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Last-minute surprises about renovation cost in Singapore can be more stressful than the actual process of renovating your home. So, it’s only fair to start your renovation process after having a clear picture of renovation costs breakdown in Singapore.
Renovation Cost in Singapore for HDB BTO, Condo, Resale Homes
| Type of Property | Cost Range for Renovation* | Scope |
| HDB BTO | S$10,000 – S$60,000 | Kitchen, wardrobe, furniture |
| HDB Resale | S$30,000 – S$100,000 | Kitchen, wardrobe, furniture, carpentry, masonry, flooring, ceiling, plumbing, electrical work, painting and hacking |
| New Condo | S$20,000 – S$80,000 | Kitchen, wardrobe, furniture |
| Resale Condo | S$30,000 – S$150,000 | Kitchen, wardrobe, furniture, carpentry, masonry, flooring, ceiling, plumbing, electrical work, painting and hacking |
**Full home design includes carpentry, masonry, flooring, ceiling, plumbing, electrical work, painting and hacking
***Furniture here refers to in-built furniture
We hope the above table gives you a fair idea of the renovation price list to budget for.
1. HDB BTO Renovation Cost
HDBs are, basically, new government subsidised housing that are built-to-order. Such homes are already furnished with the basic amenities, and thus don’t require extensive renovation. The average HDB renovation cost in Singapore ranges from S$10,000 to S$60,000.
Also Read: HDB BTO Renovation FAQ: What You Need to Know Before Getting the Keys to Your HDB BTO
2. HDB Resale Renovation Cost
Typically, HDB resale properties might have amenities that don’t necessarily match modern sensibilities. Hence, they require an extensive renovation of their interiors which involves hacking, plumbing, electrical, painting, masonry, etc. The average renovation cost of a Singapore HDB ranges from S$30,000 to S$100,000.
3. New Condo Renovation Cost in Singapore
Condos are privately owned and hence cost more than government-subsidised HDBs. Newly launched condo units have sleek looking interiors complete with all the essential fittings and usually good quality flooring. Hence, an end-to-end renovation is rarely necessary.
The average renovation cost for a Singapore condo ranges from S$30,000 to S$150,000.
4. Resale Condo Renovation Cost in Singapore
The scope of renovation and its imminent cost depends on how old the condo is and how many times the ownership of the unit has changed.
For a better idea, find out How Can an Interior Designer Help You With Your Condo
Renovation Cost in Singapore by Number of Rooms
For new properties
| New Properties | Cost of Renovation in Singapore (starting at)* |
| 2 Room | S$10,000 |
| 3 Room | S$14,500 |
| 4 Room | S$17,500 |
| 5 Room | S$19,500 |
For resale properties
| Resale Properties | Cost of Renovation in Singapore (starting at)* |
| 3 Room | S$32,000 |
| 4 Room | S$36,500 |
| 5 Room | S$39,500 |
Renovation Cost in Singapore Based on the Scope of Work
You can roughly estimate the ultimate cost of renovating your home using our Singapore renovation cost estimator, depending on the services you opt for.
| Renovation Service | Percentage of Cost* |
| Carpentry | 35% |
| Masonry | 25% |
| Glass & Aluminium | 11% |
| Electrical | 9% |
| Hacking | 5% |
| Ceiling Partition | 4% |
| Painting | 6% |
| Plumbing | 5% |
How Long do Renovations in Singapore Take?
In Singapore, renovation can usually take between 10 and 16 weeks. However, this depends on the nature of your requirements.
Typically, renovation of a new condo will take lesser time than a resale condo, as resale condos might involve management approvals, masonry, and demolition work. If your renovation requires hacking existing walls, PE endorsement and management approval, it can take additional time.
Also Read: How Much Should an HDB BTO Package Cost for 3, 4 and 5-room BTOs?
What Can Increase the Renovation Cost in Singapore?
Certain design features tend to shoot up the home renovation cost. Here’s a comprehensive list of features that can be considered ‘splurges’ during renovation.
#1: Fancy Tiling
Marble, granite, or mosaic tiles for your walls or floors can hike up renovation costs. Similarly, tiles of larger dimensions (more than 2 × 2 inches) also cost more.
Pro Tip: Use vitrified tiles to cut down costs.
#2: Ceiling Detailing
If you want features like rounded details, L-box or U-box shapes or cove lighting for your ceiling, expect the final price to shoot up.
Pro Tip: Go for simple false ceilings and add features using lights.
#3: Platform Beds
Platform beds are popular in Singapore, especially for compact bedrooms. However, the carpentry charges for this type of integrated and multi-functional furniture is higher than usual.
Pro Tip: Try not to opt for custom furniture, use ready-material furniture pieces.
#4: Shelving and Partitions
Open shelves and niches (sometimes with profile lighting) can quickly add up to become an expensive design feature in your home. Moreover, installing partitions too tends to raise the final renovation cost in Singapore homes.
Pro Tip: Make the magic of open layouts shine through.
#5: Customised Furniture in Unusual Shapes
Customising your furniture is a great way to make your home stand out, but this will bring up the overall price of your renovation. Rounded furniture or furniture that has unusual shapes (like hexagonal, abstract, etc.) costs more than furniture in the standard forms.
Pro Tip: Give second-hand abstract furniture a chance or buy from local stores.
Tour this resale HDB:
How Can Livspace Help You Finance Your Home Renovation?
In addition to providing you with award-worthy designers and highest quality materials, we at Livspace can also help you avail special waivers on your home reno loan. We have two solutions for all the worried homeowners to choose from — DBS reno loan and OCBC reno loan. They can help you overcome cash flow shortfalls for various purposes, including home renovation.
Both these banks are quite acclaimed for being the top two names in retail banking.
| DBS Eco-Aware Renovation Loan | DBS Renovation Loan | OCBC Renovation Loan |
| 4.68% | 4.88% | 4.98% |
| 1% waiver with Livspace | 1% waiver with Livspace | 0.5% waiver with Livspace |
We would love to hear from you! Write to us at editor.sg@livspace.com.
All contents of the story are specific to the time of publication. Mentions of costs, budget, materials, finishes, and products from the Livspace catalogue can vary with reference to current rates. Talk to our designer for more details on pricing and availability.
