Kitchen Renovation Cost in Toronto: 2026 Guide
A kitchen renovation in Toronto commonly costs between $40,000 and $75,000 for a full mid-range project, depending on the size of the kitchen, whether the layout changes and the level of cabinetry and appliances you choose. Published 2026 Toronto price guides run from about $15,000 for a small cosmetic refresh to $220,000 and up for large luxury kitchens, so those typical numbers are a planning range, not a quote: the final price depends on your scope, and every TGV quote is free. Most projects take four to ten weeks of on-site work after decisions are locked in. This guide walks through where the money goes, how the process runs and what Toronto homeowners should settle before demo day.
TGV Construction Group Inc. has been renovating homes across the Greater Toronto Area since 2017, with more than 200 projects completed. We give free quotes for homes in Toronto and the surrounding communities, starting on our Get a Quote page.
What affects the cost of a kitchen renovation
Keeping or moving the layout. This is the single biggest fork in the road. Keeping sinks, the range and the dishwasher in place avoids moving plumbing and gas lines, which keeps the project simpler and cheaper. Moving walls or relocating services adds demolition, new rough-ins, and engineering review if walls are load-bearing.
Cabinetry. Cabinets are usually the largest single line item. Stock cabinets cost the least, semi-custom sits in the middle and full custom millwork costs the most. Toronto kitchen companies publish stock cabinets at roughly $100 to $400 per linear foot, semi-custom at $300 to $600 and custom at $600 to $1,200 and more. For a typical medium kitchen, that means roughly $8,000 to $13,000 for stock, $14,000 to $24,000 for semi-custom and $26,000 to $50,000 for custom, supplied and installed.
Countertops. Laminate, quartz, granite and butcher block cover a wide price range. Published Toronto prices put installed entry quartz at about $55 to $80 per square foot, mid-range quartz at $80 to $110 and luxury quartz or natural stone at $110 to $180 and more. With about 35 square feet of counter in a medium kitchen, that is roughly $2,000 to $6,300 depending on the stone you pick.
Appliances. Keeping the appliances you own is the simplest way to contain the budget. A full new appliance package typically runs $5,000 to $8,000 at the entry level, $12,000 to $20,000 mid-range and $35,000 or more for built-in or integrated units.
Plumbing and electrical work. Older Toronto homes (from Victorians in Riverdale to post-war bungalows in Etobicoke) often carry older wiring and plumbing. Kitchens today need dedicated circuits, proper receptacle spacing and adequate lighting circuits, so updates are common and sometimes essential.
Flooring. Simplify by keeping the flooring continuous, but consider heights, transitions into adjacent spaces, and subfloor condition, especially in older homes.
Ventilation and gas. A proper range hood vented to the exterior improves air quality, and moving a gas line (for a new range location) affects both cost and permits.
Structural work. Opening a kitchen to the dining or living area is popular. In Toronto homes plaster and lath walls are sometimes load-bearing, and opening them may require a beam sized by an engineer plus a building permit, and floor refinishing where walls once ran. Published Toronto figures put removing a load-bearing wall at roughly $10,000 to $20,000 and more.
Finishes and lighting. Tile backsplash, pot lights, pendants, sinks and faucets, trim and paint round out the budget.
The kitchen renovation process, step by step
Free consultation and walkthrough. We visit your home to discuss goals, budget and layout feasibility. We measure the existing space and flag things older homes typically hide.
Design and selections. Layout, cabinet style, counters, appliances, tile, lighting and flooring get decided on paper. A clear scope is what keeps a budget from drifting.
Fixed quote and contract. We go through the quote line by line so you know what is included before work begins.
Permits and utility prep. We obtain a building permit from the City of Toronto where the work involves structural, plumbing or electrical changes covered by the Ontario Building Code. Toronto requires a building permit for structural or material alterations and for installing or modifying plumbing systems, and a Plumbing Data Sheet is part of the application when plumbing changes. If the house is older, we review hazardous materials (such as asbestos in older vinyl or plaster compounds) before disturbing surfaces.
Demolition and protection. Dust barriers go up first, and the old kitchen comes out.
Structural, plumbing and electrical rough-ins. New lines, circuits and ventilation go in and get inspected.
Drywall and painting prep.
Cabinet and countertop installation. Cabinets set level, then a measured template for the counters, then install.
Plumbing and electrical finishes. Sinks, taps, lighting and appliances get connected and tested.
Backsplash, flooring details and final walkthrough. We review everything with you and leave a punch list finished before we call it done.
Timeline
Once cabinets and materials are ordered and permits are ready, a mid-size kitchen renovation typically runs four to eight weeks on site. Long cabinet lead times are a real factor in Toronto's 2026 market, so the ordering clock starts as soon as decisions are signed off. Structural work or older-home surprises add time; we flag risks at quoting so the schedule you approve is the schedule you get.
Permits and local rules in Toronto
Kitchen renovations usually need a building permit when they involve structural changes, new plumbing rough-ins or electrical upgrades. The City of Toronto issues these under the Ontario Building Code and the Building Code Act, and the work gets inspected; permits are generally not required for cosmetic-only updates such as new counters or cabinet doors. Renovations in older homes also need care around materials: pre-1980s finishes and compounds can contain asbestos, and disturbing them without testing is both unsafe and illegal. We handle permit applications as part of the project. Toronto homeowners should confirm any heritage-designation requirements if the home sits in a heritage district.
Mistakes to avoid
Starting demo before the design is settled. Change orders are the fastest way to blow a budget.
Underestimating older-home surprises. Wiring, plumbing, floors and asbestos risk are all common behind Toronto walls.
Forgetting ventilation. A recirculating hood saves money up front and vents cooking moisture back into your home forever.
Spending on gadgets instead of storage. Drawer organizers, pantries and a sensible work triangle outlast novelty features at resale.
Deciding plumbing locations on site. Lock the sink and dishwasher positions before rough-in day.
What a typical project involves
A typical Toronto kitchen renovation keeps the layout in place and replaces everything: semi-custom cabinets, mid-range quartz counters, a tile backsplash, new lighting and a vented range hood, with the appliance package bought separately. The home is a post-war detached house with original wiring, so a few new circuits are added during rough-ins. With permits and cabinet lead time, decisions are locked in about a month before demo. On-site work runs about six weeks, and the family sets up a temporary kitchenette in the dining room for the middle weeks. That is the shape of most mid-range Toronto kitchen projects, and a free quote prices yours exactly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a realistic budget for a kitchen renovation in Toronto?
Most full mid-range Toronto kitchen renovations fall between $40,000 and $75,000, with layout changes and custom cabinetry at the higher end and luxury projects beyond that. A free TGV quote prices your actual space.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Typically four to eight weeks on site, plus planning and cabinet lead time. Structural changes lengthen it.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen renovation in Toronto?
Permits are required when walls, plumbing or electrical systems change. Cosmetic refreshes such as new counters or cabinet doors usually do not need one.
Can I stay in my home during a kitchen renovation?
Yes, with planning. Set up a temporary kitchenette, expect noise during working hours and keep kids and pets out of the work zone. Some families stay elsewhere during the roughest weeks.
Get a free kitchen renovation quote in Toronto
TGV Construction Group Inc. renovates kitchens across Toronto and the GTA, with more than 200 projects completed since 2017 and free quotes on every job.
See our general contracting and renovation services, then send your project details through our Get a Quote page. You can also call our office at (905) 669-2727 or email estimating@tgvconstructiongroup.ca.
