How much does commercial HVAC replacement cost in Canada?
Commercial HVAC is usually priced per rooftop unit (RTU) or per ton of cooling capacity, plus curb adaptation, crane lift, electrical, controls, and gas. Rooftop package units are the workhorse of Canadian commercial buildings; chillers and built-up systems sit well above this range.
Typical price breakdown
General planning ranges for Canadian commercial work. Your actual price depends on scope, region, building condition, and access.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rooftop unit, 3–5 tonSmall retail / office; includes crane and curb adapter. | $9,000 – $16,000 |
| Rooftop unit, 7.5–10 ton | $16,000 – $30,000 |
| Per ton of cooling (rule of thumb) | $2,000 – $4,000 / ton |
| Curb adapter & riggingReplacing a different make/model usually needs an adapter. | $1,200 – $4,000 / unit |
| Controls / BAS integrationHigher when tying into building automation. | $800 – $5,000+ |
| Preventive maintenance contract | $300 – $900 / unit / yr |
What moves the price
Tonnage & efficiency
Higher capacity and high-efficiency (high SEER/IEER) units cost more up front but lower operating cost.
Crane & roof access
Tight sites, tall buildings, and downtown lifts add rigging and permit cost.
Like-for-like vs. upgrade
Matching the existing curb and electrical is cheapest; changing fuel, voltage, or capacity adds work.
Controls & zoning
Integrating with a building automation system or adding economizers/CO2 sensors increases the bid.
Number of units
Replacing a bank of RTUs at once usually earns a better per-unit rate than one-offs.
How to get an accurate price
The numbers above are for budgeting. To get a real, scope-specific price, post your project as an RFP on PMRFP — describe the building, the work, and your region, and qualified hvac companies respond with their own pricing. Posting is free, and getting two or three competitive responses is the simplest way to know the true market rate.
Use the Rooftop Unit (RTU) Replacement template
We’ve already built the scope, requirements, and evaluation criteria for this kind of project. Customize in seconds and post — go from cost guide to live RFP without writing from scratch.
Questions
PMRFP is a vendor discovery and RFP visibility platform. We do not guarantee project availability, bid success, contract awards, property manager response, or revenue. Members are responsible for their own due diligence, qualifications, insurance, licensing, pricing, and agreements.
Budgeting commercial hvac replacement? Get real numbers.
Post your project on PMRFP and qualified Canadian trades respond with real, scope-specific pricing. Free to post.