Basement underpinning in Toronto starts around $70 per square foot and runs to about $150 per square foot once engineering, permits and access are factored in. For a typical home that usually works out to roughly $30,000 to $90,000, with larger or deeper projects going higher. This guide breaks down what drives the number so you know what a fair quote looks like before you sign.
Underpinning is priced per square foot of basement floor area, generally $70 to $150 per square foot in Toronto. That range covers the excavation, the new engineered footings, the concrete, and the structural work, but the total depends heavily on the depth you need, the soil, and how easy the basement is to reach. Underpinning always requires a City of Toronto building permit and drawings stamped by a licensed structural engineer, which are part of the cost. The only way to get your exact number is a free on-site assessment.
| Scenario | Typical 2026 range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Small basement (about 500 sq ft) | $35,000 to $60,000 | Engineering, permit, excavation, new footings, concrete |
| Average home (about 800 sq ft) | $55,000 to $90,000 | Full underpinning and lowering to legal height, new slab |
| Large or deep lowering | $90,000+ | Greater depth, difficult soil or access, extra structural work |
| Permit and engineering only | $3,000 to $8,000 | Stamped structural drawings and the City of Toronto permit |
Ranges reflect the Toronto market in 2026 and vary by home. Your exact price comes from a free on-site inspection.
Most Toronto underpinning projects run $70 to $150 per square foot, or roughly $30,000 to $90,000 for a typical home, with larger or deeper jobs going higher. Depth, soil, access, engineering and permits all move the number. A free inspection gives you a firm quote.
Benching is usually cheaper up front because it keeps the existing footing, but it gives up floor space along the walls. Underpinning costs more but lowers the whole floor and adds usable, legal square footage. Which one is worth it depends on your goals for the space.
Yes. IcyReno includes the City of Toronto building permit and the stamped structural engineering drawings in the project. Underpinning cannot be done to code without them.
Usually, yes. Underpinning turns a low, unusable basement into full-height, legal living space, which adds square footage and can support a rental suite. In the Toronto market that added space is a strong return.
Book a free Toronto inspection and we will give you a firm number, no pressure.
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