Gain Insight into Homeowners’ Attitudes and Motivations Driving Home Improvement Initiatives.
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Canada Home Improvement Project Activity Trackers
Home improvement projects are an essential part of homeownership, reflecting not only a desire for better living spaces but also evolving trends in design, technology, and sustainability. To uncover the driving forces behind these activities, our latest research study takes an in-depth look at the behaviors, motivations, and decisions shaping home improvement projects across Canada.
Objectives
Investigate Recent Home Improvement Activities Conducted Within the Last 90 Days.
Analyze Evolving Channel Behaviors Over Time in Home Improvement Purchases.
Delve into Product Research Patterns and Influential Factors Shaping Project and Product Purchasing Decisions.
Understand Why Homeowners Did Not Undertake Home Improvement Activities in the Last 90 Days.
Anticipate Future Home Improvement Activity by Understanding Homeowners’ Project Intentions.
Past Iterations
FAQs
What are the latest trends in Canadian home improvement activity?
Canadian homeowners show similar overall project intent to the U.S. but are less engaged in routine maintenance and repair and trail in mechanical or systems related projects. Renovation activity is higher among Canadians, however, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker. No current need is the main reason for not starting any home improvement projects in the past year, particularly for Canadians, followed by budget constraints. Despite lower past spend and activity, however, Canadians are planning to increase budgets in the near future. Another trend is that younger Canadians drive higher renovation activity. Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to complete and plan projects.
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
How has home renovation activity changed in Canada recently?
After peaking mid-year and softening into the fourth quarter of 2025, project activity has stabilized overall, with maintenance declining and renovation holding steadier, based on data from the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker. Canadian homeowners are broadly satisfied with their homes, but their negative sentiment toward undertaking projects, especially larger ones, reflects a cautious mindset shaped by cost sensitivity and larger economic pressures. This caution is reinforcing a shift toward smaller, needs-based projects over discretionary upgrades. Canadians are pragmatic in their approach to home improvement, with projects driven by functional needs and lifestyle upgrades.
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
Are more Canadians choosing DIY or hiring contractors for home improvements?
More Canadians are choosing DIY over hiring contractors home improvements, with DIY serving as the completion method for more than half of projects in 2025. The second most popular completion method for home improvements is hiring a contractor, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker. About a quarter of projects are completed using a hybrid approach of DIY and contractor assistance. Canadian homeowners prioritize DIY for cost savings, followed by confidence in their skills and enjoyment. The top reasons for hiring a pro among Canadians include technical expertise; specialized tools/equipment; work quality; and quicker project completion. General contractors/remodelers and plumbers are the most frequently hired professionals in the home improvement industry in Canada.
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
Where do Canadians prefer to shop for home improvement supplies?
The overall channel mix in Canada closely mirrors the U.S., with big-box retailers remain the primary channel in both markets. However, Canadians rely on them and on mass retailers significantly less than Americans. Canadians also prefer to shop for home improvement supplies at local hardware store and they make greater use of specialty suppliers than U.S. homeowners, based on the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker. This points to a more varied path to purchase in Canada. In-store purchasing is the most popular way to acquire home improvement products, while online purchasing (for both delivery and in-store pickup) is used much less frequently. Planned purchases account more a majority of home improvement spend in the Canadian market. Contractors were solely involved in making about one-third of purchases, while emergency purchases account for a small share.
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
What is the current outlook for the Canadian home improvement market?
Homeowners in Canada entered 2025 with a cautious outlook despite generally positive satisfaction with their homes. In terms of the current outlook for the Canadian home improvement market, sentiment toward undertaking projects is mostly neutral to slightly negative, reflecting cost sensitivity and broader economic pressures, based on findings in the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker. Almost half of Canadian homeowners feel it's a bad time to take on a mid-sized project ($5k to $25k) or hire a contractor and nearly two-thirds feel it's a bad time to start a large project ($25k-plus).
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
What are the most popular home improvement projects in Canada this year?
The most popular home improvement projects in Canada this year are concentrated on interior upgrades, followed by improvements to the exterior envelope and, to a lesser extent, outdoor projects. About one-third of home improvement projects in Canada involve bathrooms, based on the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker. Kitchen projects and yard, garden or landscape projects are also popular home improvement activities in Canada. Looking ahead, some of the most popular home improvement projects in Canada that are being planned for the upcoming year include interior painting, interior flooring, and bathroom and kitchen remodels, along with general landscaping and adding trees, plants, and shrubs. Major renovations and mechanical/structural/systems upgrades are generally less popular.
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
What are the most common reasons for home renovations in Canada?
When it comes to undertaking home renovations, Canadians are primarily motivated by functional and lifestyle improvements. According to the Home Improvement Research Institute's 2025 Canadian Homeowner Project Activity Tracker, some of the top reasons for home improvement projects in Canada include to repair or replace worn-out features; to better enjoy one's home; to update the home's style; to improve quality of life; and to increase home value. These motivations are mostly in line with those demonstrated by homeowners in the U.S. Additionally, when considering what factors would motivate them to start a home improvement project in the next year, financial incentives (such as discounts and rebates) were at the top, followed by improved economic conditions and improved household income.
HIRI members with the Canadian Special Interest Group add-on can access all the data offered in this report. Contact us to upgrade your membership.
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