There's no single price for a lally column or steel post, because the post is usually the smallest part of the job. The steel, its plates and finish make up one line on the quote. Footings, temporary shoring, engineering, a permit and installation labour often make up the rest. This guide explains what drives each part, so you can read a quote properly and ask for the right thing. For actual pricing on your post, send us the size and length or your drawings.
Lally column, telepost or steel post: what you're actually buying
The words get mixed up online, and they affect what you'll be quoted for.
- Lally column is an American name for a round steel pipe column, traditionally filled with concrete. Much of the cost advice online for "lally columns" is US content.
- Telepost is the common Canadian name for an adjustable steel column, with a screw or a telescoping tube and pin. Under the 2024 Ontario Building Code, a telepost that conforms to CAN/CGSB-7.2 can be a permanent support where the load on it doesn't exceed 36 kN (Article 9.17.3.4). Our guide on whether teleposts can be permanent covers the rules.
- Fixed steel post is a steel pipe or square or rectangular HSS (hollow structural section) cut to a measured length with base and cap plates welded on. This is what most engineered renovation drawings in Ontario call for.
For pipe columns in Part 9 houses, Article 9.17.3.1 sets a minimum outside diameter of 73 mm and wall thickness of 4.76 mm, and allows other sizes where their loadbearing capacity is shown to be adequate. Article 9.17.3.2 requires end plates of at least 100 mm x 100 mm x 6.35 mm, with the top plate extending across the full width of a wood beam. Engineered posts are often larger and come with specific plate sizes and bolt holes on the drawing.
If you're weighing a fixed post against an adjustable one, see lally column vs jack post.
What drives the cost of the post itself
Section and length
Steel is sold by weight, so a bigger or thicker section costs more per metre, and a longer post costs more than a short one. A small round pipe post for a bungalow basement is a very different order from a heavy square HSS column carrying a new beam under a two-storey load. Every HSS and pipe section has a published mass per metre, so the steel weight of a post is easy to work out.
Plates, holes and welding
Base and cap plates are cut, drilled and welded on in the shop. Plate size, thickness, the number of holes and whether the cap is shaped to receive a steel beam or a wood beam all change the fabrication time. Posts that connect to a steel beam need holes that line up with the beam's flange, which is why they're best made from the same drawing as the beam.
Finish
Interior posts are usually shop primed. Paint systems, special coatings or galvanizing for posts in damp locations or outdoors add cost and lead time. Article 9.17.3.3 requires exterior steel columns susceptible to corrosion to have at least one coat of rust-inhibitive paint.
Quantity and timing
One post costs more per piece than several of the same post made together, because cutting, setup and drawing time is spread over fewer pieces. If you have a beam and several posts, quote them as one package.
Delivery
A post or two can travel with other material, but a dedicated trip to a remote site costs more than a delivery on an existing route. Tell your supplier the site address and access when you ask for a price.
The costs around the post
This is where most of the money goes on a typical basement job.
Footing. Under the 2024 OBC, columns must be centred on a footing that conforms to Section 9.15 (Article 9.17.2.1). A post standing on a thin basement slab with no footing under it isn't compliant. Cutting the slab, digging, forming and pouring a new pad footing can cost more than the post. See lally column footing requirements for what's involved.
Temporary shoring. You can't swap a post without supporting the beam first. Shoring is set up on each side, the old post comes out, and the new one goes in at the right height before the shoring is released.
Engineering and permit. Replacing a sound post with an equivalent one is a small job. Moving a post, removing one to open up a basement, or adding posts under a sagging beam changes the structure. That needs a designer or engineer and, in most GTA municipalities, a building permit. Column spacing is part of that design, which is covered in how far apart basement columns should be.
Installation and finishing. Setting the post plumb, fastening the top to the beam (Sentence 9.17.2.2.(1) requires columns to be secured against lateral movement), anchoring the base, patching the slab and boxing in the post if the basement is finished.
| Cost item | Small for | Larger for |
|---|---|---|
| Post section | Light pipe, short height | Heavy HSS, tall or engineered post |
| Plates | Standard square plates | Custom plates with bolt patterns |
| Footing | Existing compliant footing | New pad footing, slab cut and repair |
| Shoring | Simple single post swap | Multiple posts, long beam |
| Design and permit | Like-for-like replacement | Moving, adding or removing posts |
Steel column cost on commercial and engineered jobs
Searches for "how much does a steel column cost" also come from builders pricing commercial frames. Columns there are usually W-shapes or HSS designed under CSA S16, and the price follows the same logic at a larger scale:
- Steel weight, worked out from the section's mass per metre and length.
- Fabrication, including base plates, cap or connection plates, shear tabs, splices and holes.
- Shop drawings so each column is marked and matches the erection plan.
- Finish, such as primer, paint or fire protection where the design calls for it.
- Anchor rods and erection, including setting columns on grout pads.
On these jobs the column quote is usually one part of a full structural steel package. Ask for the quote to show tonnage and fabrication scope so you can compare suppliers on the same basis.
How to get an accurate steel post quote
The fastest way to a firm number is to send:
- The drawing or engineer's detail, if there is one, showing post size, plates and connections.
- Clear height from the top of the footing or slab to the underside of the beam, measured on site after the beam is supported.
- What the post supports: a wood beam (and its width) or a steel beam (and its size).
- Quantity, and whether the posts go with a new beam.
- Finish: primer only, painted or outdoor use.
- Scope: supply only, supply and delivery, or supply and install.
- Photos of the existing post, base and access to the basement.
Compare quotes on the same scope. A low price for a post alone isn't comparable to a quote that includes the footing, shoring and permit drawings. If you're replacing or removing a column entirely, see cost to replace or remove a lally column.
Get pricing on steel posts
We fabricate HSS and steel posts with base and cap plates welded on, along with the beams and plates they connect to, and we supply and install basement beams and posts on residential jobs. Send your drawings or measurements for a free quote, or see our steel products.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lally column cost?
The post itself is a small part of the bill. Price depends on the section and length, the base and cap plates, the finish, and above all whether a new footing, shoring and a permit are needed. A quote based on your drawings or measurements is the only reliable number.
Is a lally column the same as a telepost?
Not quite. Lally column is a US term for a fixed steel pipe column, often filled with concrete. In Canada, adjustable steel columns are usually called teleposts, and fixed posts are typically steel pipe or square HSS cut to length with plates welded on.
Are steel posts priced by weight?
The raw steel is usually priced by weight, so a heavier or longer section costs more. For a basement post, cutting, plates, welding, finish and handling often make up more of the price than the steel itself.
Do I need a permit to replace a basement post?
Replacing a post like for like may be treated differently from moving, adding or removing posts, which is a structural alteration. In Ontario, ask your municipal building department before starting, and get a designer or engineer involved if anything changes.
