24 Drywall Repair Statistics: Costs, Wages and Safety (2026)
Cited data on what drywall repairs cost in Toronto and the GTA, what Ontario drywall finishers earn, how the trade is certified, and when older walls need an asbestos test.
A small drywall patch costs $75 to $150 in Toronto, according to RenoHouse's 2026 price guide, and most GTA drywall contractors set a $150 to $250 minimum call-out. Drywall repair means patching holes, cracks, nail pops and water-stained sections of gypsum wallboard, then taping, mudding and sanding them smooth for paint. Wall patches are one of the most common items on a handyman list. The 24 statistics below cover GTA repair prices, Ontario wages, certification, asbestos safety and US benchmarks. To get local prices, start with our drywall repair services.
Toronto, Job Bank, Skilled Trades Ontario and City of Toronto figures are in CAD. HomeGuide and BLS figures are in USD. All sources were checked on October 15, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- A small Toronto drywall hole costs $75 to $150 to repair, and a 12 inch or larger hole costs $200 to $400 (RenoHouse).
- Most Toronto drywall contractors charge a $150 to $250 minimum call-out, whatever the size of the repair (RenoHouse).
- Ontario drywall installers and finishers earn a median $35.48 an hour (Job Bank).
- 44% of Ontario drywall workers are self-employed, against 15% for all occupations (Job Bank outlook).
- Drywall Finisher and Plasterer is a voluntary trade in Ontario, with a 5,400-hour apprenticeship (Skilled Trades Ontario).
- Pre-1990 drywall and spackling may contain asbestos, so test before sanding older walls (Health Canada).
How much does drywall repair cost in Toronto and the GTA?
Toronto drywall repairs run from about $50 for a visit to fix nail holes to $4,000 for a full room of new board. Published 2026 price guides from GTA contractors agree on the shape of the curve: size, ceilings and water damage drive the bill, and a minimum call-out sets the floor for small jobs.
1. A small Toronto hole costs $75 to $150 to patch
RenoHouse prices a small hole under 4 inches at $75 to $150 per hole in Toronto and the GTA for 2026. Nail and screw hole patches run $50 to $100 per visit when several holes are fixed together (RenoHouse).
2. Medium holes of 4 to 12 inches cost $150 to $300
A doorknob-sized hole of 4 to 12 inches costs $150 to $300 per hole on the same guide. Crack repair from hairline to 1/4 inch costs $100 to $200 per crack, and corner bead repair costs $100 to $200 per corner (RenoHouse).
3. Large holes over 12 inches cost $200 to $400
RenoHouse puts a large hole of 12 inches or more at $200 to $400. A full sheet replacement, including taping and mudding, costs $200 to $400 per sheet (RenoHouse).
4. Water-damaged drywall costs $300 to $600 per sheet area
Water damage repair runs $300 to $600 per 4 by 8 foot sheet area in Toronto. The leak must be found and fixed first, and mould remediation may be needed before repair work starts (RenoHouse). See our water damage statistics for the bigger picture.
5. Ceiling repairs cost 20% to 30% more than wall repairs
Overhead work raises the price. RenoHouse says ceiling repairs cost 20% to 30% more than wall repairs and puts a ceiling drywall repair at $300 to $500 per area (RenoHouse).
Source: RenoHouse, Drywall Repair Cost in Toronto 2026. Upper end of each published range, CAD.
6. Most Toronto drywall pros set a $150 to $250 minimum
RenoHouse says most Toronto drywall contractors charge a minimum call-out fee of $150 to $250, regardless of repair size. Batching several small repairs into one visit is the cheaper route (RenoHouse).
7. A full room of new drywall costs $1,500 to $4,000
When damage spreads past patching, RenoHouse puts full room drywall replacement at $1,500 to $4,000 in Toronto. Skim coating runs $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot and texture matching $2.00 to $4.00 (RenoHouse). For new board, see our drywall installation cost guide.
8. Repair plus painting lands at $280 to $550 for a medium hole
Puzzle Painting, a Toronto painter, prices a 3 to 12 inch hole at $280 to $550 with painting typically in the same visit. A large hole or panel replacement runs $500 to $950, and water damage cut back to studs runs $600 to $1,400 or more (Puzzle Painting).
9. Painting one room after repairs adds $400 to $850
Puzzle Painting puts painting one room after drywall repairs at $400 to $850, and a full floor at $1,200 to $3,000. It also says ceiling repairs run 20% to 40% above wall rates (Puzzle Painting).
What do drywall workers earn in Ontario?
Ontario drywall wages sit above the provincial median for many trades. Job Bank publishes these numbers for NOC 73102, which covers plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers. They show worker pay, so a homeowner's invoice also carries overhead, travel, insurance and materials.
10. Ontario drywall installers earn a median $35.48 an hour
Job Bank lists drywall installer and finisher wages in Ontario at a low of $24.00, a median of $35.48 and a high of $48.73 an hour for 2023 to 2024. The data was updated November 19, 2025 (Job Bank).
11. The Canada-wide median is $33.00 an hour
Nationally, Job Bank puts the same occupation at $23.00 low, $33.00 median and $43.75 high. Ontario's median sits $2.48 above the national figure (Job Bank).
12. Hamilton to Niagara has the top regional median at $35.64
The Hamilton to Niagara Peninsula Region median is $35.64 an hour, just above Toronto's $35.48. Ottawa's median is $35.00, Kitchener to Waterloo to Barrie is $33.50, and Windsor to Sarnia is lowest at $28.17 (Job Bank).
Source: Job Bank, Drywall Installer and Finisher in Ontario, updated November 19, 2025. CAD.
13. 83% of Ontario drywall workers get a non-wage benefit
Job Bank says 83% of Ontario workers in NOC 73102 receive at least one non-wage benefit, such as a pension or health plan, against 84.7% nationally (Job Bank).
14. Toronto's fair wage rate for a drywall taper is $53.24 an hour
The City of Toronto's Fair Wage Schedule for residential work sets the Drywall Taper (Plasterer) rate at $53.24 an hour from May 3, 2026, plus $10.81 in fringe benefits. It rises to $54.73 in May 2027. These rates apply to work the City contracts, not private jobs (City of Toronto).
How large is the drywall workforce, and how is it certified?
Ontario's drywall trade is small, seasonal and heavily self-employed. Certification exists, but it is voluntary, so homeowners rely on insurance, WSIB clearance and past work rather than a provincial licence when they hire.
15. About 12,150 people work in the trade in Ontario
Job Bank says approximately 12,150 people work as plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers in Ontario. More than 95% of them work in construction (Job Bank outlook).
16. 44% of Ontario drywall workers are self-employed
Self-employment runs at 44% in this occupation, against an average of 15% for all occupations. Many small repair jobs go to owner-operators for that reason (Job Bank outlook).
Source: Job Bank outlook, NOC 73102 in Ontario. Employees shown as the remainder.
17. 56% work only part of the year
Job Bank says 43% of Ontario drywall workers work all year and 56% only part of the year, against 63% and 37% for all occupations. Part-year workers average 39 weeks (Job Bank outlook).
18. The Ontario outlook for 2025 to 2027 is Moderate
Job Bank rates the outlook as Moderate for Ontario, with Ottawa and Kingston to Pembroke rated Good. It cites steady demand for new housing plus general home remodelling and renovation needs (Job Bank outlook).
19. Drywall Finisher and Plasterer takes 5,400 apprenticeship hours
Skilled Trades Ontario sets the apprenticeship at 5,400 hours, about three years. That is 4,920 hours on the job and 480 hours in school. The trade is part of the Red Seal program (Skilled Trades Ontario).
20. Certification is voluntary in Ontario
Because the trade is non-compulsory, the Certificate of Qualification does not have to be renewed, and holders do not appear on the public register. Job Bank lists two voluntary trades for the occupation: Drywall Finisher and Plasterer, and Drywall, Acoustic and Lathing Applicator (Skilled Trades Ontario; Job Bank).
What should you check before repairing drywall in an older home?
Most drywall patches are low risk, but older walls can hide asbestos in the board, tape or joint compound. Health Canada's guidance is clear that the danger comes from disturbing the material, which is exactly what sanding and cutting do.
21. Asbestos was mainly used before 1990
Health Canada says asbestos was mainly used before 1990 for insulating and fireproofing. It lists drywall, spackling, paint and putty among older surface treatments that may still contain it. Canada's 2018 regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, sale and use of products containing asbestos, with a limited number of exclusions (Health Canada).
22. Sanding and cutting release asbestos fibres
Health Canada lists drilling, sawing, sanding and scraping among the renovation tasks that can release fibres. Undisturbed or sealed materials carry no significant health risk, so test before you sand a pre-1990 wall (Health Canada).
How do US drywall statistics compare?
US cost guides run higher than Toronto patch prices because many US contractors set large minimum job fees. Use these USD figures to sanity-check a quote, then confirm local CAD prices.
23. US small-hole repairs cost $300 to $500
HomeGuide puts a small US hole under 4 inches at $300 to $500 and a large hole at $500 to $800 or more. Most US contractors carry a $350 to $650 minimum job fee, and labour makes up 50% to 70% of the bill (HomeGuide, USD).
Source: HomeGuide, Drywall Repair Cost. Labour is 50% to 70% or more of the total.
24. US drywall workers earn a median $59,780 a year
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the May 2025 median pay for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers and tapers at $59,780 a year, or $28.74 an hour. Tapers earn a median $68,270. The occupation held 118,000 jobs in 2025 and is projected to grow 2% to 2035 (BLS).
What this means for homeowners
- Budget $75 to $150 for one small Toronto patch, but expect a $150 to $250 minimum, so list every hole and crack before you book.
- Fix the leak first on water-stained walls, then repair the board. Ceilings cost 20% to 30% more than walls.
- If the house was built before 1990, have the joint compound tested before anyone sands it.
- Small patches suit a handyman. See our handyman cost guide and the ranked best handymen in Hamilton. For trim and built-ins near the repair, see our carpenter cost guide.
- Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros and gives free fixed-price estimates. Compare drywall repair quotes in Toronto, drywall repair in Mississauga, drywall patching in Hamilton, or request an estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does drywall repair cost in Toronto?
RenoHouse puts a small Toronto hole under 4 inches at $75 to $150, a 4 to 12 inch hole at $150 to $300 and a 12 inch or larger hole at $200 to $400. Most Toronto drywall contractors charge a minimum call-out of $150 to $250, so bundle several patches into one visit.
Do drywall finishers need a licence in Ontario?
No. Skilled Trades Ontario lists Drywall Finisher and Plasterer as a non-compulsory trade, so certification is voluntary and the certificate does not need renewal. City licences can still apply; Hamilton says all contractors must hold a Trade and Contractor Licence. Always ask for WSIB clearance and liability insurance.
How much do drywall workers earn in Ontario?
Job Bank lists a median wage of $35.48 an hour for drywall installers and finishers in Ontario for 2023 to 2024, with a low of $24.00 and a high of $48.73. The Hamilton to Niagara median is $35.64. Those are worker wages, not the price a homeowner pays for a repair.
Can old drywall contain asbestos?
Yes. Health Canada lists drywall and spackling among older building materials that may still contain asbestos, and says it was mainly used before 1990. Sanding or cutting can release fibres. Health Canada advises hiring a professional to test before you renovate, and a qualified removal specialist if asbestos is found.
Is it cheaper to have a handyman fix drywall?
Often, for small jobs. HomeGuide says handypeople charge $50 to $80 an hour for small patches, while drywall contractors charge $60 to $100 or more. Larger holes, ceilings and texture matching suit a drywall specialist. Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted pros for free so you can compare written quotes.