Short answer: Mississauga contractors publish about $19–$60 per sq ft for a heated paver driveway installed, so a 500 sq ft driveway lands between roughly $9,500 and $30,000. Running an electric system costs about $0.93 an hour for 500 sq ft on Ultra-Low Overnight electricity, and a whole winter typically $100–$300 (RenoQuotes, Canada-wide).
Installed cost by driveway size
| Heated area | At $19–$60 per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Walk and steps, ~100 sq ft | $1,900–$6,000 |
| 1-car, ~300 sq ft | $5,700–$18,000 |
| 2-car, ~500 sq ft | $9,500–$30,000 |
| 2-car, ~600 sq ft | $11,400–$36,000 |
Our arithmetic on the range Mississauga contractors publish (Action Home Services, Precision Landscaping, Markstone Landscaping), market figures for 2026, not a quote. The low end is electric cable on a simple layout; the top is hydronic tubing.
Electric or hydronic: the cost difference
Electric cable costs less to install, about $18–$28 per sq ft (RenoQuotes, Canada-wide), and suits most driveways under about 600 sq ft. Hydronic tubing runs about $26–$55 per sq ft before the boiler, and a boiler package can add $9,000–$18,000. Hydronic makes more sense for big areas or a home that already has a suitable boiler. Electrical work needs an ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor; gas work needs a TSSA-registered fuels contractor.
What it costs to run in Ontario
At 50 W per sq ft (Warmup's design figure), the hourly cost depends on your electricity plan and when the system runs:
| Heated area | Ultra-Low Overnight | Off-peak | TOU on-peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 sq ft | $0.56/hr | $1.37/hr | $2.84/hr |
| 500 sq ft | $0.93/hr | $2.28/hr | $4.73/hr |
| 600 sq ft | $1.11/hr | $2.73/hr | $5.67/hr |
OEB electricity prices from November 1, 2026, commodity only; delivery and regulatory charges are extra. Worked example: a 10-hour overnight storm on a 500 sq ft system is about $9.30 on Ultra-Low Overnight, or $47.30 if the same hours fell on TOU on-peak. Moisture and temperature sensors keep the run time down, which is how RenoQuotes arrives at $100–$300 for a typical winter.
The extras that change the total
- Drainage. Meltwater needs somewhere to go; a slot drain at the garage or the bottom of the slope runs $1,500–$4,000 (RenoQuotes).
- Electrical panel. A 600 sq ft electric system draws about 30 kW, around 125 A at 240 V. It needs a dedicated breaker and may need a panel or service upgrade, $1,500–$4,500 (RenoQuotes).
- Coverage. Heating only the two tire tracks cuts the heated area by roughly 40%, at about $12–$20 per sq ft (RenoQuotes).
- The paving itself. Heat goes in with a new paver driveway or a full relay; adding it later means lifting the pavers.
Is a heated driveway worth it?
It makes most sense on steep driveways, for anyone who can't shovel, and where a front walk and steps ice up. If the main goal is a safe entrance, heating just the walk and steps is the smallest job. If you are replacing the driveway anyway, decide before the base goes in: price the paving with the driveway cost calculator and add the heat on top.
FAQ
How much does a heated driveway cost in Ontario?
Mississauga contractors publish about $19–$60 per sq ft installed for a heated paver driveway, so a 500 sq ft driveway lands between roughly $9,500 and $30,000. Electric cable sits at the low end and hydronic tubing at the top, before extras like a slot drain, a panel upgrade or a boiler.
How much does it cost to run a heated driveway?
At 50 W per sq ft, a 500 sq ft electric system draws 25 kW, about $0.93 an hour on Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight price and $4.73 on TOU on-peak, commodity only. Sensors limit run time to storms, and RenoQuotes puts a typical winter at $100–$300 (Canada-wide figure).
Is electric or hydronic cheaper?
Electric costs less to install, about $18–$28 per sq ft against $26–$55 for hydronic before the boiler (RenoQuotes, Canada-wide), and suits most driveways under about 600 sq ft. Hydronic can cost less to run on gas and suits large areas or homes that already have a suitable boiler.
Can I add heat to my existing driveway?
With interlock, yes: the pavers are lifted, the cable or tubing is laid, and the pavers go back down on a fresh bed. It costs more than building it in from the start, because the paving is relaid. A poured concrete driveway needs channels cut or a full replacement instead.
Sources
- Action Home Services: heated driveway Mississauga
- Precision Landscaping: heated driveways Mississauga
- Markstone Landscaping: heated driveways
- RenoQuotes: heated driveway cost in Canada, 2026 (Canada-wide)
- Warmup: snow-melting systems (50 W/sq ft)
- Ontario Energy Board: electricity prices