Updated October 2026. Greater Toronto Area labour rates in Canadian dollars, before HST.
Yes — we install flooring you bought yourself. Labour-only installation in the GTA runs roughly $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot depending on the product and the method, with pattern work and Marmoleum higher. We are an installation contractor, not a retailer, so we have no material margin to protect and no reason to push you toward our own stock.
If you bought flooring at Costco, a liquidator, or direct from a supplier and now need someone to fit it, this page tells you what that costs and what to watch for. It is a straightforward job — with a few conditions worth knowing before you book.
Labour-only rates by product
| Product & method | Labour per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Click / floating LVP (SPC) | $1.50–2.50 |
| Glue-down LVT / LVP | $2.50–3.50 |
| Vinyl sheet | $1–3 |
| Marmoleum / linoleum | $3–5 |
| Broadloom carpet, open areas | $1.25–3.50 |
| Broadloom carpet, complex layouts | $4–6 |
| Carpet tile | $1–3 |
| Herringbone or custom pattern | $4.00–5.50 |
GTA market ranges, before HST and before any floor preparation. We quote a firm number per job after seeing the space — these are for budgeting.
Glue-down costs roughly double the labour of a click floor. That is not a markup: a glued floor requires the substrate to be clean, flat and dry enough for adhesive to bond, and there is no underlay to absorb imperfection. Marmoleum sits higher again because seams are heat-welded, which is a separate skill.
What we check before agreeing to install your material
We will look at three things, and we would rather raise a problem before the job than halfway through it.
- Is it the right product for the space? A 4mm click plank destined for a basement slab that needs glue-down is the single most common mismatch we see. So is standard laminate below grade.
- Is there enough of it? See the waste factor below. Running short mid-install means a second dye lot, a visible seam, or a stalled job.
- What does the substrate need? Your material does not change what the floor underneath requires. Prep is quoted separately.
The honest caveats
Supplying your own material shifts some risk to you, and it is better to say so plainly:
- We warrant our installation, not your material. If a plank delaminates or a dye lot is off, that is a claim against the manufacturer or the retailer who sold it.
- Short shipments and damaged boxes are yours to resolve. Open and count every box before install day, not on it.
- Acclimation still applies. Most resilient products need time in the room at service temperature before installation. Check your manufacturer’s sheet — skipping it voids warranties.
- Moisture testing still applies. Below grade, a slab above 75% relative humidity under ASTM F2170 will break down adhesive regardless of how good your flooring is.
What we will not install
There are a few things we will decline, and we will tell you before you book rather than after:
- Material the manufacturer does not approve for that location — standard laminate in a basement, residential-grade product in a commercial corridor.
- A floating product where the substrate genuinely requires glue-down, unless you accept in writing that it may move.
- Anything going over a substrate we have not been allowed to prepare properly. We would rather lose the job than put our name on a floor we expect to fail.
Prep is separate, and usually necessary
Labour-only means laying your flooring. It does not include levelling the subfloor, removing the old floor, or disposing of it. Those run $1–4 per square foot depending on the work — the full breakdown is in what floor prep costs in Ontario.
Most quotes that look suspiciously cheap are labour-only quotes with prep left out. Ask directly.
How much material to buy
Measure the area, then add waste:
- 5–10% for a straight lay in a simple rectangular room.
- 10–15% for diagonal installation, herringbone, or any repeating pattern.
- Add more for rooms with many closets, angles or obstructions — every cut creates offcuts.
Buy it all at once, in one dye lot. Topping up later rarely matches, and on a large floor the difference is visible under raking light.
HST
Ontario’s 13% HST applies to installation labour. A $2,500 labour-only job is $2,825 with tax. Any quote you compare should state whether HST is included.
Booking a labour-only install
Send us the product name, the quantity you have, and the room dimensions, and we will tell you whether it suits the space and what the install will cost. If the material is wrong for the location we will say so before you commit — that conversation is free and considerably cheaper than a floor that fails.
We cover the GTA including Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan and Markham. Request a free quote or call or text 416-889-8273.