Commercial Interior Design Cost Guide Singapore (2026): office, Retail and F&B

Commercial Interior Design Cost Guide Singapore (2026): Office, Retail and F&B

Commercial interior design in Singapore costs SGD 60–90 per sqft for a basic office fit-out, SGD 150–250 per sqft for a mid-range restaurant, and SGD 200–400+ per sqft for a premium retail fit-out. These figures exclude MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), structural works, FF&E (furniture, fittings and equipment), and MCST-related costs for managed buildings. Here is the full breakdown.

Commercial interior design in Singapore is priced by space type, specification level, and whether you are doing a basic fit-out or a full Design & Build (D&B) engagement. The ranges are wide — and contractors are not always transparent about what is driving the cost. Darren Chang has managed commercial renovations from SGD 80,000 fit-outs to multi-million-dollar D&B projects. Here is the cost breakdown he uses internally.

For the foundational argument on why commercial interior design is a business investment, not an overhead, read why commercial interior design is important for businesses.

Commercial Interior Design Cost by Space Type (2026)

The table below is the internal reference Darren uses when briefing commercial clients on realistic budget expectations. All figures are construction costs only — they exclude ID design fee, FF&E, MEP works, and MCST costs where applicable.

Space Type	Basic Fit-Out (SGD/sqft)	Mid-Range (SGD/sqft)	Premium D&B (SGD/sqft)	What Drives the Range
Office	SGD 60–90	SGD 90–150	SGD 150–300	Carpentry volume, AV/IT integration, acoustic treatment
Retail	SGD 80–120	SGD 120–200	SGD 200–400	Display fixture complexity, lighting design, shopfront works
F&B / Restaurant	SGD 150–250	SGD 250–400	SGD 400–700	MEP complexity, ventilation, kitchen fit-out, fire suppression
Clinic / Medical	SGD 120–200	SGD 200–350	SGD 350–600	Medical gas, infection control surfaces, accessibility, regulatory compliance
Café / Kiosk	SGD 100–160	SGD 160–280	SGD 280–450	Compact MEP complexity, display joinery, equipment integration
Co-working / Flexible	SGD 70–110	SGD 110–180	SGD 180–320	Acoustic zoning, network infrastructure, flexible furniture systems

Note: figures as of Q2 2026, excluding GST. Excludes: ID design fee (typically 8–15% of construction cost), FF&E, MEP works when quoted separately, and MCST deposits and compliance costs for managed buildings.

Why F&B and medical costs are 2–3× higher than office: restaurant and clinic renovations require significantly more mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work — commercial kitchen ventilation, grease traps, medical gas lines, and infection-control surfaces are all specialised systems that office renovations do not require. MEP can account for 30–40% of total F&B project cost.

What Actually Drives Commercial Renovation Cost

Most commercial clients receive a per-sqft quote without understanding what is inside it. These are the six main cost drivers in any Singapore commercial renovation:

1. MEP — Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing

MEP is the invisible infrastructure that determines what a space can do. It is also the most underquoted item in commercial renovation proposals. For F&B and medical spaces, MEP is the dominant cost category.

MEP Category	Office Application	F&B / Medical Application
Electrical	Power points, lighting circuits, emergency lighting	Commercial kitchen equipment circuits, medical equipment circuits, backup power
Mechanical (ACMV)	Split or centralised aircon, fresh air ventilation	Commercial kitchen exhaust hood and make-up air, medical HEPA filtration
Plumbing	Pantry sink, 1–2 bathroom connections	Multiple sink points, grease trap, dishwasher drainage, medical gas lines
Fire suppression	Standard fire alarm, exit signage	Ansul suppression system over cooking equipment (mandatory), sprinkler extension

⚠️ MEP is often quoted as a provisional sum in commercial renovation contracts. A provisional sum on MEP in an F&B project can represent SGD 30,000–120,000 of unresolved cost at the time of signing. Always require a fixed-price MEP specification before signing any F&B or medical renovation contract.

2. Hacking and Structural Works

Older Singapore shophouses (pre-1980) and conservation buildings carry significant structural uncertainty beneath their surfaces. Hacking to reposition a partition wall in a Tanjong Pagar shophouse or a Chinatown conservation unit can reveal structural elements, buried services, or protected heritage finishes that add SGD 15,000–50,000 to the scope. Always include a contingency of 15–20% on structural works in heritage or older commercial buildings.

3. Air-Conditioning: Commercial vs Residential

Commercial air-conditioning systems are specified and sized differently from residential systems. A 2,000 sqft office typically requires a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) or Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system with multiple indoor units connected to one outdoor condensing unit. This is a specialised installation that most residential aircon contractors do not handle. Budget SGD 150–300 per sqft of conditioned space for aircon in a commercial fit-out, depending on system type and ceiling configuration.

4. Fire Safety Compliance

Singapore's SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) requirements for commercial occupancies are specific and non-negotiable:

•       Fire-rated doors: required between certain occupancy types (e.g. between kitchen and dining in F&B). Each fire-rated door adds SGD 800–2,500 above a standard door.

•       Fire alarm system: mandatory for most commercial occupancies. New or extended alarm systems require SCDF submission and approval.

•       Emergency exit signage and lighting: mandatory and must meet specific lux level requirements.

•       Fire suppression (F&B): Ansul wet chemical suppression systems over commercial cooking equipment are mandatory. Cost: SGD 5,000–15,000 depending on kitchen size.

5. Accessibility Requirements

Under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) requirements, commercial buildings accessible to the public must meet specific accessibility standards. Relevant costs:

•       Accessible ramp at entrance: SGD 800–3,000 depending on height difference and materials.

•       Accessible toilet (if required): adds SGD 3,000–8,000 to bathroom scope due to larger dimensions and grab rail specification.

•       Signage: accessible signage in braille and large print is mandatory in certain occupancies.

6. FF&E: Furniture, Fittings and Equipment

FF&E is almost always excluded from a construction-only commercial renovation quote. In practice, FF&E represents 15–35% of the total project investment depending on space type.

Space Type	Typical FF&E % of Total	Examples
Office	20–30%	Workstations, task chairs, meeting room furniture, AV equipment
Retail	15–25%	Display fixtures, POS system, hanging rails, mannequins
F&B	25–35%	Commercial kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, crockery, POS
Clinic	20–30%	Medical examination equipment, waiting room furniture, reception desk

Design & Build vs Traditional Tender — Which Model Is Right for Your Project

The choice between a Design & Build (D&B) engagement and a traditional design-then-tender model determines not just cost but accountability, timeline, and risk allocation.

Factor	Design & Build (D&B)	Traditional Tender Model
Accountability	Single point of responsibility. Design and construction under one contract.	Separate design firm and contractor. Disputes between them become your problem.
Cost transparency	Fixed-price D&B quote includes design and construction. What you see is closer to what you pay.	Design cost quoted first. Construction cost only known after tender, which can reveal significant gaps from initial estimates.
Timeline	Faster. Design and construction overlap. Procurement begins while design is being finalised.	Slower. Design must be complete before tender. Tender process adds 4–6 weeks.
Price competitiveness	D&B firm sets the construction price. No competitive tender means no market-rate check.	Competitive tender can achieve lower construction prices if market conditions are right.
Best for	Projects under SGD 300,000 where speed and accountability outweigh price optimisation. First-time commercial renovators.	Projects above SGD 500,000 where competitive pricing and institutional procurement requirements apply.

"For projects under SGD 300,000, I almost always recommend D&B. The time saved on tendering, the accountability of a single contract, and the ability to start procurement while design is being finalised typically save more money than competitive tendering would recover. Above SGD 500,000, the calculus changes and a tender process is worth the effort." — Darren Chang

The Design Factory operates as a full D&B firm for commercial clients, with all carpentry, joinery, and millwork produced in-house at the Kaki Bukit factory. This eliminates the subcontractor margin on the largest cost category and gives clients a single warranty from a single responsible party.

Interior Design Fee Structures for Commercial Projects

The construction cost is not the total cost. The ID firm’s fee is a separate line item. Here are the three most common structures and their implications:

Fee Structure	Typical Range	When It Is Used
Percentage of construction cost	8–15% of total construction value	Most common for commercial D&B. Higher % for smaller projects (fixed overhead), lower % for larger projects.
Fixed design fee	SGD 8,000–50,000 depending on complexity	Used when scope is clearly defined and limited. Common for retail refreshes and small office fit-outs.
Per-sqft design fee	SGD 5–20/sqft	Less common. Used for large, straightforward commercial fit-outs where scope is predictable.

For a D&B engagement, always ask: does the quoted fee include the ID design fee or is it a construction-only price? Many D&B quotes include construction and carpentry but add the design fee separately on a percentage basis. Confirm total project cost including all fees before comparing quotes.

Timeline and Its Relationship to Cost

The fastest renovation is not the cheapest renovation. In commercial fit-outs, compressed timelines add cost in two specific ways: labour rate premiums and sequencing inefficiency.

Labour Rate Premiums for Compressed Timelines

Work Condition	Cost Premium	When It Applies
Normal hours (Mon–Sat, 9am–6pm)	Standard rate	Standard commercial renovation. MCST buildings may restrict to 9am–5pm.
Extended hours (evening, 6–10pm)	20–30% labour premium	When client needs to operate during the day and renovation can only occur evenings.
Weekend works (Sunday)	30–50% labour premium	For critical path items that cannot be delayed. Common in retail renovations during mid-week tenancy gap.
24-hour continuous works	50–80% labour premium	Extremely tight deadlines only. Common for F&B openings with fixed launch dates.

The F&B Delay Cost Reframe

For F&B operators, a renovation delay is not just an inconvenience — it is a daily revenue loss. Most Singapore F&B operators project SGD 5,000–15,000 per day of trading revenue from a new location once open. A one-week renovation delay costs SGD 35,000–105,000 in lost opening revenue.

This reframes the value of a reliable timeline commitment. A D&B firm that quotes SGD 20,000 more than a competitor but has a demonstrably better on-time delivery record may be the lower-cost option when renovation delay risk is factored in. Ask any commercial contractor for their on-time completion rate and client references from similar F&B projects.

"A retail renovation completed in 4 weeks versus 8 weeks typically costs 20–30% more in labour. But if the additional 4 weeks of operation pays SGD 40,000–60,000 in revenue, the premium-for-speed calculation is straightforward. We present this framing to every F&B client at the first briefing." — Darren Chang

Section 6: Sample Project Cost Breakdowns by Space Type

These are illustrative all-in budgets for typical Singapore commercial projects at mid-range specification. They are not quotes — every project varies. Use them for order-of-magnitude planning before engaging any contractor.

Sample: 1,500 sqft Office Fit-Out (Mid-Range)

Item	SGD Range	% of Total
Construction (partitions, ceiling, flooring, painting)	35,000–55,000	28–32%
Carpentry (reception desk, meeting room joinery, storage)	30,000–50,000	24–28%
Electrical and data (power, lighting, network)	20,000–35,000	16–20%
Air-conditioning (VRF system)	18,000–30,000	14–18%
ID design fee (10% of construction)	10,000–17,000	8–10%
FF&E (furniture, not included in construction)	25,000–45,000 (separate budget)	N/A
TOTAL (construction + ID, excl. FF&E)	SGD 113,000–187,000	—

Sample: 800 sqft Restaurant / Café (Mid-Range)

Item	SGD Range	% of Total
Construction (partitions, floor, ceiling, feature works)	40,000–60,000	14–18%
Kitchen fit-out (wall, floor, waterproofing, ventilation)	35,000–60,000	12–18%
MEP (electrical, plumbing, gas, ACMV, grease trap)	60,000–100,000	22–30%
Fire suppression (Ansul) and alarm	8,000–15,000	3–5%
Carpentry (counter, feature elements, seating joinery)	25,000–45,000	9–13%
ID design fee (10–12% of construction)	18,000–32,000	6–9%
Kitchen equipment (commercial, separate from fit-out)	40,000–80,000 (separate budget)	N/A
TOTAL (construction + MEP + ID, excl. equipment)	SGD 186,000–312,000	—

The F&B sample illustrates why restaurant renovation costs 2–3× more than office renovation per sqft: MEP alone represents 22–30% of total cost, versus 14–18% in an office. Kitchen fit-out and fire suppression add categories that do not exist in office renovation.

•       For the 8 retail design principles that maximise return on a retail fit-out investment, read 8 retail interior design tips to attract customers in Singapore.

•       For the brand-first design approach that maximises commercial renovation ROI, read brand-first commercial space design Singapore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does commercial renovation cost in Singapore?

A: Commercial renovation in Singapore costs SGD 60–90 per sqft for a basic office fit-out, SGD 90–150 per sqft for a mid-range office, SGD 150–250 per sqft for a mid-range F&B space, and SGD 200–400+ per sqft for premium retail. These figures exclude ID design fees, FF&E, MEP works where quoted separately, and MCST compliance costs.

Q: What is the difference between a fit-out and Design & Build?

A: A basic fit-out typically covers construction works only — partitions, ceiling, flooring, painting, and basic electrical. Design & Build (D&B) is a full-service engagement where one firm handles concept design, detailed drawings, material selection, construction management, and delivery under a single contract. D&B is faster and provides clearer accountability; traditional tender models can achieve lower construction prices on larger projects.

Q: Why does restaurant renovation cost more than office renovation in Singapore?

A: F&B renovation costs 2–3× more than office renovation per sqft because restaurant fit-outs require MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems that offices do not: commercial kitchen exhaust ventilation, grease traps, multiple plumbing points, gas lines, and mandatory fire suppression (Ansul) systems over cooking equipment. MEP alone can represent 30–40% of total F&B project cost.

Q: How long does a commercial renovation take in Singapore?

A: A basic office fit-out (1,000–2,000 sqft) typically takes 6–10 weeks. A mid-range restaurant fit-out takes 10–16 weeks including MEP coordination and SCDF approval. Premium D&B projects with significant structural works and authority submissions can run 16–26 weeks. Compressed timelines are achievable but add 20–80% to labour costs depending on the degree of acceleration required.

Q: What is included in a commercial renovation quote in Singapore?

A: Most commercial renovation quotes include: construction works (hacking, partitions, ceiling, flooring, painting), basic electrical (power and lighting circuits), basic plumbing (sink connections), and carpentry. They typically EXCLUDE: ID design fee, FF&E (furniture and equipment), MEP works beyond basic scope (commercial aircon sizing, ventilation design, grease traps), SCDF or BCA approval submissions, MCST deposits, and GST. Always request a written scope exclusion list before comparing quotes.

Get an Itemised Commercial Quote

The Design Factory provides itemised commercial quotations with no hidden provisional sums. Every line item — construction, MEP, carpentry, ID fee — is quoted separately so clients can make informed scope decisions before signing. If you are planning a commercial renovation, WhatsApp Rachel at +65 8198 6002 for an initial scope and cost estimate.

View The Design Factory’s commercial interior design portfolio.