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F&B Renovation Cost Singapore (2026): Cafe and Restaurant Fit-Out Prices

By ifix.sg by Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd (UEN 200408913Z) · Last updated 5 Nov 2026 · Sources cited below

Short answer: Published 2026 Singapore guides put a full cafe or restaurant fit-out at about S$180–S$350 per sq ft, with a wider spread of S$110–S$700 across all sources. Kitchen works (exhaust, grease trap, gas, plumbing and electrical) typically take 40–60% of the budget. SFA licensing and fire safety approvals shape the timeline.

How much does F&B renovation cost in Singapore in 2026?

F&B renovation is the most expensive type of commercial fit-out per sq ft. A cafe or restaurant needs a commercial kitchen with exhaust, a grease trap, gas, drainage and heavy power, plus a dining area that sells the brand.

The ranges below come from publicly published 2026 Singapore guides. They are indicative ranges from other firms, not a ifix.sg quotation. Most exclude GST, and several exclude kitchen equipment and loose furniture.

The sources disagree widely, from S$110 to S$700 per sq ft. The gap mostly reflects whether the unit is bare or a takeover, the size of the kitchen, the finish level and what's excluded. Our price for your outlet is quote on request.

Typical totals by outlet

Where does the money go in an F&B fit-out?

The kitchen: 40–60% of the budget

Kitchen and back-of-house works typically account for 40–60% of the total renovation cost [2][3]. They include commercial stainless-steel equipment, exhaust hoods and ducting, grease traps, fire suppression, and the plumbing and electrical supply to support them [2][3]. One guide estimates MEP alone at 30–40% of an F&B project [6].

One contractor's component breakdown [3]:

Grease trap

Grease traps are installed to PUB's sewerage code, and owners must get NEA and PUB approval before installing one [1]. If the unit has no grease trap, or one in the wrong place, this is a significant cost.

Exhaust and ventilation

Kitchen exhaust must be regulation-compliant [3]. Duct routes to the building's exhaust riser, or out to the facade, can be long in malls and older shophouses. Exhaust and ventilation systems may also form part of the fire safety submission [1].

Gas

Gas piping needs safety checks [1], and gas pipes are expensive to install correctly and to redo if they fail inspection [4].

Fire safety

SCDF plan approval is needed for fire safety works, including works on ventilation or LPG systems for non-residential use, and changes to escape routes, unless exempt or lodged as minor works [8]. SCDF requires fire safety systems sized to your seating capacity [4].

What is often excluded from an F&B renovation quote?

Per-sq-ft figures rarely cover everything. Published guides note these common exclusions:

• Kitchen equipment such as ovens and fridges, exhaust beyond the base hood, furniture beyond fixed joinery, and signage [4].
• Interior design fee (8–15% of construction in one guide), FF&E, MEP when quoted separately, and building management deposits [6].
• Licensing and compliance costs: SFA licensing, SCDF submissions, NEA kitchen layout approvals and mall fit-out manual requirements carry direct and time costs [2].

Ask every contractor for an itemised quote that lists these items, so you can compare like for like.

How do you estimate a budget for your outlet?

Multiply your floor area by a published range. For a 1,000 sq ft cafe or restaurant, S$180–S$350 per sq ft gives about S$180,000–S$350,000 for the fit-out alone, before kitchen equipment [1]. A takeover unit that reuses existing kitchen services can come in far lower [1]. A full-service concept with a large kitchen sits higher [2]. These totals are arithmetic on published figures, not a quote.

What licences and approvals does an F&B renovation need?

• SFA Food Shop Licence. Required before you operate. It covers kitchen layout, food preparation areas, hygiene and waste management [1].
• NEA and PUB. Approval before installing a grease trap [1].
• SCDF. Fire safety plan approval, or minor additions and alterations lodgement, before works start [1][8].
• URA change of use. Needed where restaurant use isn't already authorised. Some cases qualify for an instant change of use lodgment [1]. GoBusiness notes a shop-to-restaurant change may need URA approval and a Fire Safety Certificate for the new use [9].
• BCA licence for outdoor signs, and landlord sign-off covering works timing and the reinstatement clause [1].

How long does an F&B renovation take?

One guide puts most restaurant projects at 10–16 weeks from first consultation to opening, with sign-offs from BCA, SCDF and NEA/SFA needed before you can serve customers [4]. Mall units often restrict noisy works to after trading hours, which affects the schedule.

How can you reduce F&B renovation cost?

• Look for a takeover unit with a compliant exhaust, grease trap and sufficient power [1].
• Design the menu before the kitchen. A simple cafe with a cold kitchen spends far less on kitchen works [2].
• Get the kitchen layout approved early, before ordering equipment [1].
• Hold a 10–15% contingency [3].
• Read the reinstatement clause before you sign. Exhaust, grease trap and gas may all have to come out at lease end [1].

What does it cost to reinstate an F&B outlet at lease end?

F&B reinstatement costs more than offices because of exhaust ducting, grease traps, gas piping and fire protection re-certification. Published 2026 ranges are S$12–S$40 per sq ft, or about S$15,000–S$55,000 for an 800–1,500 sq ft outlet before GST [10]. A line-item breakdown for a 1,200 sq ft restaurant lists S$2,000–S$8,000 for exhaust hood and ducting, S$800–S$3,000 for grease trap decommissioning and S$800–S$3,500 for gas pipe removal [10]. See our reinstatement cost Singapore guide [11].

Related renovation cost guides

Also see the clinic, salon, tuition centre and HDB shop guides, the commercial renovation cost guide and the partition wall cost guide.

Why talk to ifix.sg?

ifix.sg is a brand of Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd (UEN 200408913Z), in commercial renovation since 2004, with in-house electrical, ACMV, partition and carpentry trades. We give an itemised quote after a site assessment. WhatsApp +65 9863 5364.