What things cost
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Supply and install, standard | $2.00–$4.50 per sq ft |
| Board, material only | $0.40–$0.90 per sq ft |
| Labour only | $1.50–$3.50+ per sq ft |
| Taping only | $1.75–$3.75 per sq ft |
| Level 5 upgrade | adds $1.00–$1.50 per sq ft |
| Moisture-resistant board | 20–30% premium |
| Project | Typical total |
|---|---|
| 12×12 bedroom, 500–550 sq ft of board | $1,600–$2,400 |
| 700 sq ft basement, 1,700–2,000 sq ft of board | $5,000–$9,000 |
| Main floor 1,000 sq ft, 2,500–3,000 sq ft of board | $8,000–$13,000 |
| 1,220 sq ft basement at $3.00 per sq ft | about $3,660 |
Note that drywall is quoted by the square footage of board, not floor area. A 700 square foot basement needs two to three times that in board once you count walls and ceiling — which is why a quote can look startling next to the room size.
What are drywall finish levels?
| Level | What it is | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 | Two coats on seams, no skim | Garages, mechanical rooms, behind cabinets |
| Level 4 | All seams and corners taped, three coats, sanded smooth | Standard for living space — this is what you should expect |
| Level 5 | Full skim coat over the entire surface | Glossy paint, raking light, large uninterrupted walls |
Level 5 adds 30 to 50 percent to finishing time and $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot. It is worth it in a room with a big window on one wall and a flat expanse opposite, where low sun rakes across the surface and shows every seam. In a normal bedroom it is money spent on something nobody will see.
Ask which level you are being quoted. If the answer is a blank look, that is information too.
Why does the same job cost more downtown?
| Area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Downtown Toronto and condos | $3.00–$5.00+ per sq ft |
| GTA suburbs | $2.50–$4.00 per sq ft |
| Outside the GTA | $2.00–$3.50 per sq ft |
Condo work carries booked elevators, restricted hours, longer carries and parking that costs money. None of it is on the wall when you are finished, and all of it is in the price.
What pushes the labour up
- Ceilings. Always more than walls. Overhead work is slower and harder, and 5/8″ fire-rated board is heavy.
- Height over eight feet. Scaffolding, more cuts, more time.
- Bulkheads and curves. Each one multiplies labour out of proportion to its size.
- Pre-1960 framing. Old studs are rarely straight; shimming to a flat plane is invisible work that takes real hours.
- Dust control. Sanding drywall in an occupied house is a serious job. Ask how it will be contained.
Red flags in a drywall quote
| What you see | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Finish level not stated | Level 3 and Level 5 are different products at different prices | Ask for the level in writing, per area |
| Quoted on floor area | Board area is two to three times floor area; someone will be surprised later | Ask for the board square footage the price is based on |
| No moisture board in the bathroom | Standard board in a wet area fails, slowly and expensively | Confirm moisture-resistant board where water lives |
| Dust containment not mentioned | Sanding dust travels through a whole house and into furnaces | Ask how the work area will be sealed and the furnace protected |
| Disposal not included | Drywall waste is bulky and the bin is not free | Confirm who removes offcuts and old board |
| Ready to paint the next day | Compound needs drying time between coats; rushing it cracks later | Ask how many days between the last coat and painting |
Frequently asked questions
Joint compound needs to dry fully between coats and before priming, which usually means a few days depending on humidity. Rushing it is a common cause of cracks appearing months later.
By the square footage of board, which covers walls and ceiling. That is usually two to three times the floor area of the room, so ask what board area a quote is based on.
Moisture-resistant board is standard in wet areas and carries a 20 to 30 percent premium. In a shower surround, a cement or foam tile backer is used instead of drywall entirely.
A full skim coat over the entire surface, not just the seams. It adds $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot and 30 to 50 percent more finishing time, and it matters where strong side light crosses a large flat wall.
A 700 square foot basement needs roughly 1,700 to 2,000 square feet of board and costs about $5,000 to $9,000 finished. A 1,220 square foot basement at $3.00 per square foot works out near $3,660.
Supply and install runs $2.00 to $4.50 per square foot for a standard Level 4 finish. Downtown Toronto and condo work runs higher at $3.00 to $5.00, and outside the GTA it drops to $2.00 to $3.50.
Sources
- Patch Dudes, Drywall cost per square foot in Ontario, updated 16 September 2026 — patchdudes.com
- Leo Constra, Drywall installation cost GTA, updated 5 August 2026 — leoconstra.com
- Government of Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs — ontario.ca, checked 18 September 2026
Prices are published ranges collected on 18 September 2026, not quotes.
More Carpenter Bee guides
Keep reading
What a garden suite or laneway house costs in Toronto, what the province now allows as of right, the rules in four cities, and the planning problems that stop these projects.
An ESA permit is not a building permit and it is not yours to pull. In Ontario only a Licensed Electrical Contractor may do the work, and filing the notification is part of their job.
What new eavestrough costs in Ontario, what fascia repairs add once the old trough is off, whether gutter guards earn their keep, and the Toronto by-law that makes downspout disconnection mandatory.
continue reading
Related Posts
What you actually own in an Ontario condo, when section 98 board approval and a registered agreement are required, the flooring acoustic rules, and why the Tribunal cannot hear an alteration dispute.
Garage door prices in Ontario by construction, why R-value measures less than you think, and the Building Code requirement that applies to the door into your house rather than the overhead one.
What landscaping costs in Ontario by node — sod, interlock, retaining walls, drainage — plus the municipal grading rules and permit triggers most homeowners never hear about.