November 2026
Security Guard Cost in Ontario: 2026 Hourly Rates and What Drives the Price
What security guards cost in Ontario in 2026: typical hourly billing ranges, what moves the price, and how to budget for Barrie, Toronto and York Region sites.
The short answer
Licensed security guard coverage in Ontario is billed by the hour. In the Barrie-to-Toronto corridor, most contract guard work is quoted in the range of roughly $30 to $45 per guard hour, depending on the site, the hours and the duties. Armed work, specialized sites and short-notice requests sit above that. Treat any figure as a planning range: the only real number is a quote built for your property.
What drives the hourly rate
Five things move the price. Wages: Ontario guards must be licensed, and licensed, reliable people cost more than the cheapest option. Hours: nights, weekends, statutory holidays and short shifts cost more per hour than steady weekday coverage. Duties: a guard who only observes costs less than one who patrols, controls access, writes detailed reports or handles alarm response. Site risk: construction yards, vacant buildings and high-traffic venues need more experienced people. Contract length: year-round contracts are priced better than one-off or short-notice assignments.
Static guard vs mobile patrol pricing
A static guard is a person on your site for every hour of the shift, so you pay for every hour. Mobile patrol is cheaper because one patrol vehicle covers several sites with scheduled visits, checks and reports. If your risk is overnight theft, vandalism or unlocked doors, patrol often does the job for a fraction of a full-time post. If you need access control, a visible presence at a front desk or constant supervision, you need a static post.
Typical budgets by property type
Construction sites: usually overnight and weekend coverage, either a static guard or patrol with gate and perimeter checks. Condo and apartment buildings: evening and overnight static posts or patrols, often with incident reporting for the board. Retail plazas and commercial property: scheduled patrols, parking lot checks and after-hours alarm response. Events: priced per guard per hour with a minimum shift length, and the guard count depends on crowd size and layout. Ask for a quote broken down by post, hours and duties so you can compare like for like.
Hidden costs to ask about
Compare the whole quote, not the hourly figure. Ask whether HST, vehicle charges, minimum shift lengths, holiday premiums, supervision and reporting are included. Ask what happens when a guard calls in sick: a low rate with no replacement plan costs you more when the post sits empty. Ask for proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage. HFH carries $2 million in liability insurance and WSIB coverage.
How to get the price down without cutting coverage
Match the coverage to the risk. Use patrol where a visit is enough and a static post only where a person must be present. Commit to a longer contract. Keep hours predictable. Tell the provider the actual problem you are trying to solve so they can scope the minimum coverage that works. Cutting hours blindly is how sites end up unprotected at the one time they were targeted.
Get a quote for your site
HFH Security Services quotes security guard, mobile patrol, construction site and event coverage across Barrie, Innisfil, Bradford, Newmarket, Vaughan, York Region and Toronto. Call 705-715-2327 or email [email protected] with the address, hours and what you need covered. You get a straight number and a clear scope. You can also use the quote form on the hire a security guard page: /hire-a-security-guard.
Get a direct scope for your site.
HFH Security Services provides licensed security guard services across Ontario. Veteran-led, award-winning, WSIB covered with $2M liability insurance.