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

By ifix.sg by Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd (UEN 200408913Z) · Last updated 12 Nov 2026 · Sources cited below

Short answer: Published 2026 guides put a basic retail shop fit-out in Singapore at about S$80–S$120 per sq ft, a mid-range shop at about S$120–S$200, and a premium or flagship store at about S$180–S$400. Mall units with tighter landlord rules often sit around S$180–S$300. These are indicative ranges. ifix.sg prices are quote on request after a site assessment.

How much does retail shop renovation cost in Singapore in 2026?

A shop fit-out is more than paint and a counter. Lighting, display joinery, the shopfront and the landlord’s rules usually decide the bill. Contractors in Singapore still quote it per square foot, but you should read each published band as a planning range, not a price for your unit.

The figures below are from publicly published 2026 guides. They are indicative, not a ifix.sg quotation, and they generally exclude GST. Several sources also exclude permits, loose furniture and mall deposits.

Fortified’s worked totals, excluding permits, FF&E and mall deposits, are about S$20,000–S$50,000 for a basic facelift, S$40,000–S$100,000 mid-range, and S$80,000–S$200,000+ for a flagship [5]. SpaceCycle’s in-mall calculator, updated July 2026, uses S$125 per sq ft for a typical 500 sq ft dry shop, or S$62,500 plus 10% contingency, and says the figure does not cover shophouses [6]. ifix.sg prices are quote on request after a site assessment.

What is usually included in a retail shop fit-out?

A basic job is often a refresh: paint, flooring, simple lighting and a modest counter [5]. A mid-range shop adds custom display joinery, stronger lighting (track or feature lights), a proper cashier point and usually a back-of-house store or fitting area [1][4].

Flagship and premium work adds a more designed shopfront, tighter joinery, and finishes that have to pass a landlord’s or brand’s drawings [1][5]. If you are opening in a mall, assume the shopfront package is not optional.

Loose FF&E, such as stand-alone racks you can take with you, and the point-of-sale system, are often left out of the build rate [5][6]. Ask for that in writing.

What makes a mall shop cost more than a street-level unit?

Mall landlords usually want approved drawings, a full shopfront, hoarding during the works, and sometimes nominated contractors for fire, sprinkler or after-hours work [2][6]. Work is often limited to nights. That labour premium is why mall bands start higher.

Street-level and shophouse units have their own rules. Conservation shophouses and some first-storey commercial units may need a URA lodgment or a full change of use, and the building itself can be slower and more expensive to work in. For HDB commercial shops (not flats), see our HDB shop renovation cost guide.

SpaceCycle is also clear that its S$125 figure is for in-mall dry retail only [6]. Don’t apply a mall rate to a shophouse, or a heartland rate to a flagship lot, and expect the quote to match.

What else should you budget for?

• Landlord deposits and permit fees, often excluded from the per-sq-ft rate [5].
• URA change of use, if needed: S$500 for a full application, or S$150 for a lodgment where the scheme applies [7].
• SCDF fire safety if the layout or fire protection changes [8].
• Signage, sometimes licensed separately, and often designed to the landlord’s guide.
• Contingency. SpaceCycle uses 10% on its planning total [6].
• Reinstatement at lease end. Dry retail make-good is published at about S$10–S$25 per sq ft, and more for heavy mall scopes [9].

If the shop is a cafe or has a kitchen, you are no longer in a dry-retail budget. Use the F&B renovation cost guide instead.

How long does a shop renovation take?

A small refresh of an existing shop can be relatively quick. A first-time mall fit-out is usually limited by the landlord’s drawing approval and the bookable work hours, not by how fast the carpenters can work. Start the submission the moment the lease is in principle. And do not treat the opening date as fixed until that approval is back.

Why talk to ifix.sg?

ifix.sg is a brand of Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd (UEN 200408913Z), commercial only since 2004, with joinery, electrical, ACMV and partitions handled by in-house trades. Shop renovation is quote on request after a site assessment. WhatsApp +65 9863 5364.