# Landscaping costs in Markham: what landscapers charge per hour in Ontario

URL: https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/landscaping-costs-markham/  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
By: Hotiv Landscaping, Markham, Ontario. Call or text (437) 684-2535.

**Short answer:** Landscape Ontario's 2022 charge-out rate survey puts landscape labourers at $55 to $90 an hour and landscape technicians at $75 to $110. HomeStars' Toronto guide, updated August 2026, says basic projects on small Toronto yards can start at about $2,000 and regrading runs $1,500 to $5,000. Yard size, access, soil disposal and the season move a Markham quote, and 13% HST goes on top. These are published ranges, not Hotiv's prices.

Landscapers in Ontario charge roughly $55 to $90 an hour for a labourer and $75 to $110 for a landscape technician, according to a 2022 survey of Landscape Ontario's sector group board members. Most landscaping quotes in Markham come down to those hours plus materials priced by the cubic metre or square foot. HomeStars' Toronto guide, updated in August 2026, says basic projects on small yards can start at about $2,000.

Every figure here comes from the sources listed at the bottom. None of it is our pricing.

We quote each yard after seeing it, so if you're in [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) or nearby, you can ask for one through our [contact page](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/contact/).

## Key numbers

- Landscape labourer, billed: $55–$90 per hour
- Landscape technician, billed: $75–$110 per hour
- Ontario landscaper median wage: $31.05 an hour
- Basic project, small Toronto yard: From about $2,000
- HST in Ontario: 13%

## How much do landscapers charge per hour in Ontario?

On the landscape side of Landscape Ontario's 2022 charge-out rate survey, billed rates run from $55 an hour for a labourer up to $150 for a foreperson, supervisor or certified designer.

*Image: Bars on one dollar scale: a $31.05 median wage, then billed ranges of $55–$90 for a labourer and $75–$110 for a technician, with the gap hatched. What the gap between a landscaper's wage and the billed rate pays for*

The association ran the survey with its sector group board members in spring 2022. It's the most recent version of that survey we could find, so treat it as a reference point and check it against the quotes you get.

| Role or item | Rate (Landscape Ontario, 2022) |
|---|---|
| Labourer, landscape | $55–$90 per hour |
| Labourer, grounds management | $55–$85 per hour |
| Horticulturist, grounds management | $60–$90 per hour |
| Landscape technician | $75–$110 per hour |
| Foreperson or supervisor | $80–$150 per hour |
| Landscape designer (CLD) | $100–$150 per hour |
| Skid steer | $200–$350 per day |
| One to five ton dump truck | $300–$500 per day |

HomeStars' 2026 Toronto guide gives a similar picture. It puts Toronto labour costs at roughly $50 to $100 (it doesn't name the unit) and calls labour a primary factor in landscaping quotes.

## Why is the hourly rate so much higher than a landscaper's wage?

Because the rate pays for the whole business, not only the person on your lawn. Job Bank, the federal government's job site, lists a median wage of $31.05 an hour for landscapers in Ontario (2023–2024 data, updated in November 2025).

The difference between that and the $55 to $110 the survey shows for labourers and technicians covers a lot that you never see on site:

- payroll costs
- the truck and trailer, and the fuel
- mowers, compactors and other equipment
- insurance and dump fees
- hours spent driving between jobs and quoting, which nobody pays for directly

> **Watch out:** A quote that looks too cheap for the hours involved is often missing something: disposal, a second worker, or the equipment the job really needs. Ask what's left out before you compare it with the others.

## What do common GTA landscaping jobs cost?

The best current figures for the GTA are in HomeStars' Toronto landscaping guide. Here are its numbers, with the unit it uses:

| Item | Typical Toronto cost (HomeStars, August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Basic project, small yard | from about $2,000 |
| Large yard with features (fountain, outdoor kitchen) | over $100,000 |
| Topsoil or triple mix | $40–$50 per cubic metre |
| Bulk mulch | $50–$70 per cubic metre |
| Clear stone or gravel | $40–$50 per cubic metre |
| Interlocking paver material | $5–$7+ per sq ft (material only) |
| Walls or stone features | $25–$50+ per sq ft |
| Yard regrading | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Drainage system installation | $2,000–$8,000 |
| Hauling away old soil, sod or debris | $200–$1,000 |

We have separate guides with the published ranges and worked examples for the bigger line items:

- [how much interlock costs in the GTA](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-cost-gta/)
- [sod installation cost in Ontario](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/sod-installation-cost/)
- [how much lawn mowing costs in Markham and the GTA](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-care-cost-markham/), for weekly mowing and lawn care

## How do you estimate a job yourself?

Work out the materials by volume, then add the labour hours. Here is the arithmetic with the figures above:

1. Mulching a 20 m² bed 7.5 cm deep takes 20 × 0.075 = 1.5 m³. At HomeStars' $50 to $70 per cubic metre, that's $75 to $105 in mulch before delivery. Our [mulch guide](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/mulch-guide/) has the same math in feet and bags.
2. Topping a 30 m² area with 10 cm of triple mix takes 3 m³, or $120 to $150 in soil at $40 to $50 per cubic metre.
3. Labour for two people working a 6-hour day is 12 hours. At Landscape Ontario's $55 to $90 labourer range, that's $660 to $1,080, before any equipment, disposal or tax.

*Image: Three blocks drawn to scale: 1.5 m³ of mulch at $75–$105, 3 m³ of triple mix at $120–$150 and 12 labour hours at $660–$1,080. On small jobs the labour hours outweigh the materials*

On small and mid-sized jobs like these, the materials are the small part of the bill. The hours, and the hauling, are what you're mostly paying for.

## What pushes a Markham quote up or down?

Yard size is the obvious one, but a few other things move the number just as much. HomeStars names some of them in its guide.

| What changes | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|
| Access to the backyard | A yard you can only reach through a side gate means wheelbarrowing every load, which adds hours. HomeStars lists limited access as a cause of higher labour costs. |
| Old sod and soil | The City of Markham collects yard material in kraft paper bags or open containers every other week from April to October. It doesn't take sod, dirt, topsoil, gravel, rocks or grass clippings, so old sod and soil from a job have to be trucked away and paid for. |
| Clay soil and drainage | Clay soil, low spots and water running toward the house can mean regrading or drainage work before anything else goes in. |
| Utility locate | Any digging in Ontario needs a utility locate first. The Ontario Dig Authority says the locate is free and asks for at least five business days' notice for a single-address job, so it costs time rather than money. |
| Season | Spring and early summer are Toronto's peak landscaping season, HomeStars notes, and peak demand can raise labour and material prices. |
| Tax | The Canada Revenue Agency lists Ontario's HST at 13%, so check whether each quote includes it. |

*Image: Narrow side yard between two brick houses, with a concrete slab path between gravel strips, an air conditioner unit, a downspout and a wooden gate at the far end. A narrow side yard like this means every load goes in and out by hand*

> **Good to know:** If the job involves digging, book the free locate with the [Ontario Dig Authority](https://ontariodigauthority.ca/homeowners/) as soon as you've picked a date. At least five business days' notice means a request made on a Monday covers a dig the following Monday at the earliest.

## When is the cheapest time to book landscaping in the GTA?

Outside the spring and early summer rush. HomeStars names that stretch as Toronto's peak landscaping season and says peak demand can push up labour and material prices, so fall often has more room on the calendar.

Some jobs can't wait, though. Sod, planting and joint sand all depend on the weather in Ontario, so the cheapest month isn't always the right one.

Our [fall cleanup checklist](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-cleanup-checklist/) covers what's worth doing before the ground freezes.

*Image: January to December strip with April to June shaded as peak season, fall hatched, and a bar under April to October for yard material pickup. Busy and quieter months for landscaping in the GTA, and when Markham collects yard material*

## What do people forget when budgeting for landscaping?

Mostly the things nobody priced at the start:

1. Comparing quotes that cover different work. One includes haul-away and a base for the pavers, the other doesn't.
2. Forgetting disposal. Old sod and soil can't go out with curbside yard waste in Markham.
3. Skipping drainage. New sod or beds laid on a yard that sends water toward the foundation often get redone.
4. Leaving out the 13% HST when setting the budget. A $4,000 quote before tax becomes $4,520.
5. Waiting until spring to book a big spring project, when schedules are at their busiest.
6. Buying materials by eye instead of measuring, then paying for a second delivery.

## When is it worth hiring a landscaper?

When the job needs equipment you don't own or a lot of soil moved, or when it has to hold up for years. That covers [interlock installation](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-installation/), regrading, sod over a large area and anything near the house foundation.

Fixing a mistake on those usually costs more than the original job.

Mulching beds or a spring cleanup is different. It takes time more than skill, and plenty of homeowners do it themselves.

If you'd like a price for your own yard, you can see [the services we offer](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/) or call or text us at [(437) 684-2535](tel:+14376842535). The quote is free.

We work across [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) and nearby, including [Richmond Hill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/richmond-hill/) and [Stouffville](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/stouffville/). Related services include [spring and fall cleanups](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/seasonal-cleanup/), [garden beds and mulching](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/garden-beds-planting/) and [sod installation](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/sod-installation/).

## Other questions people ask

### How much do landscapers charge per hour in Ontario?

Landscape Ontario's 2022 charge-out rate survey lists $55 to $90 an hour for a landscape labourer, $75 to $110 for a landscape technician and $80 to $150 for a foreperson or supervisor. The same survey prices equipment separately by the day, such as $200 to $350 for a skid steer. HomeStars' August 2026 Toronto guide puts labour there at roughly $50 to $100.

### What is the average cost of landscaping around a house?

There isn't a useful single average, because the range is so wide. HomeStars' 2026 Toronto guide says basic projects on small yards can cost as little as $2,000, while large yards with features such as fountains or outdoor kitchens can go past $100,000. Price the jobs you actually need one by one and add them up.

### What is the most expensive part of landscaping?

Usually anything that involves digging and hauling: interlock, retaining walls, regrading and drainage. HomeStars' materials table lists walls and stone features at $25 to $50 or more per square foot, and the same guide puts regrading at $1,500 to $5,000 and drainage systems at $2,000 to $8,000 in Toronto. Bulk mulch, at $50 to $70 per cubic metre, is cheap by comparison.

### How much is a gardener per hour in Canada?

Published billing rates for gardeners are hard to find. In Landscape Ontario's 2022 survey, horticulturists in grounds management bill $60 to $90 an hour and labourers $55 to $85. For comparison, Job Bank lists a median wage of $31.05 an hour for landscapers in Ontario. The gap between the two covers the truck, tools, fuel, insurance and travel time.

### Do I pay HST on landscaping in Ontario?

Yes, if the company is registered for GST/HST. The Canada Revenue Agency requires a business to register once its taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, and it lists Ontario's HST rate at 13%. A $4,000 quote before tax becomes $4,520. Ask whether a quote includes tax before you compare it with another one.

## Sources

1. [Landscape Ontario: 2022 charge out rate survey (April 2022)](https://landscapeontario.com/2022-charge-out-rate-survey)
2. [HomeStars: A guide to landscaping costs in Toronto (updated August 2026)](https://www.homestars.com/gardening-outdoors/price-guides/landscaping-cost-toronto)
3. [Government of Canada Job Bank: Landscaper wages in Ontario (2023–2024 data, updated November 2025)](https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/22564/ON)
4. [Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST calculator (and rates)](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/charge-collect-which-rate/calculator.html)
5. [Canada Revenue Agency: When to register for and start charging the GST/HST](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/when-register-charge.html)
6. [City of Markham: Yard material collection](https://www.markham.ca/neighbourhood-services/recycling-garbage/yard-material)
7. [Ontario Dig Authority (formerly Ontario One Call): Homeowners](https://ontariodigauthority.ca/homeowners/)

## Related guides

- [How much does an interlock driveway cost in the GTA?](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-cost-gta/)
- [Sod installation cost in Ontario: what you pay for, and why quotes vary](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/sod-installation-cost/)
- [How much does lawn mowing and lawn care cost in Markham and the GTA?](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-care-cost-markham/)
- [Fall cleanup checklist: what to do before winter](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-cleanup-checklist/)