It's the first question almost every homeowner asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on your lot, your plans, and your finishes. But “it depends” isn't useful on its own — so here are the real numbers for the Greater Toronto Area in 2026, and what actually moves them.
The short answer
For a custom build in the GTA, construction typically lands between $350 and $650 per square foot, with the spread driven mostly by finishes and site complexity. High-end and luxury builds commonly run $650 to $900+ per square foot. Industry cost data (Altus Group, 2025) puts Toronto custom wood-framed homes as high as roughly $1,130 per square foot at the top end. All of these figures are for the build itself — land is separate.
| Tier | Typical range (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Standard / builder-grade finishes | $350 – $450 |
| Mid-range custom | $450 – $650 |
| High-end / luxury custom | $650 – $900+ |
What's included — and what's not
A per-square-foot figure covers the construction. Beyond it sit the soft costs, which are real and worth budgeting from day one:
| Item | Typical GTA range |
|---|---|
| Architectural drawings | $8,000 – $25,000+ |
| Engineering reports | $5,000 – $20,000 |
| Building permits | $3,000 – $25,000+ |
| Development charges | $20,000 – $100,000+ |
| Utility hookups | $5,000 – $30,000 |
| Landscaping & driveway | $30,000 – $140,000+ |
What drives your number
- Finishes. Imported stone, custom millwork, luxury appliances, and integrated systems are the single biggest swing.
- Site & infill complexity. Tight downtown lots, demolition, tree protection, shoring, and tricky access all add cost over an open suburban lot.
- Approvals. If your design needs a minor variance through the Committee of Adjustment, that adds time and soft cost.
- Structure & size. Larger homes often cost less per square foot, because fixed costs (kitchens, mechanicals, excavation) don't scale with floor area.
Budget for the unexpected
On a custom build, a contingency of 15–20% is sensible — for weather, material price movement, and any changes you make along the way. A builder who pretends none of this exists isn't doing you a favour.