In Ottawa, bathroom vanity installation labour costs $350 to $900 in 2026 for a straightforward swap where the new vanity matches the old footprint and the plumbing stays in place. Including the vanity itself, most homeowners spend $900 to $2,200 for a standard 30- to 48-inch unit with a stock top, and $2,500 to $5,500 for a 60- to 72-inch double vanity with a quartz top and undermount sinks. Add $250 to $600 if the drain and supply lines need to be relocated, $150 to $400 for a new faucet install, and $200 to $500 for wall-mounted or floating vanities that require blocking inside the wall. Re...
Labour is priced by complexity, not by the price of the vanity you bought. A like-for-like replacement of a 30- or 36-inch freestanding vanity — remove the old unit, set the new one, connect the P-trap and supply lines, caulk and seal — takes a plumber or carpenter two to four hours and runs $350 to $650 in Ottawa. A 48- to 60-inch unit takes longer and typically costs $500 to $850. A double vanity of 60 to 72 inches with two drains and two faucets runs $700 to $1,200 in labour. Wall-mounted floating vanities cost more because the installer must open the wall or locate studs and add solid blocking to carry the cantilevered load, plus reposition the drain higher in the wall — budget $800 to $1,500 for that work. Hourly rates in Ottawa for licensed plumbers generally sit at $110 to $165, and handyman or carpentry rates at $70 to $110, which is why the installer type you hire affects the bill as much as the vanity does.
If the plumbing is not moving and the vanity is freestanding, an experienced handyman or carpenter is usually sufficient and cheaper. If drains or supply lines are being relocated, if you are converting to a floating unit, or if the existing shutoff valves are seized or corroded, hire a licensed plumber.
The unit itself is usually the larger half of the budget. Stock 24- to 30-inch vanities with a cultured marble or engineered top from a big-box retailer start around $300 to $700 in Ottawa. A 36- to 48-inch mid-range unit with soft-close doors, a plywood box, and a quartz top typically costs $800 to $1,800. Semi-custom and Canadian-made cabinetry in the same width runs $1,500 to $3,500. Double vanities of 60 to 72 inches range from $1,200 for basic stock units to $4,500 or more for solid-wood construction with a full-slab quartz top and undermount basins. Countertop choice alone can move the number by $600 to $1,500: cultured marble is the cheapest, quartz is the Ottawa favourite for durability and consistent colour, and natural marble or granite costs more and needs periodic sealing. Watch out for vanities sold without tops — the listing price often excludes the counter, sink, and faucet, which together can add $400 to $1,200.
Most vanity projects go over budget for predictable reasons. The first is size change: swapping a 30-inch vanity for a 48-inch one leaves unfinished flooring, unpainted wall, and often a mismatched backsplash where the old unit sat, adding $200 to $800 in patching, painting, and flooring work. The second is plumbing position — a wider or narrower cabinet frequently means the existing drain no longer lines up with the new sink, requiring the drain to be moved inside the wall at $250 to $600. The third is old shutoff valves; in Ottawa homes built before the 1990s, original multi-turn valves often seize or drip once disturbed, and replacing a pair costs $150 to $350. The fourth is wall condition: removing an old backsplash commonly tears drywall paper, requiring skim coating and paint. Finally, electrical changes for a lit mirror or new outlet must be done by an ECRA/ESA-licensed electrician, adding $250 to $700. Budget a 15 percent contingency and these surprises stop being surprises.
If you are also replacing the toilet, faucet, flooring, or lighting, do it all in one visit. Trades charge a call-out and mobilization each time they attend, so combining tasks into a single appointment typically saves $150 to $400 compared with booking them separately over several months.
Replacing a bathroom vanity in the same location with no change to the plumbing rough-in does not require a City of Ottawa permit — it is treated as a fixture replacement. A plumbing permit is generally required when you relocate or add drains, vents, or water supply piping, which is common when converting a single vanity to a double or shifting the sink to a different wall. Ontario's plumbing code governs trap arm length, venting, and fixture clearances, and a properly installed vanity needs adequate clearance in front of the basin and appropriate spacing from adjacent fixtures. Any new or relocated electrical in a bathroom must be GFCI-protected and installed by a licensed electrical contractor with ESA notification. For a straightforward swap none of this applies, but the moment your project involves moving water lines or adding circuits, confirm requirements before work starts — retroactive permits and rework cost far more than getting it right the first time.
Decide first whether you are doing a straight swap or a reconfiguration, because that single choice roughly doubles the labour. Measure the existing vanity width, depth, and the drain height and horizontal offset from the wall before shopping, and confirm the new unit's plumbing cut-out will clear your existing rough-in. When requesting quotes, tell each contractor the current and new vanity sizes, whether plumbing is moving, whether you need old-unit disposal, and whether faucet, mirror, or lighting work is included. A good written quote itemizes labour hours, disposal, any plumbing modifications, caulking and sealing, and clearly states what is excluded — drywall patching and painting are the most common exclusions. Get two or three quotes, confirm liability insurance, and ask whether the installer will source the vanity (often at a trade discount) or install one you supply. If you are budgeting a larger bathroom project, price the full scope before committing to a vanity, since the cabinet is only one line in a much longer list.
Labour alone runs $350–$900 in Ottawa for 2026, depending on size and whether plumbing moves. Including the vanity, most homeowners spend $900–$2,200 for a standard 30- to 48-inch unit and $2,500–$5,500 for a 60- to 72-inch double vanity with a quartz top.
A like-for-like swap of a 30- to 36-inch vanity costs $350–$650 in labour, a 48- to 60-inch unit costs $500–$850, and a double vanity costs $700–$1,200. Floating wall-mounted vanities run $800–$1,500 because they need in-wall blocking and a relocated drain.
Not always. If the vanity is freestanding and the plumbing stays put, an experienced handyman or carpenter can do it. Hire a licensed plumber if drains or supply lines are moving, if you are installing a floating vanity, or if the existing shutoff valves are old and likely to fail.
No permit is needed for a straight fixture replacement in the same location. A plumbing permit is generally required if you relocate or add drains, vents, or supply piping — for example, when converting a single vanity to a double.
Relocating the drain and supply lines inside the wall typically adds $250–$600 in Ottawa, and more if the wall is tiled or the drain must be re-vented. Replacing seized shutoff valves at the same time adds another $150–$350.
A straightforward swap takes two to four hours. A double vanity or a floating unit requiring blocking and drain relocation usually takes a full day, and jobs involving drywall patching, painting, or tile work can span two to three days including drying time.