What is the average Class A rent in Calgary?

Around 32 CAD/sqft/yr ($23 USD) across the broader Class A index. Trophy submarkets like Downtown Core command 20–40% above that.

How many months of rent-free are normal in Calgary?

18 months on a 10-year deal is the standard benchmark. Lease-up product or tenants with strong covenant strength can push higher.

Are rents rising or falling in Calgary?

The Calgary Class A market is currently softening. Vacancy is 28.4%, which sets the negotiating context.

Headline Class A rent in Calgary is around 32 CAD/sqft/yr ($23 USD), with 18 months of typical rent-free on a 10-year term.

Headline Class A rent: 32 CAD/sqft/yr ($23 USD).
Trophy submarket rents (Downtown Core) push to roughly C$36/sqft/yr · ≈ $26.6 PSF/yr USD.
Typical concessions on a 10-year deal: 18 months free rent.
Vacancy stands at 28.4% — market trend is softening.
Use effective rent (face minus PV of concessions), not headline, to compare deals.

Calgary Class A office rents and incentives

Headline Class A rent in Calgary is around 32 CAD/sqft/yr ($23 USD), with 18 months of typical rent-free on a 10-year term.

TL;DR

Headline Class A rent: 32 CAD/sqft/yr ($23 USD).
Trophy submarket rents (Downtown Core) push to roughly C$36/sqft/yr · ≈ $26.6 PSF/yr USD.
Typical concessions on a 10-year deal: 18 months free rent.
Vacancy stands at 28.4% — market trend is softening.
Use effective rent (face minus PV of concessions), not headline, to compare deals.

Headline rent vs. effective rent

Asking rents in Calgary are quoted in CAD per sqft per year. Across the broad Class A index the figure is 32, but the trophy tier in Downtown Core reaches roughly C$36/sqft/yr · ≈ $26.6 PSF/yr USD. Always discount headline rent by the present value of free rent and fit-out-capex">tenant improvement allowance to land on effective rent — the only number that compares cleanly across deals.

Rent-free and TI

Standard Calgary concessions on a 10-year Class A lease run to 18 months of base-rent abatement. Trophy lease-ups can push rent-free 25–40% above that benchmark. Local cost-of-occupancy is also shaped by tax — 15% federal plus Alberta's 8% provincial corporate income tax (lowest in Canada). Combined effective rate of 23%. No PST. 5% federal GST.

Where rents land by submarket

Downtown Core sits at the top end (~C$36/sqft/yr · ≈ $26.6 PSF/yr USD). Beltline clears around C$28/sqft/yr · ≈ $20.7 PSF/yr USD as the prime tier. Chinook Park / Glenmore represents the value end at ~C$22/sqft/yr · ≈ $16.3 PSF/yr USD. The full submarket map is on the Calgary city page.

Key facts

city	Calgary
country	Canada
region	Americas
classARentLocal	32 CAD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$23/sqft/yr
vacancy	28.4%
typicalLeaseYears	10
typicalRentFreeMonths	18
submarkets	5
primeYieldPct	7.5%
trophyRent	C$36/sqft/yr · ≈ $26.6 PSF/yr USD
primeRent	C$28/sqft/yr · ≈ $20.7 PSF/yr USD

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Class A rent in Calgary?: Around 32 CAD/sqft/yr ($23 USD) across the broader Class A index. Trophy submarkets like Downtown Core command 20–40% above that.
How many months of rent-free are normal in Calgary?: 18 months on a 10-year deal is the standard benchmark. Lease-up product or tenants with strong covenant strength can push higher.
Are rents rising or falling in Calgary?: The Calgary Class A market is currently softening. Vacancy is 28.4%, which sets the negotiating context.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Class A Atlas Editorial Desk — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction