Replacing a bathroom vanity in the Greater Toronto Area typically costs between $2,000 and $8,000 installed in 2026, covering a new cabinet, countertop, sink and faucet plus labour. A stock 30-inch vanity swapped in the same spot sits at the low end; a custom 60- or 72-inch double vanity with a quartz top, new plumbing inside the wall and new lighting can reach $12,000 or more. Those are typical local ranges, not a quote: the final price depends on your bathroom, and every TGV quote is free. Most vanity replacements are done in one to three days. This guide lays out what drives the cost, how the work runs and what GTA homeowners should know before booking it.
TGV Construction Group Inc. has completed more than 300 projects across the GTA since 2017, including bathroom renovations in Toronto, Mississauga, Scarborough and Pickering. Every quote is free, and you can start yours on our Get a Quote page. For a whole-room project, see our bathroom renovation cost guide for Mississauga.
What affects the cost of a bathroom vanity replacement
The cabinet. Stock vanities from a big-box store, 24 to 48 inches, are the least expensive cabinets. Semi-custom (chosen finish, size and drawer layout, built to order) costs several times a stock unit. Fully custom millwork, matched to an odd width or a particular design, is the top of the cabinet budget before the top is even chosen. The cabinet is the single biggest line in most quotes.
The countertop and sink. An integrated cultured-marble or porcelain top with a moulded sink is the budget option. A quartz or natural stone top with an undermount sink costs a multiple of that, more again for a double, fabricated to your cabinet and faucet holes.
Faucet and drain. A few hundred dollars covers most good single-hole or widespread faucets; designer finishes and wall-mounted faucets cost more and the latter need plumbing in the wall.
Same spot or new spot. A like-for-like swap connects to the existing drain and supplies. Widening the vanity, moving it to another wall or switching to a wall-hung unit means opening the wall, moving the drain and supply lines and patching after. The plumbing change alone is a meaningful line on the quote.
What is behind the old one. When a 20-year-old vanity comes out, the floor tile usually stops where its base was, the drywall is often damaged where the backsplash sat, and sometimes the subfloor is soft from a slow leak. A strip of new tile, a drywall patch or a subfloor repair adds real cost and is the main reason two quotes for the same vanity differ.
Mirror, lighting and accessories. A new mirror or medicine cabinet, a new vanity light and towel bars finish the look. If the light needs a new circuit or a moved box, a licensed electrical contractor files it with the Electrical Safety Authority.
Condo versus house. Condo work in the GTA needs a shut-off booked with property management, elevator reservations and set work hours, which add coordination time to a one-day job.
The vanity replacement process, step by step
- Measure and check the plumbing. Width, depth and height of the old vanity, where the drain and supply lines enter, and whether the floor and wall behind it are sound. A quick look now avoids a surprise on install day.
- Choose the vanity, top and faucet. Stock, semi-custom or custom cabinet; quartz, porcelain, cultured marble or an integrated sink top; a faucet that matches the hole spacing. Everything is ordered before the old unit comes out.
- Shut off, disconnect and remove. Supply valves closed, the P-trap and lines disconnected, the old vanity and top lifted out and the wall and floor behind it inspected.
- Repair the wall and floor. Patch drywall, replace a soft section of subfloor, run a strip of new tile where the old base footprint shows. This is where most quotes differ.
- Rough-in changes if the layout moves. A wider or relocated vanity needs the drain and supply moved inside the wall, which is a plumbing permit item in most municipalities.
- Set and secure the cabinet. Levelled, shimmed and anchored to studs. Floating vanities get a proper blocking or steel bracket inside the wall.
- Install the top, sink and faucet. Top set and sealed, faucet and pop-up drain installed, supply valves replaced if they are old multi-turn valves.
- Connect, test and seal. Supplies and trap connected, every joint checked under pressure, silicone at the wall and backsplash.
- Mirror, lighting and accessories. Mirror or medicine cabinet hung, vanity light swapped or added by a licensed electrician if a new circuit is needed.
Timeline
A same-spot swap with no repairs is a single working day. Add a day or two for wall or floor patching, and plan about a week when the plumbing moves, tile is cut in and the electrician comes for a new light. Custom cabinets and quartz tops are usually four to eight weeks from order to delivery, so the calendar is set by the material lead time, not by the install.
Permits and local rules in the GTA
Replacing a vanity in the same location with the same connections does not need a building permit anywhere in the GTA. Relocating the drain or supply lines inside the wall is a plumbing permit item in Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham and most other municipalities, inspected before the wall closes. New or moved electrical for lighting is filed with the Electrical Safety Authority by the licensed electrical contractor doing it. Faucets and fixtures should carry certification marks accepted in Ontario, and water-saving faucets keep you onside with Ontario's plumbing rules. In a condo, the building's rules on shut-offs, noise hours and elevator use apply, and we coordinate with your property manager.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying the vanity before measuring the plumbing. A cabinet with a drawer stack where the drain comes through means cutting the drawers or moving the plumbing. Measure first, order second.
- Keeping old shut-off valves. Multi-turn valves that have not moved in fifteen years leak when they are finally turned. Replace them while the wall is open.
- Ignoring the floor edge. A narrower new vanity exposes bare subfloor or old tile. Decide at quoting whether the floor gets a patch or the vanity matches the old footprint.
- Hanging a floating vanity on drywall anchors. It needs blocking between studs or a steel bracket. A full top of quartz and water weighs more than people expect.
- Choosing a contractor on price alone. The low quote often excludes the repairs behind the old unit and the sealing at the wall, which is where leaks start. Compare scopes line by line.
What a typical project involves
A typical GTA project is a 1990s house in Scarborough with a 36-inch oak vanity, a cultured-marble top and a cracked shut-off valve. The owners want a 48-inch grey shaker vanity with a quartz top, a new mirror and a brighter light. The drain stays where it is, so no permit is needed. When the old unit comes out, the tile stops short and the backsplash has pulled drywall paper with it, so a drywall patch and a strip of matching tile are added. New quarter-turn valves, a widespread faucet, a sealed quartz top and a new vanity light on the existing circuit finish it in two and a half days. That is the shape of most vanity replacements here, and a free quote prices yours exactly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a bathroom vanity in the GTA?
Most vanity replacements in the Greater Toronto Area cost $2,000 to $8,000 installed in 2026, including the cabinet, top, faucet and labour. A custom double vanity with a quartz top and relocated plumbing can reach $12,000 or more. A free quote prices your exact bathroom.
Can I replace a vanity without a permit?
Yes, if it goes in the same spot with the same drain and supply connections. Moving the plumbing inside the wall needs a plumbing permit in Toronto and most GTA municipalities, and a new lighting circuit is filed with the Electrical Safety Authority.
How long does a vanity replacement take?
One day for a like-for-like swap with no repairs behind it, two to three days when the wall or floor needs patching, and about a week when the plumbing moves and tile is involved.
Is a floating vanity more expensive?
Usually. The cabinet itself is similar in price, but a wall-hung unit needs blocking or a steel bracket inside the wall and often a drain moved higher, which adds to the installation.
Should I replace just the vanity or renovate the whole bathroom?
If the tub, tile and floor are in good shape, a new vanity, top, faucet, mirror and light give most of the visual change for a fraction of the cost. If the floor tile has to be cut back or the wet area is failing, see our full bathroom renovation guides for Mississauga and the GTA.
Get a free bathroom vanity quote in the GTA
TGV Construction Group Inc. handles bathroom renovations of every size across Toronto and the GTA, from a one-day vanity swap to a full gut renovation, with more than 300 projects completed since 2017. Planning a bigger budget? Read our GTA bathroom renovation budget guide.
See our general contracting and renovation services, then send your details through our Get a Quote page. You can also call us at (365) 363-6995 or email estimating@tgvconstructiongroup.ca.
