Guide To Architects’ Costs & Estimates in Canada

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When planning to build a home or commercial space, hiring an architect is crucial for transforming your vision into reality. Architectural service costs vary across Canada, averaging $9,163 in Toronto, up to $50,000 in Barrie, with Calgary at $13,357 and Vancouver at $18,333. Additionally, structural engineers and land surveyors work alongside architects to ensure safety and precision in designs. Want to dive deeper into the costs and factors influencing architectural fees? Keep reading to make informed decisions for your project!

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When you are planning to build a home or even a commercial building, it’s likely that you are browsing through the monthly architectural digest or looking at architectural design catalogues. However, if you are just starting out, your search bar probably has “What does an architect do” as the top search query. Well, architects can help you plan and design spaces and bring them to life. Whether you need a landscape architect or a chief architect for your space, HomeStars is a good place to start.

When you look up architects and architect technicians on HomeStars, you can also request them for custom quotes. To help you compare these quotes, we have put together reviews from 1,195 verified homeowners across Canada.

Architect Project Costs across Canada

TaskAverage Cost\ ¹Lowest Reported\ ¹Highest Reported\ ¹
Barrie$50,000$50,000$50,000
Calgary$13,357$5,000$50,000
Hamilton$10,609$150$30,000
Ottawa$13,818$320$50,000
Toronto$9,163$100$50,000
Vancouver$18,333$5,000$50,000

\¹ Costs based on 1,195 verified homeowner reviews as of March 2022

Architect vs Engineer – Structural

  • Architects in Canada also offer services by structural engineers who help ensure that buildings can withstand the pressure and stresses of use and natural elements.
  • This is important to tick off your checklist before executing any architectural plans. This will help ensure the longevity and safety of your home or building.

Land Surveyor

  • Land surveyors are also hired or subcontracted by architects as they help measure and map the shape of the land.
  • This initial survey can help the architect’s drawings as they can come up with more accurately measured to-scale plans and sketches for the land that you have acquired.

Designer – Building Architect

  • Whether you are building your own home or a residential building or even a commercial space – it’s important to hire the right architect and ensure that the architect’s personality matches the vision you have for your project.
  • To make the right hiring decisions, it’s good to go through the architecture portfolio that the architect can share with you. This will help you assess their style and whether it matches what you have in mind for your project. Along with this, also make sure that they have the required licenses and equipment and subcontractors, if needed, for your project.
  • Hiring an architect for your project will not help plan the project but also aid in bringing your vision to life, seamlessly and accurately. The costs of hiring architects across Canadian cities can be found in the table above.

After you receive the custom quote from your shortlisted architects, you can check the HomeStars’ trust metrics like Star Score and Verification Badge to hire with complete peace of mind. To know more about what others have to say about the business, you can check their recent customer reviews.