Most businesses that hire security guards end up spending 40–60% more than they expected. Not because they were careless — because the true cost of a security guard goes well beyond the hourly rate on the quote.
This article gives you the real numbers. Hourly rates broken down by guard type. A step-by-step security guard cost calculator you can actually use. A full breakdown of the hidden costs most vendors don’t mention. And honest answers on whether guards are even the right call for your situation.
No fluff. Just the math.
What Is the Average Security Guard Cost in Canada? (2026 Rates)
Guard pricing in Canada varies by province, guard type, and whether you’re hiring through an agency or directly. Here are the current going rates in Canadian dollars — which most U.S.-based resources don’t give you.
| Guard Type |
Hourly Rate (CAD) |
Notes |
| Unarmed Guard |
$18–$32/hr |
Most common for retail, offices, condos |
| Armed Guard |
$30–$55/hr |
Requires licensing; higher liability |
| Mobile Patrol Guard |
$22–$38/hr |
Billed per visit or hourly |
| Personal/Bodyguard |
$45–$120+/hr |
Executive or personal protection |
| 24/7 Private Security |
$140,000–$480,000/yr |
Full continuous coverage (one guard) |
Province matters. Ontario tends to run at the higher end of these ranges due to minimum wage floors and WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) requirements. Alberta and BC fall somewhere in the middle, with rural areas typically cheaper than metro markets like Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary.
The $18/hr unarmed guard might sound affordable. But that number is just the base wage. By the time you factor in agency markup, benefits, and operational overhead, the security guard price your business actually pays is closer to $26–$42/hr for the same guard.
If you need coverage for a full work week at eight hours a day, that’s already $54,000–$87,000 per year — for one guard.
Security Guard Cost Calculator — Build Your Own Estimate
Here’s a simple formula to estimate what guards will actually cost your business before you call anyone.
Step 1: Decide how many hours per day you need coverage. A retail store might need eight hours. A warehouse with overnight inventory risk might need sixteen. A 24/7 operation needs all 24.
Step 2: Decide how many guards per shift. One guard covers one post. If you have three entrances or a large site, plan accordingly.
Step 3: Pick your guard type. Unarmed for low-risk environments. Armed if you’re handling high-value assets or cash. Personal/executive protection for individuals.
Step 4: Add 30–35% for overhead. This covers benefits, vacation pay, equipment, insurance, and agency margin. This is where most businesses get caught off guard (pun intended).
Step 5: Multiply by your operating days. Most businesses use 365. Some use 250 for weekdays only.
Sample Annual Cost Table (CAD, One Guard)
| Hours/Day |
Unarmed ($25/hr all-in) |
Armed ($45/hr all-in) |
Personal ($80/hr all-in) |
| 8 hrs |
$73,000/yr |
$131,400/yr |
$233,600/yr |
| 12 hrs |
$109,500/yr |
$197,100/yr |
$350,400/yr |
| 16 hrs |
$146,000/yr |
$262,800/yr |
$467,200/yr |
| 24 hrs |
$219,000/yr |
$394,200/yr |
$700,800/yr |
These are per-guard figures. A property needing two guards per shift doubles these numbers.
Not sure what coverage level your property actually needs? Contact Secure Shield Security for a free site assessment. We’ll tell you exactly what makes sense — and what doesn’t.
How Much Does a Personal Security Guard Cost?
A personal security guard — also called a bodyguard or executive protection specialist — is a different product than a commercial security guard. The training, risk profile, and pricing reflect that.
Part-time or event-based personal security: $45–$100/hr CAD. Used for high-profile events, travel, or short-term elevated risk periods.
Full-time personal bodyguard: $80,000–$200,000+/yr CAD. The wide range reflects whether the person is armed, their experience level (ex-military or law enforcement commands a premium), and whether travel is required.
Who actually needs personal security?
- Business executives with public profiles or known threat exposure
- High-net-worth individuals and their families
- Public figures, entertainers, or politicians
- Individuals going through contentious legal or business disputes
The question of how much does a personal security guard cost doesn’t have one clean answer because the scope varies so much. An executive who needs a driver/protector for daily commutes has different requirements than someone who needs a full advance team for overseas travel.
What drives cost up: armed requirement, international coverage, 24-hour rotation (which requires more than one person), and specialized tactical training.
What keeps cost down: part-time deployment, unarmed civilian protection, local-only coverage.
If you’re considering private security guard services for personal protection, the most important thing is a proper threat assessment before you commit to anything.
What Does 24/7 Private Security Actually Cost?
True 24/7 private security is not one guard working around the clock. That’s not legal and it’s not safe. Around-the-clock coverage requires a rotation — and that means multiple guards.
Here’s the actual staffing math:
- 24 hours ÷ 8-hour shifts = 3 shifts per day
- Add 1–2 backup guards for sick days, statutory holidays, and vacations
- Realistic minimum: 4–5 guards for continuous single-post coverage
At an average all-in rate of $28/hr (unarmed, mid-range):
| Coverage Model |
Annual Cost (CAD) |
| 4 guards, unarmed, 24/7 |
$492,000/yr |
| 5 guards, unarmed, 24/7 (with buffer) |
$615,000/yr |
| 4 guards, armed, 24/7 |
$788,000/yr |
Is 24/7 coverage actually worth it? For a large property with overnight inventory, high-value assets, or a documented history of after-hours incidents — yes. For a small retail location that closes at 9 PM — probably not. A mobile patrol service or alarm-response contract will cost a fraction of that and cover most realistic risks.
When 24/7 makes sense: data centers, pharmaceutical storage, large construction sites, hospitals, logistics hubs, high-rise residential buildings.
When it’s overkill: small offices, standard retail, low-crime suburban locations with existing camera infrastructure.
Security Guard Cost by Business Type
Security guard price varies by industry because the risk profile, required guard type, and coverage hours differ significantly.
Retail stores Standard unarmed guard, typically 8–12 hours during operating hours. Cost: $45,000–$100,000/yr depending on hours and location.
Construction sites Overnight and weekend coverage is the main need. Mobile patrol often works better than a stationary guard. Cost: $30,000–$90,000/yr depending on site size.
Office buildings / corporate Lobby access control, visitor management, after-hours monitoring. Often one guard per shift. Cost: $55,000–$130,000/yr.
Events Event security is priced per guard per hour. Typical events run $28–$50/hr per guard, with a 4-hour minimum. A medium-sized event needing 5 guards runs $560–$1,000 for the evening.
Condo/residential buildings Concierge-style security, typically 16–24 hour coverage. For a mid-sized building needing two guards: $180,000–$380,000/yr.
Warehouse and logistics High theft risk, often overnight coverage required. Armed guards more common here. Cost: $90,000–$200,000/yr depending on guard type and hours.
These are estimates. Actual security guard cost for your property depends on site-specific factors a quote will reflect.
Security Guard Agency vs. Direct Hire — Which Costs More?
The honest answer: it depends on how you count.
| Factor |
Agency |
Direct Hire |
| Hourly rate |
Higher ($22–$45/hr) |
Lower ($18–$32/hr) |
| Benefits/vacation |
Included in rate |
Your responsibility |
| WSIB/payroll taxes |
Agency handles |
Your responsibility |
| Recruitment |
Agency handles |
Your cost ($1,500–$3,000/hire) |
| Replacement coverage |
Agency provides |
Your problem |
| HR and scheduling |
Agency manages |
Your time |
For most small and medium businesses, a security agency ends up being cheaper once you add the true cost of direct employment. The per-hour rate looks higher, but you’re buying out a significant amount of administrative burden and liability.
That said, larger organizations with stable, long-term needs and dedicated HR capacity sometimes save money by hiring directly. The break-even point is usually around 10+ full-time guards.
Secure Shield Security operates as a full-service agency — transparent pricing, no surprise fees, and replacement coverage handled on our end.
Is a Security Guard Worth the Cost? What You Should Consider
Guards are worth the investment in specific situations. They’re not the right tool for every problem.
Guards make sense when:
- Physical presence is itself the deterrent (high foot traffic, visible crime risk)
- You need access control at a physical checkpoint
- Mobile patrol of a large or multi-building site is required
- Rapid on-site response to incidents is a real need
Guards may not be the best fit when:
- Your budget is under $3,000–$4,000/month — camera monitoring and alarm response may cover your actual risk at a fraction of the cost
- Your site is too large for one guard to realistically cover
- The primary risk is remote (cyber, fraud) rather than physical
The worst outcome is paying for a guard who can’t realistically protect the property because the coverage model doesn’t match the risk. A single unarmed guard at a 50,000 sq ft warehouse is more of a checkbox than actual security.
An honest security provider will tell you when a guard isn’t the right call.
How to Get an Accurate Security Guard Quote in Canada
A real quote requires a real conversation. Have this information ready before you reach out:
- Your site address and square footage
- Current operating hours and when you need coverage
- Number of entrances and floors
- Any known incidents or specific risk concerns
- Whether you need armed or unarmed coverage
A reputable company will want to do a site walk before quoting. If a company gives you a price over the phone without asking any of those questions — that’s a red flag. Either the quote will change later, or you’ll get generic coverage that doesn’t fit your property.
Also watch out for quotes that seem surprisingly low. Security is a people business. If the rate is below market, someone is cutting corners on screening, training, or compliance.
Get a free, no-obligation security assessment from Secure Shield Security. We serve Ontario and work with businesses across multiple industries to find coverage that actually matches the risk. Contact us here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a security guard cost per hour in Canada? Unarmed guards run $18–$32/hr; armed guards $30–$55/hr (CAD). Add 30–35% for benefits, vacation pay, and agency markup to get the real all-in rate. Ontario and BC typically sit at the higher end.
What is the average annual cost of 24/7 private security? You need 4–5 guards in rotation for true 24/7 coverage. That puts continuous single-post coverage at $490,000–$615,000/yr (unarmed) or $780,000+/yr (armed) in Canada.
How much does a personal security guard cost? Part-time or event-based protection costs $45–$100/hr CAD. Full-time personal bodyguards run $80,000–$200,000+/yr depending on armed status, experience, and whether travel is required.
What hidden costs come with hiring a security guard? Benefits and vacation pay add 20–35%, WSIB premiums run ~$1,000–$1,500/yr per guard (Ontario), uniforms cost $300–$700 upfront, and turnover adds $1,500–$3,000 per replacement. Total true cost is typically 45–60% above the quoted hourly rate.
Is it cheaper to hire a security guard agency or directly? Direct hire has a lower hourly rate but you absorb payroll taxes, WSIB, benefits, and recruitment costs. For businesses running fewer than 10 guards, an agency almost always works out cheaper once everything is counted.
What factors affect security guard pricing? Guard type, hours needed, number of posts, provincial location, site risk level, and whether specialized training or licensing is required.
How many security guards do I need for 24/7 coverage? Minimum 4 guards per post (three shifts plus one backup). Plan for 5 to cover holidays and sick days. Three posts needing 24/7 coverage means 12–15 guards in rotation.