How Much Does Renovation Cost in Singapore? HDB & Condo Guide

Renovation costs in Singapore vary widely, but for most homeowners, a typical HDB or condominium (condo) build-to-order (BTO) apartment renovation falls between S$30,000 and S$80,000, depending on size, condition, and how designer-heavy you go. But this amount can skyrocket to six figures (S$100,000+) if you are doing an overhaul, especially for resale units. 

A practical way to sanity-check quotes is to benchmark quotations from your renovation contractors or interior designers (IDs) by room and by “light vs moderate vs heavy” scope, then add a contingency for variation orders.​

This guide explains home renovation costs in Singapore with realistic benchmarks for HDB flats and private condominiums. Below is a concise breakdown you can adapt, with a focus on realistic budgets for a standard 3- or 4-room HDB / similar-sized condos in Singapore. We’ll also show you a renovation budget formula (cheat sheet) you can use to calculate your estimated cost.

Big-picture renovation budget in Singapore

Every Singapore homeowner’s main budgeting question is “How much will my renovation cost?” The most truthful answer is, “It depends”. That’s because renovation scope can vary so widely. 

However, a simple calculation for the purpose of budgeting, is to anchor renovation costs is to start with a minimum known figure (ie. 3-room BTO from S$40,000), then scale by flat size, and whether it’s BTO or resale using current averages from various sources. You can also add a multiplier based on design complexity. 

Here’s how the renovation cost estimate formula works:

Start with a base cost for a moderate full-home renovation of a 3-room BTO flat of S$40,000. Multiply by a size factor (reflecting square footage and complexity) and a condition factor (BTO vs resale differences like hacking needs). 

Renovation cost estimate formula (Singapore HDB & Condo)

Estimated Cost = S$40,000 × Size Multiplier × Condition Multiplier

This yields average prices that align with contractor averages, assuming basic-to-moderate scope (hacking, painting, flooring, carpentry, and no luxury finishes).​

Breaking Down the Multipliers

Size multipliers account for room count and layout scale, based on typical areas (e.g., 3-room HDB ~65 sqm vs 5-room ~110 sqm):​

• 3-room HDB: × 1.0 (baseline)
• 4-room HDB: × 1.25
• 5-room HDB: × 1.5
• 3-room condo: × 1.5 (higher ceilings = pricier carpentry)
• 4-room condo: × 1.75
• Landed property: × 3.5 (whole-house scope, can vary widely depending on structural works and area)​

Condition multipliers add for resale wear-and-tear:

• BTO/new: × 1.0
• Resale: × 1.5 (extra hacking, rectification)​

Example Calculations

For a 4-room HDB BTO: 

40,000 × 1.25 × 1.0=S$50,000
A 3-room resale HDB: 

40,000 × 1.0 × 1.5=S$60,000
4-room condo resale: 

40,000 × 1.75 × 1.5=S$105,000

Based on the formula, here is a summary of renovation cost estimates in Singapore.

These renovation price estimates set the baseline, while letting you tweak the base for luxury (+20–50%) or minimal bare-bones scope (-20%). Many Singapore homeowners exceed their original budgets and therefore advise keeping a 10–20% contingency for variation orders and last-minute add-ons so it’s important you review your renovation quotations carefully to avoid surprises later.

Room-by-room renovation costs in Singapore (HDB & Condo)

Living room and dining

Most Singapore homeowners spend a smaller share of the budget on living room and dining areas, as compared to the kitchen and bathrooms, unless they build extensive carpentry.​

Typical ranges (excluding loose furniture):​

• Light refresh (painting, basic lighting, minor electrical): S$2,000–S$5,000.
• Moderate (new flooring, TV feature wall, false ceiling, additional points): S$5,000–S$15,000.
• Heavy (extensive hacking, reconfiguration, lots of built-ins): S$15,000–S$25,000+.

Major cost drivers:

• Flooring material (vinyl vs tiles vs engineered wood).
• Feature walls and TV console carpentry length.
• False ceilings and cove lighting.
• Carpentry for additional storage

Kitchen

The kitchen is usually one of the most expensive rooms per square metre due to its extensive carpentry works.

Typical ranges:

• Basic BTO-style upgrade (no major hacking, standard cabinets & countertop): around S$8,000–S$15,000.​
• Mid-range full overhaul (hacking, new tiles, mid-range quartz, good hardware): roughly S$15,000–S$25,000.
• High-end (premium carpentry, sintered stone/marble, integrated appliances): S$25,000–S$40,000+.

Key benchmarks:

• Cabinet carpentry: roughly S$3,000–S$6,000 for standard laminate, up to S$12,000+ for enhanced or premium systems for a typical HDB kitchen.​
• Countertops: about S$1,000–S$2,000 per run for entry-level solid surface or quartz, rising to S$4,000–S$8,000+ for premium stone.​

Bathrooms

Bathrooms cost a lot relative to their size because they combine waterproofing, floor-to-ceiling tiling, plumbing, and fixtures.​

Per-bathroom ranges for a typical HDB/condo:

• Light (replace vanity, fittings, overlay tiles): S$3,000–S$6,000.
• Full hacking and rebuild (new tiles, waterproofing, shower screen, fittings): about S$6,000–S$12,000 per bathroom.​

Cost drivers:

• Whether you hack or overlay tiles.
• Type of sanitary ware (mass-market vs branded).
• Carpentry
• Separate wet and dry area vs wet bathroom

Bedrooms

Bedroom costs depend heavily on carpentry and flooring rather than wet works.​

Per-bedroom ranges (excluding mattress and loose furniture):

• Light (painting, basic lights, maybe a fan): S$1,000–S$3,000.
• Moderate (wardrobe carpentry, power points, flooring change): S$3,000–S$8,000.
• Heavy (platform bed, built-in study, extensive wardrobes): S$8,000–S$15,000+.

For a 3- or 4-room flat, total bedroom renovation (all rooms) often lands around S$10,000–S$25,000 depending on how built-in you go.​

Other areas and whole-home items

There are also cross-room costs that often get missed in “per room” thinking:​

• Entryway / foyer: S$1,000–S$5,000 (shoe cabinets, feature wall, main door upgrade).
• Service yard: S$1,000–S$4,000 (tiling, cabinetry, laundry setup).
• Whole-home works:
• Painting: S$1,200–S$3,000 for a typical 3–5-room flat.
• Electrical and lighting: S$2,000–S$8,000 depending on number of points and fixtures.
• Doors and windows: S$2,000–S$8,000+ if changing multiple doors or windows.

Typical room-by-room cost table

The table below shows rough working ranges for a 3–4-room HDB / equivalent condo, excluding loose furniture except where noted. These are ballparks to sense-check a quote, not fixed prices.

How to tell if a quote is “reasonable”

When you get a lump-sum renovation quote, reverse-engineer it room by room and ask for itemised line items for hacking, masonry, carpentry, electrical, and painting. Cross-check each section against benchmarks like those above and online renovation quotation calculators; if one room is far outside market norms without a clear reason (e.g., premium materials), that is a red flag.​

For HDB flats, renovation scope and costs are also affected by HDB renovation guidelines, while private condominiums typically require approval from the estate management or MCST.

Finally, remember that Singapore data shows most homeowners bust their first budget, so include at least a 10–20% buffer for variation orders and upgrades you only think of after work starts.​

IDly instantly turns messy renovation quotes into clear, side-by-side comparisons - all for free. See the real costs, understand your options, and choose with confidence.