Singapore Renovation Cost 2026: Complete Budget Guide for HDB, Condo & Landed Homes

HDB Renovation Costs: BTO & Resale

Start with the condition of your flat, then its size. A new BTO with usable finishes needs a different budget from a resale home where old cabinets, tiles and services have to be removed before the new interior can take shape.

Benchmarks for 3-, 4- and 5-Room Flats

For a published comparison, Qanvast’s February 2026 guide gives the following projected ranges, based on its 2025 project data. Treat these as a reference point, then compare quotations for your actual scope.

Source: Qanvast, expected HDB renovation costs for 2026. Its estimates are projections, not fixed quotations or a measure of every renovation in Singapore.

Smaller and Larger HDB Formats

The following broader planning allowances are adapted from the archived Design Authority guide. They are editorial estimates, rather than the Qanvast figures above.

A smaller flat is not automatically cheap to renovate. Kitchens and bathrooms still involve several trades, even when the living room is compact. Conversely, keeping sound flooring and existing bathroom finishes can reduce a carefully scoped project considerably.

Condo Renovation Costs

In a new condo, check what the developer has already supplied before budgeting for replacements. Usable flooring, sanitary fittings, kitchen cabinets and air-conditioning can allow you to focus spending on storage, lighting and furniture. A resale condo may need a much wider scope.

Indicative Design Authority planning allowances, adapted and rounded from the archived guide. These are not market averages; premium materials, extensive wet works or a large floor area can take a project above them.

Budget for the Building, Too

• Management requirements: obtain the current renovation rules, approved work hours and application process from your managing agent or MCST.
• Deposits and protection: distinguish refundable renovation deposits from actual costs such as lift padding, corridor protection and debris removal.
• Access and deliveries: check loading arrangements, lift dimensions and restrictions before ordering large pieces.
• Special layouts: double-height spaces, terraces and existing mezzanines require more than a standard bedroom-count estimate.

Landed Property Renovation Costs

For a landed home, first decide whether you are refreshing an interior, renovating the existing building comprehensively, or changing the building itself. Interior renovation, additions and alterations (A&A), reconstruction and rebuilding belong in different budgeting conversations.

Broad editorial planning allowances adapted from the archived guide. Landed projects vary substantially; these interior renovation ranges should not be used as a rebuilding price.

Do not apply a construction rate per square foot to an interior renovation without knowing what the rate covers, which floor-area measure it uses, and whether professional fees, external works and taxes are included.

Roof leaks, drainage, waterproofing and electrical capacity deserve attention before decorative upgrades. Moving a kitchen or adding a bathroom can affect several systems at once. Build a programme around design, approvals, procurement and construction rather than relying on a universal completion promise.

What You’re Actually Paying For

A useful renovation quotation is a description of work, quantities and specifications—not just a total. Two proposals can look similar while allowing for very different cabinet lengths, tile rates, electrical points or installation details.

Illustrative whole-project trade allowances adapted from the archived guide. Categories can overlap between quotations; do not add every row to estimate a home without checking the scope.

Room-by-Room Planning

These room allowances are editorial examples, not quotations. New-flat bathroom restrictions can limit what work is permitted, so a full bathroom allowance does not mean full replacement is appropriate for a new BTO.

Why Renovation Quotes Differ

Design development, project management, material sourcing, site coordination and aftercare may be bundled into the works or priced separately. Compare the service and construction scope rather than assuming every interior designer charges a fixed percentage more than a contractor.

Imported finishes, labour availability, delivery lead times and access constraints can affect a quotation. Ask how long the quote is valid, what can change, and how substitutions or variations will be approved. There is no single annual price increase that applies to every Singapore renovation.

BTO vs Resale: The Work You Can’t See

The price gap often begins before the new design is installed. A resale renovation may need to remove old layers, investigate defects and replace services. A BTO may allow you to retain more of what is already there—but its finishes, restrictions and defects should still be checked.

Make the Comparison Like-for-Like

Ask every firm to price the same brief and list what will be retained. A quote that includes full rewiring, demolition and new waterproofing cannot fairly be compared with one that excludes them. A site visit and a clear assumptions list are especially valuable for an older home.

Budget Tiers & the Choices That Move the Number

Budget tiers describe priorities, not a promise about how much a home should cost. The same allowance can buy a focused, well-made renovation or a much broader but more basic one.

Six Decisions Worth Making Early

1. What stays? Retaining sound flooring, cabinets or fixtures can change the entire scope.
2. How much built-in storage? Measure cabinet runs and heights; a style name does not specify quantity.
3. Which materials? Compare substrate, finish, maintenance and installation—not just appearance.
4. Which wet areas? Moving plumbing or replacing waterproofing affects several trades.
5. Who coordinates the project? Clarify drawings, site supervision, procurement and responsibility for defects.
6. Where will appliances and power go? Confirm sizes, electrical loads and socket locations before fabrication.

Plan the Budget—and Avoid Late Surprises

A useful budget includes more than the renovation contract. Keep a separate allowance for items you are buying directly and for the practical costs of moving through the project.

A Simple All-In Budget

• Direct purchases: furniture, appliances, air-conditioning, sanitary fittings, lighting and window treatments, if excluded from the contract.
• Project costs: professional fees, non-refundable management charges, protection, storage, moving and temporary accommodation where needed.
• GST: check whether prices include it. GST-registered businesses generally charge the prevailing 9% rate on standard-rated supplies.
• Contingency: a 10–15% planning buffer is a useful starting allowance; allow more if the condition or scope remains uncertain.

Illustration: S$60,000 of works + S$12,000 of direct purchases + S$3,000 of project costs + S$9,000 contingency = S$84,000. This is a budgeting example, not a market quotation; confirm GST treatment separately.

Compare Three Properly Itemised Quotes

Give firms the same floor plan, scope and priorities. Ask for a schedule of materials, quantities, exclusions, provisional sums and milestones. Confirm who approves a variation and require its price and time effect in writing before the added work proceeds.

Check the Firm and the Relevant Trades

For HDB renovations, engage a contractor listed in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors and confirm permits where required. Electrical work should be carried out or supervised by an appropriate EMA-licensed electrical worker. Use a PUB-licensed plumber for regulated plumbing works.

CaseTrust accreditation can provide additional safeguards, including applicable prepayment protection. Check the firm’s current accreditation and obtain the protection documents that apply to your contract. It does not remove the need to read the quotation and payment terms.

Separate the Project Programme From Permit Windows

Design, approvals, procurement, installation, testing and defect rectification all need time. Avoid relying on a single “8–12 weeks” promise for every property. HDB specifies completion windows for approved renovation work: generally three months from the permit for newly completed blocks and one month for existing blocks. Your contractor should programme permitted works accordingly and clarify any issue with HDB.

Before You Sign

• Inspect the home and record the existing condition.
• Separate must-haves from upgrades that can wait.
• Agree specifications, drawings and measurable quantities.
• List inclusions, exclusions and provisional sums.
• Document payment milestones and variation approvals.
• Confirm lead times, permit requirements and management rules.
• Keep a contingency outside the committed contract sum.
• Agree handover checks and defect reporting arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions