estate agent register and its discipline history.

Ready to get quotes?

Take the range from the table above, ask two or three businesses for a written estimate against it, and you will know within one phone call whether a quote is normal.

Browse by category on Ontario24 and contact businesses directly: home services, renovation and construction, cleaning, auto services, beauty and wellness, professional services.

Ontario24 is a classified directory. We help you find, compare and contact businesses directly — we do not vet, certify or recommend anyone, which is why every guide here points you at the register, permit or certificate to check yourself. Our safety tips collect those checks in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How much do home services cost in Ontario in 2026?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:00+00:00

How much do home services cost in Ontario in 2026?

It depends entirely on the job, which is why the table above exists. As orientation: trades bill $75 to $190 an hour, one-off household services land between $150 and $700, a furnace or air conditioner replacement runs $3,500 to $8,500, and renovations start around $8,000 for a bathroom and pass $70,000 for a large kitchen. Every figure here is drawn from published 2026 Ontario pricing and linked to the guide it comes from.

Am I entitled to a written estimate in Ontario?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:01+00:00

Am I entitled to a written estimate in Ontario?

Yes, on request, for most consumer services. And once you have one, the supplier cannot charge you more than 10 per cent above it without your agreement. That single rule is the most useful consumer protection in the province and almost nobody uses it, because it only works if the estimate is in writing before the work starts.

Which trades have to be licensed in Ontario?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:01+00:00

Which trades have to be licensed in Ontario?

Ontario has 23 compulsory trades, and electricians and plumbers are among them. The certificate belongs to the individual doing the work rather than to the company, so ask who is coming and check that name on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register. It is free and it takes under a minute.

Can someone sell me a furnace or water heater at my door?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:02+00:00

Can someone sell me a furnace or water heater at my door?

No. Since 1 March 2018, unsolicited door-to-door agreements for water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, water treatment devices and duct cleaning have been void and unenforceable in Ontario. If you signed one after that date as a result of door-to-door marketing you did not initiate, that is worth a call to a lawyer or the ministry rather than another year of payments.

Do I need a building permit for this work?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:02+00:00

Do I need a building permit for this work?

Usually whenever structure, plumbing, electrical or HVAC is altered or added, and always for a new structure. Cosmetic work — paint, flooring, swapping a faucet like for like — normally does not. Permits are issued by your municipality, and the permit protects the homeowner at resale and on an insurance claim rather than the contractor.

Why do quotes for the same job differ so much?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:03+00:00

Why do quotes for the same job differ so much?

Four reasons, in rough order of size: what is actually inside the scope, the grade of the parts or materials quoted, access, and minimum charges. Two companies quoting the same words are often selling different jobs. Ask each one to put the scope in writing and the gap usually explains itself.

Does Ontario24 recommend or vet these businesses?Ontario242026-09-17T16:57:03+00:00

Does Ontario24 recommend or vet these businesses?

No. Ontario24 is a classified directory — we help you find, compare and contact businesses directly, and we do not vet, certify, inspect or endorse anyone. That is precisely why every guide here tells you which public register, permit or certificate to check yourself.

About these prices

Every figure on this page is taken from one of the linked guides, each of which lists its own sources and the date it was checked. Prices were verified against published Ontario and GTA pricing between June and September 2026; most are published by businesses that sell the work, so they represent market pricing rather than an independent survey. Ranges move, and a quote for your specific property can sit outside them for good reasons. The consumer rules referenced here come from Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, 2002 and the Putting Consumers First Act, 2017; compulsory trades and the public register are administered by Skilled Trades Ontario; electrical permits by the Electrical Safety Authority; building and plumbing permits by your municipality. Nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice. Ontario24 is a classified directory and performs, inspects, certifies and vets nothing.