What affects the cost of access control for a commercial building?
A plain guide for property managers, condo boards and business owners in Alberta and BC. There are no prices here: every building is different, so we give you an itemized quote after a site visit.
Updated
The quick answer
Every building is different, so the cost depends on the number of doors, the type of door and lock hardware each one needs, and whether the cabling is new or already in the walls. The fastest way to get a real number is a site visit and an itemized quote.
The main cost factors
| Factor | Why it changes the cost |
|---|---|
| Number of doors | Each controlled door needs a reader, a lock or strike, a door contact, a way to exit and a place on a controller, so the door count drives most of the cost. |
| Door type and hardware | Glass, aluminum storefront, steel, wood and fire-rated doors take different locks. Some take a simple electric strike; others need an electrified lever, a maglock or a new exit device. |
| New build or retrofit, and cabling | Running cable through finished walls and ceilings takes more labour than an open new build. Existing cable in good shape can sometimes be reused. |
| Cloud or on-site software and licences | Cloud systems usually have a subscription per door or per site. On-site systems have software licences, a computer or server, and sometimes a yearly support plan. |
| Credentials | Fobs, cards and phone credentials are priced differently. Encrypted fobs are much harder to copy than older proximity fobs, and phone credentials may carry a licence per user. |
| Integration | Connecting doors to the video intercom, elevators, parkade gates, cameras or the alarm panel adds hardware, programming and testing time. |
| Fire alarm tie-in | Doors on exit routes must release when the fire alarm sounds. We plan and test that connection with your fire alarm contractor. |
One-time and ongoing costs
One-time costs
- Readers, locks, controllers and power supplies
- Cabling and the labour to install it
- Programming, testing and staff training
- Admin access and documentation, handed over on every project
Ongoing costs
- A cloud subscription or a software support plan
- New fobs and cards as people come and go
- Licences for doors or users you add later
- Maintenance visits and repairs
Ask any installer for the full cost of ownership over the years you plan to keep the system, not just the install. A system that’s cheaper to install can cost more to run.
Ways to keep the cost down
Reuse what’s still good. We check the existing cabling, locks, door hardware and readers during the site visit and tell you what can stay.
Phase the work. Start with the exterior doors and the parkade, then add interior doors, elevators and amenity rooms later on the same system.
Choose a platform that fits the building. A small office doesn’t need an enterprise platform, and a growing portfolio shouldn’t outgrow a small one.
Use solid copper cable. Cheap copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cable can cause power problems at readers and locks that cost more to fix later.
Plan doors, intercom and cameras together. One design and one cable plan cover all three, so nothing is installed twice.
What’s in a Hightower quote
Every Hightower quote is itemized. It lists every reader, lock, controller, power supply and credential, with the make and model number of each part, the cabling, the labour, any licences, subscriptions or monitoring, and what we hand over at the end. Admin access and full documentation are handed over on every project.
That makes it easy to compare with other quotes line by line, see exactly what you’re paying for, and spot anything a cheaper quote has left out.
What to have ready for a quote
A rough count of the doors, gates and elevators you want controlled, and which ones matter most.
Floor plans if you have them, and the brand of any system you have today.
How many people need access, whether you want phone credentials, and who will add and remove users day to day.
Comparing platforms? Read Kantech vs Avigilon Alta and the condo access control guide.
Want a real number for your building?
Book a site visit. We’ll walk every door and give you an itemized quote with make and model numbers.
Related: access controlKantech vs Avigilon Altacamera cost guideintercom cost guide
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
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Access control cost questions
How much does access control cost?
It depends on the number of doors, the door hardware, the cabling and the software. We don’t publish prices because every building is different; after a site visit you get an itemized quote.
Can you reuse our existing wiring?
Often, if it’s the right type and in good shape. We check it during the site visit and list what can stay in the quote.
Can we keep our existing locks and readers?
Sometimes. Locks and door hardware in good condition often stay. Readers may need replacing if the new system uses a different card format.
Is cloud cheaper than on-site?
Not always. Cloud usually means less equipment at the building but an ongoing subscription; on-site means licences and a computer or server to maintain. Compare the total over the years you plan to keep it.
Are phone credentials cheaper than fobs?
Phone credentials save buying and replacing fobs, but some systems charge a licence per user. Many buildings use both, and we can show both options in the quote.
How long does installation take?
It depends on the number of doors, the cabling and when the building can have work done. Your quote includes a schedule.
Can we do it in phases?
Yes. Many buildings start with the exterior doors and parkade and add more doors later on the same system.
Why don’t you publish prices?
Because a price without a site visit is a guess. Door hardware, cabling routes and what you already have change the cost from one building to the next, so we quote each building on its own.
More answers: Access control questionsGlossary: credentialfail-safe vs fail-secure
Get an itemized quote
Tell us about the building: how many doors, the parkade, elevators and what you use today. We’ll follow up to book a site visit.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.