Mortgage · Selling a home in Canada
Real estate commission calculator.
Enter your own tiered rates, add the right GST/HST for your province, and see what the commission costs and how it splits between the two brokerages.
Commission in Canada is negotiated, not set by law. A common illustrative structure is a higher rate on the first $100,000 of the sale price and a lower rate on the balance. This calculator starts with 5% on the first $100,000 and 2.5% on the balance as a typical example only — change every number to match your listing agreement.
On a $750,000 sale in Ontario that example is $21,250 before tax, $2,762.50 of 13% HST, or $24,012.50 in total.
Inputs
Total commission
Fill the form and press Calculate.
How the commission is calculated
The sale price is split at the first-tier amount. Rate 1 is applied to the part of the price up to that amount and rate 2 to the rest; the two pieces are added to give the commission before tax. Tax is then added at the combined GST/HST rate for the province (plus QST in Quebec), and the buyer-side share is taken as a percentage of the pre-tax commission.
Worked example
Sale price $750,000 in Ontario, 5% on the first $100,000 and 2.5% on the balance, split 50/50:
- First tier: $100,000 × 5% = $5,000.00
- Balance: $650,000 × 2.5% = $16,250.00
- Commission before tax: $21,250.00 (2.83% of the price)
- HST at 13%: $21,250 × 13% = $2,762.50
- Total including tax: $24,012.50 (3.20% of the price)
- Each side’s share of the pre-tax commission: $10,625.00
These rates are examples, not a standard
No Canadian law or industry body fixes the commission rate. The 5% and 2.5% defaults, the $100,000 tier and the 50% split are illustrative values that appear in many listing agreements; they are not drawn from any official source and your agreement may differ. Everything except the tax rates is user-entered.
GST/HST rates used
Rates are from the CRA’s GST/HST rate table, read on 1 October 2026:
- 5% GST: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Yukon
- 13% HST: Ontario
- 14% HST: Nova Scotia (lowered from 15% on 1 April 2025)
- 15% HST: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island
- 5% GST + 9.975% QST: Quebec (added together, 14.975%, as listed on the CRA page)
BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan also have provincial sales tax listed on the CRA page; this tool does not apply it to commission. If your invoice shows a different tax, untick the tax box and add it yourself.
Sources, and when they were last checked
The only built-in numbers are the tax rates. They were read from the page below on 1 October 2026. Rates change; check the source before relying on them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a real estate agent commission in Canada?
There is no standard. Commission is negotiated between the seller and the listing brokerage and written into the listing agreement. A common illustrative structure is a higher percentage on the first $100,000 and a lower one on the balance (for example 5% and 2.5%), but those are typical examples, not a rule. Enter your own rates.
Do you pay GST/HST on real estate commission?
Brokerages generally add GST/HST to the commission on the invoice, at the rate for the province, so a commission quoted as a percentage is often quoted before tax. Check your listing agreement to see whether the quoted rate is plus or including tax; untick the tax box if it already includes it.
What GST/HST rate applies by province?
Per the CRA rate table: 5% GST in AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, SK, QC and YT; 13% HST in Ontario; 14% HST in Nova Scotia since 1 April 2025; and 15% HST in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. Quebec also has QST of 9.975%, which this tool adds in Quebec. Provincial sales tax in BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan is not applied here.
Who pays the buyer’s agent?
It depends on the listing agreement and local practice. This tool simply splits the total commission by the percentage you enter and shows both halves, so you can model a 50/50 split or any other arrangement your agreement states.
Is the commission negotiable?
Yes. The rates, the tier threshold and any flat fee are all negotiable terms. Use this calculator to compare offers: change a rate or switch to a single flat rate by setting the first tier to 0.
How do I use this for a flat percentage?
Set the first-tier amount to 0 and enter the flat rate as the balance rate. Or set both rates the same.
Disclaimer
This is an estimate only based on rates and splits you enter. Commission rates are negotiated and the defaults are examples, not a standard. Tax treatment of your invoice depends on your brokerage and circumstances. Confirm the figures with your agent, brokerage or lawyer.