Pricing
How Much Do Acrylic Nails Cost in Canada? (2026 Salon Price Guide)
Acrylic nails are a liquid-monomer-and-powder-polymer enhancement applied over plastic tips or directly onto the natural nail plate. They are a distinct nail technology from gel systems — different chemistry, different tools, different maintenance schedule.
Based on publicly advertised prices collected from 40 independent Canadian businesses across 8 provinces in October 2026, acrylic full set (with regular polish) prices in Canada range from $55 to $70, with a national median of $62. The middle 50% of salons charge between $58 and $65.
Refills (infill appointments to balance the growth gap at the cuticle line) are priced separately and lower: a median of $45 across the same sample.
What acrylic nails cover — and what they do not
This article covers:
- Acrylic full set with regular polish finish
- Acrylic full set with gel polish / Shellac finish
- Acrylic refill / infill
- Acrylic overlay (no tip extension)
- Acrylic removal
This article does not cover gel nail enhancements, Bio Gel, BIAB, or basic gel-polish manicures on natural nails. Those services are owned by separate guides. For gel nail pricing, see the gel nails pricing guide. For manicure pricing, see our manicure cost guide.
Acrylic full set: the benchmark price
| Metric | Observed value (full set, regular polish) |
|---|---|
| Observed range | $55 – $70 |
| National median | $62 |
| Middle 50% (P25–P75) | $58 – $65 |
| Arithmetic mean | $61.45 |
| Businesses sampled | 40 |
| Provinces represented | 8 (ON, BC, AB, QC, NS, MB, SK, NB) |
Acrylic full sets have a fairly standardized price band across the sample, so regional variation is a smaller factor here than for colour services.
Acrylic refill / infill pricing
A refill (also called an infill or fill) rebalances the growth gap at the cuticle line without replacing the entire set.
| Service | Businesses sampled | Observed range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic full set (regular polish) | 40 | $55 – $70 | $62 |
| Acrylic refill / fill (earlier benchmark) | 40 | $40 – $52 | $45 |
An earlier survey of 40 Canadian salons found an acrylic refill median of $45.00 (range $40.00 to $52.00). A separate refill survey of 33 independent Canadian businesses in October 2026 found a range of $40.00 to $55.00, a national median of $48.00, a middle 50% of $45.00 to $48.00, and a mean of $46.70.
Refills are generally priced well below a full set, so keeping up with fills is typically the lower-cost option.
Refill pricing across Canadian provinces
A provincial look at acrylic refills across 33 salons in 7 provinces shows the following distribution:
| Province | Businesses sampled (n) | Observed range | Median | Sample status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5 | $45.00 – $50.00 | $48.00 | LIMITED_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
| British Columbia | 4 | $42.00 – $50.00 | $46.50 | LIMITED_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
| Manitoba | 2 | $45.00 – $50.00 | $47.50 | LIMITED_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
| New Brunswick | 12 | $40.00 – $48.00 | $45.00 | SUFFICIENT_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
| Nova Scotia | 2 | $45.00 – $48.00 | $46.50 | LIMITED_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
| Ontario | 5 | $48.00 – $55.00 | $50.00 | LIMITED_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
| Quebec | 3 | $48.00 – $50.00 | $48.00 | LIMITED_PROVINCIAL_SAMPLE |
Refill chemistry differences: acrylic vs gel
Nail refill pricing varies significantly depending on the underlying chemistry system:
- Acrylic refills: As this guide documents, standard acrylic refills have a national median of $48.00 (range $40.00 to $55.00).
- Hard gel and Bio Gel refills: Hard gel and Bio Gel refills typically cost $15.00 to $25.00 more than acrylic refills.
Overgrown fills and foreign salon surcharges
Two operational policies frequently alter the final refill bill:
- Overgrown refill surcharge (3–4+ weeks): An overgrown surcharge of $10.00 to $15.00 is typical, or the full set price where complete rebalancing is needed.
- Foreign refill surcharge (other salon’s work): A rebalancing fee of $10.00 to $20.00 is typical for work applied by another salon, or a full soak-off removal and new set.
By province
| Province | Salons sampled | Observed range | Median | Sample status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 6 | $58 – $65 | $62 | Limited |
| British Columbia | 4 | $62 – $68 | $66.50 | Limited |
| Manitoba | 2 | $58 – $60 | $59 | Limited |
| New Brunswick | 15 | $55 – $65 | $58 | Sufficient |
| Nova Scotia | 2 | $62 – $65 | $63.50 | Limited |
| Ontario | 7 | $60 – $70 | $64 | Limited |
| Quebec | 2 | $60 – $62 | $61 | Limited |
| Saskatchewan | 2 | $58 – $60 | $59 | Limited |
New Brunswick has the largest provincial sample at 15 salons and the lowest provincial median of the eight provinces at $58. British Columbia ($66.50) and Ontario ($64) have the highest medians in this research.
City-by-city acrylic full set prices
| City | Province | Salons sampled | Observed range | Median | Sample status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | AB | 4 | $58 – $65 | $63 | Sufficient |
| Edmonton | AB | 2 | $58 – $62 | $60 | Limited |
| Fredericton | NB | 6 | $55 – $65 | $59 | Sufficient |
| Halifax | NS | 2 | $62 – $65 | $63.50 | Limited |
| Moncton | NB | 4 | $55 – $65 | $57 | Sufficient |
| Montreal | QC | 2 | $60 – $62 | $61 | Limited |
| Ottawa | ON | 2 | $60 – $62 | $61 | Limited |
| Saint John | NB | 4 | $55 – $65 | $58 | Sufficient |
| Toronto | ON | 5 | $62 – $70 | $65 | Sufficient |
| Vancouver | BC | 4 | $62 – $68 | $66.50 | Sufficient |
| Winnipeg | MB | 2 | $58 – $60 | $59 | Limited |
Notes on the table:
- Vancouver ($66.50 median) and Toronto ($65 median) are the highest-median cities for acrylic full sets in this research.
- Moncton’s city median of $57 is the lowest among sufficient-sample cities in this research.
- Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Winnipeg have limited samples.
New Brunswick acrylic nail pricing
New Brunswick has 15 salons in this sample — sufficient coverage for all three major cities.
Fredericton (6 salons)
Acrylic full set prices in Fredericton ranged from $55 to $65, with a city median of $59. In addition, a separate refill sample of 4 salons found Fredericton acrylic refills range from $40.00 to $45.00, with a city median of $45.00.
Moncton and Dieppe (4 salons)
Moncton returned a range of $55 to $65 and a city median of $57, the lowest city median among the sufficient-sample cities in this research.
A separate refill sample of 4 salons found Moncton and Dieppe acrylic refills range from $42.00 to $48.00, with a median of $46.50.
Saint John (4 salons)
Saint John advertised acrylic full sets from $55 to $65, with a city median of $58.
A separate refill sample of 4 salons found Saint John acrylic refills range from $40.00 to $48.00, with a city median of $43.50. Across New Brunswick overall, 12 salons returned an acrylic refill range of $40.00 to $48.00 and a provincial median of $45.00.
What affects the acrylic price
Top finish (regular enamel versus gel polish). Finishing acrylic tips with LED-cured gel polish (rather than regular lacquer) is the most commonly documented surcharge in this category. In our sample, a gel polish finish added +$13 to the full set price, within a $10–$15 range across businesses. This is worth clarifying at booking — some clients assume gel polish is included; it is often an additional charge.
Nail extension length. Standard base prices cover short-to-active lengths. Long, extra-long, and XXL sculpted extensions incur a tiered length surcharge. Published menus in this sample listed length surcharges from $5 to $15, depending on the tier. Ask what length tier the menu price covers.
Custom nail shaping. Square and round shapes are typically included in the base price. Filing custom tapered shapes — coffin, stiletto, ballerina, almond — requires additional hand-filing time. The documented surcharge in our sample was +$6, within a $5–$10 range.
Refill timing. Fills delayed beyond 3–4 weeks require additional product rebalancing. One menu listed a $10 overgrown-fill surcharge. Booking fills on schedule avoids this.
What a full acrylic set typically includes
Included in most advertised full set prices:
- Prep (sanitizing, nail buffing, dehydration)
- Tip fitting and sizing
- Acrylic application over tips or natural nail
- Filing and shaping (standard square or round)
- Regular polish finish
Typically charged separately:
- Gel polish finish instead of regular polish ($10–$15)
- Length surcharge for long/XXL ($5–$20)
- Custom shape surcharge ($5–$10)
- Nail art (per nail, or flat rate)
- Removal of previous product from another salon
Questions to ask before booking
- Does the quoted price include gel polish, or is that extra?
- What length tier does the base price apply to?
- Is my preferred nail shape (coffin, stiletto, etc.) an additional charge?
- If I have product from another salon, is removal included?
- What is the refill price, and what interval do you recommend?
Frequently asked questions
How much do acrylic nails cost in Canada?
Based on publicly advertised prices from 40 independent businesses across 8 provinces in October 2026, an acrylic full set with regular polish ranges from $55 to $70, with a national median of $62. Refills range from $40 to $52, with a median of $45 in our initial benchmark sample, and $48.00 in a dedicated 33-salon refill sample.
Is a gel polish finish included with acrylics?
Not always. Many nail salons price gel polish as a separate add-on, typically $10–$15 above the regular-polish full set price. Confirm before booking whether the quoted price includes gel or regular finish.
How often do acrylic nails need a refill?
This research does not include an approved national refill interval recommendation. Your nail technician will advise based on your nail growth rate and lifestyle. Many salons note that fills delayed beyond 3–4 weeks may incur an additional fee due to the extra rebalancing work required.
Are acrylic nails different from gel nails?
Yes. Acrylics use a liquid monomer and powder polymer that cure in air. Gel systems use oligomer-based formulas cured under UV or LED light. They look similar but are chemically distinct, require different tools, and have different soak-off procedures. See the gel nails pricing guide for gel-specific pricing.
Are acrylic prices lower in New Brunswick?
New Brunswick’s provincial median in this research was $58, compared to the national median of $62. The three sampled NB cities all returned medians between $57 and $59 — below most other cities in the sample. The difference is present but modest for this service.
About these prices
Pricing in this article was compiled from publicly advertised acrylic nail service menus at 40 independent Canadian businesses across 13 cities in 8 provinces, researched in October 2026. Businesses were identified through first-party business websites. All prices are in CAD and represent advertised rates. Refill pricing is drawn from the same 40-business sample and complemented by a 33-business refill study. Current pricing at any specific business may differ.
Actual costs vary based on:
- Full set versus refill appointment
- Regular polish versus gel polish finish
- Nail extension length tier
- Custom nail shape
- Timing of refill (on-schedule versus overgrown)
- Nail art add-ons
Prices change. Always confirm the current rate directly with the salon before booking.
Browse acrylic nail services near you or explore the salon services guide. For gel enhancement pricing, see the gel nails pricing guide. For regular and gel-polish manicure pricing, see our manicure cost guide. For design-specific add-ons, see the Nail Art cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do acrylic nails cost in Canada?
An acrylic full set with regular polish ranged from $55 to $70, with a national median of $62, based on 40 independent businesses across 8 provinces in October 2026. An earlier 40-salon refill sample ranged from $40 to $52 with a median of $45; a separate 33-business refill survey ranged from $40 to $55 with a median of $48.00.
What is the difference between an acrylic full set and a refill?
A full set creates a new acrylic enhancement over tips or the natural nail. A refill rebalances the growth gap near the cuticle and maintains the existing set, so it is priced separately and is usually less expensive. Ask the salon whether the appointment is a routine refill or needs a full removal and new set.
How much do acrylic nails cost in New Brunswick?
The New Brunswick full-set sample covered 15 salons and had a provincial median of $58, compared with the national median of $62. Full-set city medians were $59 in Fredericton, $57 in Moncton, and $58 in Saint John. A separate 12-salon refill sample ranged from $40.00 to $48.00, with a provincial median of $45.00.
Does an acrylic full set include gel polish?
Not always. The documented gel-polish finish surcharge was +$13, within a $10 to $15 range across businesses. Confirm whether the menu price includes regular polish or a gel finish before booking.
Are acrylic nails different from gel nails?
Yes. Acrylic combines a liquid monomer and powder polymer that cure in air. Gel systems use different formulas that cure under UV or LED light. The systems have different chemistry, tools, and removal procedures, so confirm which service you are booking.
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