Welcome back to Digging Deeper with The Post Hole Company!
This is the question people search before they call anyone. And honestly, it’s a fair one — you want a ballpark before you pick up the phone, and most companies make you jump through hoops to get a number.
We’re not going to do that. Here is exactly what we charge, what affects the final price, and what you should watch out for when comparing quotes from different companies.
The Short Answer
Post hole digging in Ontario typically costs between $30 and $110 per hole depending on hole size, depth, and whether you want the post set in concrete or just the hole dug. Deck footings run $85 to $110 per hole for a full dig, set, and concrete service.
Those are our actual prices — not estimates, not ranges designed to get you on the phone. You can see the full breakdown on our pricing page.
The Three Main Services - and What Each Cost
There are three ways to engage us, and the price difference between them is significant. Knowing which one you need before you call will save you time.
Dig Only
You supply everything — the posts, the concrete, the brackets. We show up, drill the holes to the correct depth and diameter, and leave. This is the cheapest option and the right choice if you or your fence contractor want to handle the setting yourselves.
- 8-inch hole: $30
- 10-inch hole: $35
- 12-inch hole: $40
Standard depth for fence posts is 42 inches (3.5 feet) — below Ontario’s 2.5 ft frost line with margin to spare.
Dig & Set
You supply the posts. We supply the digging, the setting, and the concrete. This is the most popular service for residential fence projects — one crew, one visit, everything done.
- 8-inch hole, 4×4 post: $50
- 10-inch hole, 4×4 post (gates or fences taller than 7 ft): $80
- 10-inch hole, 6×6 post: $60
- 12-inch hole, 6×6 post (gates or fences taller than 7 ft): $90
The price difference between a standard post and a gate or tall-fence post reflects the extra concrete needed for a wider, deeper hole and the additional care required to get heavy gate posts perfectly plumb.
Deck Footings
You supply the sonotube and the post anchor bracket. We supply the digging to 4 feet minimum, the concrete, and the installation. This is how our deck footing service works.
- 8-inch footing: $75
- 10-inch footing: $85
- 12-inch footing: $110
For larger diameter footings — 16-inch, 24-inch, or 36-inch for hot tubs or heavy commercial loads — call us for a quote. Those are priced by the job.
What Affects Your Final Price
The per-hole rates above are based on standard conditions. Here is what can move that number up:
Hole size. Bigger diameter means more time drilling and more concrete to fill. An 8-inch fence post hole and a 12-inch gate post hole are meaningfully different jobs.
Depth. Our standard fence post depth is 42 inches. Our standard footing depth is 48 inches. If your deck builder specifies a deeper footing, the price reflects that additional work.
Soil conditions. This is the one people don’t think about until they’re on site. Sandy loam in a subdivision that was graded five years ago drills fast and clean. Clay-heavy GTA soil drills slower. Fill with buried construction debris, old tree roots, or rock takes significantly longer — and in the case of solid rock, may require hand digging at an additional cost. We assess conditions on site and will always tell you before we proceed if something is going to affect pricing.
Access. Our machines are compact and designed to fit through a standard fence gate, but some jobs have genuinely difficult access — narrow side yards, raised garden beds in the way, overhead obstructions. Difficult access takes more time to set up and manoeuvre, and that time is reflected in the quote.
Service type. Dig only vs. dig & set is the biggest single lever in your price. If you’re price-sensitive and your fence contractor can handle the setting, dig only is the right call.
Your location. We cover a large territory across the GTA, and minimum charges vary by city to account for travel time and fuel. If you’re in Mississauga or Burlington, you’re in our home territory. The further you are from our base, the higher the minimum applies. Cities and minimums are on our pricing page.
What You Should Watch Out for When Comparing Quotes
Not all post hole quotes are created equal. Here are the things that make a cheap quote not actually cheap:
“Dig only” price that is done with a one/two-man-auger. Some companies quote a very low per-hole rate but charge higher on site for tough digging conditions when they use inefficient digging tools like gas powered manual augers.
No Ontario One Call locate included. Locates are legally required before any ground is broken in Ontario. If a company isn’t mentioning locates in their process, ask how they handle them. A company that skips locates is putting you at legal and financial risk if a utility line gets hit. Quick Tip: The company excavating is required to pull their own locates.
No WSIB coverage. If a worker is injured on your property and the company doesn’t carry WSIB, you as the homeowner can be held liable. We carry full WSIB coverage on every job. Ask any company you’re considering for proof before they step onto your property.
Unusually shallow depths. A 2-foot deep fence post hole in Ontario will eventually heave. We’ve had customers call us to re-do work done by other companies who cut corners on depth. The cheapest hole today can be the most expensive hole in two years.
No minimum charge disclosure. Most professional post hole companies have minimum charges — it’s the cost of showing up with a crew and a machine regardless of how small the job is. A company that doesn’t mention a minimum upfront may surprise you at invoice time. Our minimums are posted on our pricing page by city, and they are not an additional charge on top of your per-hole rate — it’s one or the other, whichever is higher.
How to Get an Accurate Quote From Us
Getting a number from us is straightforward. When you call or message, have these details ready:
- What service do you need? Dig only, dig & set, or footings?
- How many holes?
- What diameter? 8, 10, or 12 inch for standard jobs
- What is the full address? We need this to apply the correct minimum charge for your city
- Are locates done? If not, we can walk you through the Ontario One Call process. Allow 5 to 7 business days
That’s it. We’ll give you a price on the spot — no callback, no quote form, no waiting.
Why the Price Is Worth It
We get it — digging a hole sounds simple. And for one or two shallow holes in easy soil, maybe it is. But post hole digging done wrong is one of the most expensive mistakes in outdoor construction. Posts that heave because they weren’t deep enough. Posts that lean because they weren’t plumb. Gate posts that shift because they weren’t set in the right diameter with enough concrete.
Our crew has been doing this across the GTA for over 16 years. We know what the soil is like in Mississauga clay. We know what rocks look like in Burlington. We know how to read a tight backyard access situation and get the machine where it needs to go. That experience is what you’re paying for — and at $30 to $110 a hole with concrete included on most jobs, it is one of the better value propositions in outdoor construction.
Ready to Get a Price?
We serve residential and commercial clients across Mississauga, Burlington, Hamilton, Brampton, Oakville, Scarborough, Aurora, Richmond Hill, and the greater GTA.
📞 Call us at (905) 497-4653 💬 Message us on WhatsApp 🌐 See our full pricing online 📅 Book an appointment online