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Commercial Renovation Cost Singapore (2026): Fit-Out Prices per Sq Ft

By ifix.sg by Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd (UEN 200408913Z) · Last updated 4 Nov 2026 · Sources cited below

Short answer: Commercial renovation in Singapore is usually budgeted per square foot. Published 2026 guides put office fit-outs at about S$50–S$200+ per sq ft depending on specification, retail at about S$80–S$400, F&B at about S$150–S$700, and GP or dental clinics at about S$150–S$350. Permits, M&E and design fees can sit outside these figures.

How much does commercial renovation cost in Singapore in 2026?

Commercial renovation, or fit-out, turns a bare or previously used unit into a working office, shop, restaurant or clinic. Contractors in Singapore usually quote it per square foot, with design, furniture and authority fees sometimes priced separately.

The table below brings together publicly published 2026 guides. All figures are indicative ranges from other firms, not an ifix.sg quotation. Most exclude GST, and some exclude design fees, FF&E and MEP, as noted in the sources.

For a benchmark, Cushman & Wakefield's 2026 guide reports Singapore office fit-out at about SGD 180 per sq ft for a collaborative hybrid workplace. That makes Singapore the most expensive city in Southeast Asia for office fit-outs [5]. ifix.sg / Trends Interior prices are quote on request after a free site assessment.

What does each type of commercial fit-out cost?

Office renovation

A basic office fit-out covers paint, flooring, ceiling touch-ups, and basic electrical and lighting points. A mid-range fit-out adds meeting rooms, a pantry, manager rooms, data works and glass partitions. Premium offices add a custom reception, feature walls, acoustic rooms and more M&E coordination [1]. Carpentry volume, AV/IT integration and acoustic treatment drive most of the range [2]. Partitions are often a large line item; see our partition wall cost guide.

Retail fit-out

Retail needs stronger lighting, display fixtures, shopfront works and compliance with the landlord's design rules [1]. Display complexity, lighting design and shopfront works are the main cost drivers [2]. HomeMatch gives an average of S$120–S$200 per sq ft for retail, covering partitions, flooring, lighting and display areas [4].

F&B renovation

F&B is the most expensive category per sq ft. Kitchen equipment coordination, exhaust, grease traps, waterproofing, plumbing and fire safety all add cost [1]. One guide estimates MEP at 30–40% of total F&B project cost [2]. Another notes equipment and exhaust alone can use 30–40% of the budget [4].

Clinic and industrial fit-out

Clinics must support infection control, sterilisation workflow, clean/dirty separation, accessibility and fire safety. Dental and imaging rooms may also need lead lining [3]. Industrial and warehouse fit-outs vary widely with mezzanines, power loads and process requirements. We did not find a reliable published per-sq-ft range for them, so quote on request.

What drives commercial renovation cost?

1. Specification level. Basic, mid-range and premium finishes can double or triple the rate [1][2].
2. MEP scope. Kitchens, medical gases, ACMV and power upgrades are the biggest swing factor [2].
3. Carpentry and joinery. Reception counters, display fixtures and built-ins add labour and materials [2].
4. Approvals. Change of use, plan submissions and fire safety works add consultant fees and time [6][8][9].
5. Building rules. JTC and many managed buildings restrict noisy work to after hours and require common-area protection [10].
6. What is excluded. Design fees (8–15% of construction in one guide), FF&E, separate MEP and MCST deposits can sit outside the per-sq-ft rate [2].

What permits and approvals does a commercial renovation need?

• URA change of use. Moving to a different use, such as shop to restaurant, may need URA approval. URA advises not to commit to tenancy or renovation works before its decision [6][7].
• BCA building plans. Building works need plans submitted to BCA by a Qualified Person (a registered architect or professional engineer) [8].
• SCDF fire safety. Installing, altering or relocating fire protection systems, or changing layouts that affect escape routes, needs SCDF plan approval, unless exempt or covered by a minor-works (MAA) lodgement [9]. GoBusiness notes that unauthorised fire safety works or change of use can lead to fines of up to S$200,000 and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment [7].
• JTC units. All fitting-out or renovation works need JTC plan consent first, then approvals from the relevant authorities, before works can start [10].
• Building management or MCST. Expect a renovation permit, insurance, work hours and deposits for common-area protection.

How long does a commercial renovation take?

One published guide puts a typical commercial renovation at about 8–16 weeks from planning to handover, depending on unit type, approvals, M&E complexity and scope [1]. For JTC premises, the facility team's technical review of a renovation application typically takes less than 20 days from submission to decision [10]. Build approvals into your timeline before you sign a lease or set an opening date.

How does renovation connect to reinstatement?

Most commercial leases require you to remove what you built when you leave. Every partition, ceiling feature, kitchen exhaust and raised floor you add now becomes a reinstatement cost later. Cushman & Wakefield puts average Singapore office reinstatement at about USD 19 per sq ft [5]. Published contractor guides range from S$3–S$30+ per sq ft for offices and S$12–S$40 for F&B [11].

Ways to plan for it:

• Ask the landlord which items can stay at lease end, and record it in writing.
• Prefer systems that are easier to remove, such as demountable partitions, where they suit your needs.
• Keep as-built drawings and photos; they make the reinstatement scope easier to agree.
• If you are moving, one contractor can reinstate the old unit and fit out the new one on a single timeline.

Read the full reinstatement cost Singapore guide or see the cost section on our one-page site.

How can you keep commercial renovation costs down?

• Check zoning and approvals before signing the lease to avoid redesign and delays [6].
• Fix the brief early. Changing scope mid-project is a common cause of variation costs.
• Compare itemised quotes, and confirm what is excluded: design fee, FF&E, MEP, GST, permits [2].
• Reuse existing services where the landlord allows, such as ceilings, lighting and ACMV.
• Plan the exit now so your fit-out does not create an expensive reinstatement later.

Who is ifix.sg?

ifix.sg is a commercial brand of Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd (UEN 200408913Z), working on offices, retail, F&B and industrial units since 2004 with all trades in-house. We are BCA Registered (L1 Grade), bizSAFE Level 3, and LEW and GB2 licensed. Get a free site assessment through our quote section, or read the FAQ.