How much does vinyl plank flooring cost in Canada?
Luxury vinyl plank costs $5 to $12 per square foot installed in Canada, including both materials and labour. Materials run $2 to $6 per square foot and professional installation adds $2 to $5. A typical 1,000 square foot main floor therefore lands between $5,000 and $12,000 before tax. Alberta and New Brunswick sit at the low end because labour is cheaper and Alberta has no provincial sales tax, while Metro Vancouver and the territories sit at the high end. Rigid-core SPC and WPC products cost more than glue-down or loose-lay sheet vinyl but are fully waterproof and far more dimensionally stable. Add $1 to $2.50 per square foot to remove old flooring, $1 to $4 for subfloor levelling where it is needed, and $60 to $120 per step for stairs.
Vinyl flooring cost by province (2026)
Installed prices per square foot, materials and labour together, before tax. These are typical ranges for a standard room-sized job, confirmed by a written quote after a free measure.
| Province or territory | Supply & install | Labour only | Sales tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $5.5–11 | $2–4.5 | 5% GST only |
| British Columbia | $6–12 | $2.5–5 | 5% GST |
| Ontario | $5–10 | $2–4.5 | 13% HST on both materials and labour |
| Manitoba | $5–10 | $2–4.25 | 5% GST and 7% RST |
| New Brunswick | $4.5–9 | $1.75–3.75 | 15% HST on materials and labour |
| Nova Scotia | $5–10 | $2–4.25 | 14% HST on materials and labour |
| Quebec | $4.5–9 | $2–4 | 5% GST and 9 |
| Saskatchewan | $5–10 | $2–4.25 | 5% GST and 6% PST |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $5.5–11 | $2.25–4.5 | 15% HST on materials and labour |
| Northwest Territories | $7.5–15 | $3.25–6.5 | 5% GST only |
| Nunavut | $9–18 | $4–8 | 5% GST only |
| Prince Edward Island | $5–10 | $2–4.25 | 15% HST on materials and labour |
| Yukon | $7–14 | $3–6 | 5% GST only |
Ranges reflect regional labour rates and, in the territories, freight on materials. Alberta and the territories have no provincial sales tax, which makes the same floor meaningfully cheaper there.
What drives the price
Wear layer thickness
The single biggest quality variable. A 6 mil wear layer suits a low-traffic bedroom; 12 mil is the residential standard; 20 mil and above is what you want for a busy family home, a rental or light commercial use. Two products that look identical can differ by 40 percent in price because of this alone, so always ask for the wear layer in mils.
Core type
SPC (stone polymer composite) has a rigid, dense core that resists dents and telegraphs subfloor imperfections less. WPC (wood polymer composite) is slightly softer and warmer underfoot. Flexible glue-down LVT is cheaper but shows every bump in the subfloor. Sheet vinyl is cheapest of all and best for laundry rooms and rentals.
Installation method
Click-lock floating installation is fastest and cheapest. Glue-down costs more in labour but gives the most stable result in high-traffic and commercial settings. Loose-lay sits in between and is easy to lift and replace.
Subfloor condition
Rigid-core vinyl needs a surface flat within about an eighth of an inch over six feet. Levelling compound or a plywood overlay adds $1 to $4 per square foot over the areas that need it, and it is the most common reason two quotes for the same room differ.
Underlay
Many rigid-core products have an attached pad. Where they do not, or where a condo requires a documented acoustic rating, a separate underlay adds $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot.
What a quote usually includes
Included
- Material and underlay where not attached
- Layout, cutting and installation
- Transitions and thresholds at doorways
- Trimming door casings
- Basic moisture testing on concrete
Quoted separately
- Removal and disposal of the old floor, $1 to $2.50 per sq ft
- Subfloor levelling or plywood overlay, $1 to $4 per sq ft where needed
- Stairs, quoted per step
- Baseboards and quarter round, $2 to $5 per linear foot
- Furniture moving and appliance disconnection
Vinyl flooring cost in major cities
Regional labour rates move the number more than material does. These are typical installed ranges in the cities where we do the most work.
Common questions
01Is vinyl plank cheaper than laminate?
They are close. Laminate is usually $0.50 to $1 per square foot cheaper for comparable quality, but rigid-core vinyl is fully waterproof where laminate is not. For kitchens, bathrooms, basements and entryways, vinyl is worth the difference. For bedrooms and living rooms, laminate is a reasonable saving.
02How long does vinyl plank flooring last?
Ten to twenty-five years in a residential setting, depending almost entirely on the wear layer. A 6 mil product in a busy hallway may show wear in five years; a 20 mil product in the same spot will still look good at fifteen. It cannot be refinished, so the wear layer is the whole lifespan.
03Can vinyl plank be installed over existing tile?
Usually yes, if the tile is well bonded, flat and the grout lines are not too wide or deep. Your installer will skim-fill wide grout joints first, typically adding $1 to $2 per square foot. This often costs less than removing the tile, which runs $2 to $4 per square foot.
Get a real number
Service areaAll of Canada — matched to an expert near you
HoursMonday – Friday · 8am – 6pm (local time)
Saturday · 9am – 4pm (local time)
Sunday · Closed · online requests 24/7
The right floor changes how a room feels. The right installer changes how the whole project feels.Start a free quote