How much should I budget for a complete kitchen electrical renovation in the GTA?

A complete kitchen electrical renovation in the GTA typically costs between $3,000 and $8,000, depending on the scope of work and the current state of your wiring. This covers dedicated appliance circuits, upgraded lighting, GFCI-protected counter outlets, and bringing everything up to current Ontario Electrical Safety Code requirements. If your kitchen is in an older Toronto home with outdated wiring, expect to be at the higher end of that range.

The biggest cost drivers in a kitchen electrical renovation are the dedicated circuits required by code. Modern kitchens need a surprising number of them — a dedicated 20A circuit for the refrigerator, a dedicated 40A or 50A circuit for an electric range, a dedicated 20A circuit for the dishwasher, a dedicated 20A circuit for the microwave (if it is a built-in or over-the-range unit), and at minimum two dedicated 20A small appliance branch circuits serving the counter outlets. If you are adding a garbage disposal, instant hot water tap, or wine fridge, each of those may need its own circuit as well. Running each new circuit from the panel to the kitchen costs $300 to $800 per circuit depending on the distance and routing difficulty, and a full kitchen renovation might require six to ten circuits.

Lighting is the next major component. Most kitchen renovations include potlight installation — typically six to ten recessed LED lights across the kitchen ceiling, at $150 to $300 per light installed. Under-cabinet lighting for task illumination runs $300 to $800 depending on whether you choose hardwired LED strips or individual puck lights. A pendant fixture over an island adds $200 to $500 for the electrical rough-in and installation. If your existing kitchen had a single ceiling fixture on a switch, you are essentially starting from scratch on the lighting circuits.

All counter outlets within 1.5 metres of the sink must be GFCI-protected under Ontario code, and all kitchen counter outlets must be tamper-resistant. GFCI outlets cost $200 to $350 each installed, and most kitchens need three to six counter outlets spaced according to code requirements. Many homeowners also add USB outlets at key locations — $150 to $250 each installed — for charging devices on the counter.

The condition of your existing wiring significantly affects the total cost. In a post-war Scarborough bungalow or North York split-level with a 100A panel, you may need a panel upgrade to accommodate all the new kitchen circuits — add $2,000 to $4,000 for that. In a pre-war Toronto home with knob-and-tube wiring in the kitchen walls, the electrician will need to remove the old K&T and run entirely new circuits, which adds substantially to the cost. In a newer home with a 200A panel and adequate capacity, the work is more straightforward.

Timing matters for kitchen electrical work. Your electrician needs to do the rough-in — running cables through walls, installing boxes, pulling wire to the panel — before drywall, backsplash, and cabinetry go in. Coordinate with your general contractor to ensure the electrical rough-in happens at the right stage. The ESA permit and inspection are required for all new circuits, typically $150 to $300 for a kitchen renovation scope. If you are planning a kitchen renovation, get the electrical quote early in the process — Toronto Electrical Repair can connect you with licensed electricians through the Toronto Construction Network who specialize in kitchen electrical work.