Refined commercial interior design and office fit-out in Singapore

Commercial Interior Design & Office Renovation Singapore

Refined commercial environments for offices, retail and F&B spaces, delivered with careful planning, compliance coordination and polished execution.

Direct answer for Singapore business owners

Commercial renovation in Singapore: cost, timeline and approvals

Commercial renovation in Singapore typically costs $30 to $180 psf for offices, $80 to $150 psf for retail shops, and $120 to $250 psf for F&B outlets. Most projects take 6 to 12 weeks including design, landlord or MCST approval, authority checks and renovation works.

The main difference from residential renovation is compliance. Commercial projects may involve landlord fitting-out rules, MCST requirements, fire safety checks, exhaust requirements, working-hour restrictions and reinstatement obligations at lease end.

Office renovation

$30 – $180 psf

Basic office refresh to premium fit-out

Retail renovation

$80 – $150 psf

Shopfront, lighting, display and storage works

F&B renovation

$120 – $250 psf

Kitchen, exhaust, plumbing and fire safety factors

Commercial renovation cost breakdown in Singapore

Use these as practical planning ranges before a site visit. A confirmed quotation still needs floor plan review, site measurement, building rules and material selection.

Basic office fit-out

$30 – $60 psf

  • Paint, simple flooring and loose furniture coordination
  • Basic electrical and lighting points
  • Suitable for small offices with limited built-in works

Mid-range office renovation

$60 – $100 psf

  • Meeting rooms, pantry and manager rooms
  • Carpet/vinyl, ceiling, lighting and data works
  • Glass partitions and practical carpentry

Premium commercial fit-out

$100 – $180 psf

  • Custom reception, feature walls and acoustic rooms
  • Higher-grade finishes and more M&E coordination
  • Best for client-facing offices and brand-led spaces

Retail and F&B usually need a higher budget

Retail spaces usually need stronger lighting, display fixtures, shopfront works and landlord design compliance. F&B spaces are more demanding because of kitchen equipment coordination, exhaust, grease trap, waterproofing, plumbing, fire safety and cleaning access. This is why F&B renovation can reach $120 to $250 psf even before equipment cost is fully confirmed.

Typical commercial renovation timeline

For most Singapore commercial projects, a realistic timeline is 6 to 12 weeks. The approval stage is usually where delays happen, especially when landlord, MCST, SCDF or building management comments require drawing revisions.

01

Design and planning

2 – 3 weeks

Site visit, layout planning, design direction, budget alignment and material direction.

02

Landlord / MCST / authority submission

2 – 4 weeks

Submission of drawings, contractor documents, insurance, method statements and fire-safety-related checks where needed.

03

Renovation works and handover

4 – 8 weeks

Protection, demolition, M&E, ceiling, flooring, carpentry, painting, cleaning and final handover.

Common commercial approval items

Landlord or building management fitting-out permit
MCST approval for strata-titled commercial units
SCDF checks if fire safety, sprinkler, alarm or exit route is affected
Work-at-height, noisy-work and after-hours work restrictions
Public liability insurance, renovation deposit and protection requirements

Commercial content cluster

Helpful guides before you renovate

Commercial renovation has more approval and lease-risk considerations than residential work. These guides explain cost and timeline in more detail before you speak to a contractor.

Project Management & Compliance

Fire Safety (SCDF)

Full submission and approval handling for fire safety regulations.

BCA Permits

Experienced coordination for Building and Construction Authority permit requirements.

Mall Management

Experienced in coordinating with major mall management teams in Singapore.

Site Safety

Strict adherence to workplace safety and health (WSH) standards.

Our Clients & Partners

Trusted by leading brands, MNCs, and businesses across Singapore.

ID Work Studio clients including ST Engineering, Estée Lauder, Simply Toys, Koong Woh Tong, Chiropractic First, Otter Pizza and House of KPOP

Our Commercial Renovation Process

A transparent, step-by-step approach engineered to minimise business downtime.

01

Free Site Survey

FREE

We conduct a detailed onsite assessment and provide a comprehensive itemised quotation at no cost.

02

Design & Planning

1–2 WEEKS

Our designers develop space plans, material schedules and 3D visuals aligned with your brand identity.

03

Permit Submission

1–3 WEEKS

We handle all BCA, SCDF, MCST and URA submissions before physical work begins.

04

Renovation Works

4–8 WEEKS

Our licensed CoreTrade team executes the fit-out with phased scheduling to minimise disruption.

05

Handover & Inspection

DAY 1

Joint inspection with building management, defect rectification and full site handover.

Strategic Project Management

Minimizing business downtime through precision planning and execution.

Downtime Minimization

Phased renovation strategies to keep your business operational during the fit-out process.

Gantt Chart Transparency

Detailed project timelines and weekly progress reports to ensure on-time delivery.

Turnkey Delivery

From initial site survey to final handover, we manage every detail of your commercial project.

Commercial renovation Singapore FAQ

Practical answers for office, retail and F&B renovation in Singapore, including cost, timeline, landlord approval, MCST and SCDF considerations.

How much does commercial renovation cost in Singapore?

Commercial renovation in Singapore typically costs $30 to $180 psf for offices, $80 to $150 psf for retail shops, and $120 to $250 psf for F&B outlets. The final range is mainly affected by M&E works, fire safety requirements, carpentry, flooring, ceiling works and landlord reinstatement conditions.

How much does office renovation cost in Singapore?

A basic office renovation usually starts from $30 to $60 psf. A mid-range office with meeting rooms, pantry, flooring, ceiling and electrical works is usually $60 to $100 psf. Premium office fit-outs with feature walls, acoustic rooms, customised carpentry and higher-grade finishes can reach $100 to $180 psf.

How long does commercial renovation usually take?

Most commercial renovation projects take 6 to 12 weeks. Design and planning usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, landlord or MCST submission takes 2 to 4 weeks, and actual renovation works usually take 4 to 8 weeks depending on project size and approval conditions.

Do I need landlord or MCST approval before renovation?

Yes. Most offices, retail units, clinics, gyms and F&B spaces require landlord, building management or MCST approval before renovation starts. Drawings, method statements, insurance documents and contractor details may be required before work permits are issued.

Does commercial renovation need SCDF submission?

SCDF submission may be required if the renovation affects fire-rated partitions, sprinkler points, fire alarm systems, exit routes, emergency lighting, occupancy load or F&B exhaust systems. Simple office refresh works may not need SCDF submission, but this should be checked before work starts.

Can office renovation be done after office hours?

Yes, but it depends on the building rules. Many commercial buildings only allow noisy works after office hours or during approved time windows. Hacking, drilling and delivery timing must follow landlord, MCST or building management requirements.

What affects commercial renovation cost the most?

The biggest cost drivers are electrical and data points, air-conditioning changes, ceiling works, fire safety compliance, flooring, carpentry, glass partitions, pantry works, plumbing and whether reinstatement is required at the end of the lease.

What is office reinstatement in Singapore?

Office reinstatement means returning the unit to the landlord's original handover condition before lease exit. It may include removing partitions, flooring, ceiling, wiring, signage, carpentry and making good affected surfaces according to the tenancy agreement.

Is retail renovation more expensive than office renovation?

Retail renovation is often higher than a basic office because shopfront, lighting, display fixtures, signage, customer flow, storage and landlord design guidelines are more involved. Typical retail renovation in Singapore ranges from $80 to $150 psf.

Why is F&B renovation usually more expensive?

F&B renovation usually costs more because of exhaust, grease trap, plumbing, waterproofing, kitchen equipment coordination, fire safety, pest control requirements and stricter authority or landlord conditions. A practical F&B budget is usually $120 to $250 psf.

What should I prepare before requesting a commercial renovation quotation?

Prepare the floor plan, unit size, tenancy agreement or landlord fitting-out guide, preferred handover date, rough layout requirements, headcount, pantry needs, meeting room count and any existing reinstatement conditions. These details make the quotation more accurate.

Can ID Work Studio handle both design and renovation works?

Yes. ID Work Studio can support layout planning, design coordination, renovation works, site coordination and commercial handover. For commercial projects, we also coordinate practical site requirements such as access timing, protection works and building management submissions.

A FlawlessBARE SHELL HANDOVER

Professional reinstatement for offices and shopping mall units, managed with compliance, precision and a smooth handover experience.

LEARN MORE ABOUT REINSTATEMENT

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