Wondering what a home inspection actually costs in Calgary in 2026? Short answer: most inspections fall between $450 and $750, depending on square footage, age, and property type. Here's the full breakdown — what you should pay, what should be included, and how to avoid the wrong kind of "deal."

Calgary home inspection cost by property type (2026)

Condo / apartment: $350 – $475
Townhouse: $425 – $525
Detached under 2,000 sq ft: $475 – $575
Detached 2,000 – 3,000 sq ft: $550 – $675
Detached 3,000 – 4,500 sq ft: $675 – $825
Estate / acreage (4,500+ sq ft): $850 – $1,200+
Pre-drywall new build: $400 – $550
11th-month warranty inspection: $475 – $625

Prices are before GST. Homes older than 40 years, homes with detached garages/workshops, or homes with legal suites usually sit at the top of each range.

What drives the price up or down

Square footage: Bigger home = more time on site and more systems to document.
Age: A 1912 Inglewood character home takes longer than a 2022 Mahogany build. Older wiring, plumbing, and foundation types all need extra scrutiny.
Property type: Condos skip the roof and exterior envelope; acreages add wells, septic, and outbuildings.
Location: We serve Calgary and the surrounding area — Bragg Creek, High River, Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks and more — all at the same pricing, with no travel fees.
Add-ons: Sewer scope, radon test, WETT (wood stove), pool/hot tub, secondary suites.

Add-on services and what they cost

Sewer scope: $200 – $300 — highly recommended on any home 30+ years old or with mature trees on the line.
Radon test (short-term): $175 – $250 — Calgary has among the highest radon levels in Canada.
Long-term radon test (91+ days): $250 – $400 — the Health Canada–recommended method.
WETT inspection (wood-burning appliance): $175 – $275.
Detached garage / shop: $75 – $150 add-on.
Legal / illegal suite: $100 – $200 add-on.

At HomeWise, thermal imaging and drone roof scans are always included — never billed as extras.

What should be included in the base price

For $450–$750, a full Calgary home inspection should always cover:

Roof, flashings, and eavestroughs (drone where safe and appropriate)
Foundation, structure, and grading
Exterior cladding, windows, and doors
Attic insulation, ventilation, and vapour barrier condition
Electrical panel, wiring type, GFCI/AFCI, and representative outlets
Plumbing supply and drainage, water heater, and visible shut-offs
Furnace, HVAC, humidifier, and ductwork
Appliance functional testing
Thermal imaging for moisture intrusion and insulation gaps
A detailed digital report with photos — delivered the same day

Why you shouldn't shop on price alone

A $299 inspection is almost always a red flag. Common corners cut at that price:

No thermal imaging, no drone — meaning missed moisture and roof issues
90-minute walkthroughs on a 2,400 sq ft home (a proper one takes 3–4 hours)
Boilerplate reports with generic photos and no property-specific findings
No E&O or general liability insurance
No CanNACHI or InterNACHI certification

You're buying a $500,000–$1,000,000+ asset. Saving $150 on the inspection to miss a $12,000 furnace, a Poly-B plumbing system, or an aging shingle roof isn't a saving — it's a gamble.

Return on investment: is it worth it?

The average Calgary inspection finds enough to either renegotiate the purchase price, request repairs, or budget realistically for the first two years of ownership. Common findings that pay for the inspection many times over:

Furnace or water heater at end of life ($4,000 – $8,000)
Poly-B plumbing (repipe: $8,000 – $15,000+)
Aluminum branch wiring remediation ($2,000 – $6,000)
Shingle roof nearing replacement ($8,000 – $18,000)
Foundation cracks needing epoxy or engineer review ($500 – $5,000)
Elevated radon requiring mitigation ($2,500 – $3,500)

How to pay less — the right way

Bundle add-ons: Sewer scope + radon test at the same visit is usually cheaper than booking separately.
Book pre-listing and pre-purchase with the same inspector: Sellers who inspect first can get a discount on repeat business or referrals.
Off-peak scheduling: Weekday mornings sometimes come with better availability and occasional promos.
Skip the "extras" that shouldn't be extras: Thermal imaging and drone should be included — not upsells.

Book a transparent, all-inclusive Calgary inspection

HomeWise Property Inspections offers flat, transparent pricing across Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere, and area. Thermal imaging, drone roof scans, and a same-day digital report are always included — never surprise add-ons.

Call (403) 710-7770 or book your inspection online in under two minutes.

Home Inspection Costs in Calgary (2026)