What's the cost to run electrical to a detached garage in Calgary?

Running electrical to a detached garage in Calgary typically costs between $2,500 and $6,500, with the final price depending heavily on the distance from your main panel, how much power you need in the garage, and whether the cable run is underground or overhead. A basic setup with lights and a couple of outlets on a 60A sub-panel sits at the lower end, while a fully equipped workshop or garage with a 100A sub-panel, multiple 20A circuits, EV charger provisions, and overhead lighting pushes toward the upper range.

The underground cable run is usually the most significant cost component. Calgary's frost depth exceeds 1.2 metres, and the Canadian Electrical Code requires direct-buried TECK cable to be at a minimum depth of 600mm (with conduit) or 900mm (without conduit for certain cable types). Most Calgary electricians recommend burying at or below the 1.2-metre frost line to prevent damage from ground heave — this is deeper than code minimum but reflects local best practice. TECK cable, the standard for underground outdoor runs in Alberta, costs $2.50 to $9.00 per foot depending on wire gauge, and a typical 20 to 30-metre run from the house to the garage adds up quickly. Trenching costs $10 to $25 per linear foot if done by machine, and the trench also needs to be inspected before backfilling.

The sub-panel installation in the garage itself adds $1,000 to $2,200 for a 60A to 100A panel, depending on how many circuits you need. A basic garage setup might include 2 to 3 circuits — one for lighting, one for general outlets, and one dedicated 20A circuit for power tools. If you plan to charge an EV in the garage, you will need a 40A to 50A dedicated circuit for the Level 2 charger, which significantly affects your sub-panel sizing and the feeder wire gauge from the house.

Calgary's chinook-driven freeze-thaw cycles are a particular concern for underground conduit. Repeated ground heaving and settling can shift conduit, stress connections, and eventually crack rigid PVC conduit at joints. Your electrician should use flexible conduit or schedule 40 PVC with proper expansion joints, and all underground connections should be made in accessible junction boxes — never buried. Hailstorms can also damage any exposed conduit or electrical enclosures on the exterior of the garage, so weatherproof NEMA-rated enclosures are essential.

An electrical permit is required from the City of Calgary for this work — you are adding a new sub-panel and new circuits, both of which require inspection by a Safety Codes Officer. Your electrician handles the permit application, and fees typically run $100 to $350 for a project of this scope. Before starting, a licensed electrician should perform a load calculation on your main panel to confirm it can support the sub-panel feeder without overloading — homes with older 100A panels may need a main panel upgrade to 200A first, adding $1,800 to $3,500 to the project. Browse electrical professionals in your area through the Calgary Construction Network directory to get started with free estimates.