A mall unit, an HDB shophouse, a strata shop and a kiosk can carry very different renovation bills for the same floor area. The landlord’s fit-out manual, approvals, after-hours work and signage often matter as much as the paint and flooring.
This guide puts published 2026 retail shop renovation prices side by side: per-square-foot bands, typical totals for kiosks, mall lots and shophouses, signage and licence costs, and what reinstatement at lease end can cost. Every figure links to the page it comes from, checked on 15 October 2026. Prices are indicative and shown as each source publishes them, not averaged. For offices, see our office renovation cost guide; for cafés and restaurants, see the F&B renovation contractors guide.
Retail shop renovation cost in Singapore: the short answer
Most published 2026 guides put a retail shop fit-out at roughly S$80–180 per sq ft for basic to mid-range work, around S$180–300 per sq ft for mall fit-outs with stricter landlord requirements, and S$300+ per sq ft for flagship stores. In totals, contractors quote about S$15,000–40,000 to refresh an existing shop, S$20,000–50,000 for a compact mall kiosk (S$30,000–70,000 for 10–25 sqm), S$30,000–80,000 to strip and rebuild an HDB shophouse, and S$70,000–150,000 for a 40–80 sqm mall in-line lot with a full shopfront. A 500 sq ft boutique is commonly put at about S$50,000–100,000.
Published retail shop renovation prices (2026)
We checked each page on 15 October 2026. Per-square-foot bands come from different contractors and are not directly comparable: some include design and permit handling, and Fortified states its figures exclude permit fees, FF&E and mall deposits. Read each band as a planning range, then get a quote for your own unit.
| Job | Published price (indicative) | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail renovation per sq ft (kiosks and heartland shops / mall boutiques / flagships) | Basic S$80–120; mid-range S$120–180; premium S$200–350+ per sq ft | Cosmos Decor |
| Basic facelift / mid-range fit-out with joinery / flagship | S$80–120 per sq ft (S$20,000–50,000); S$120–180 (S$40,000–100,000); S$180–250+ (S$80,000–200,000+); excludes permits, FF&E and mall deposits | Fortified |
| Retail fit-out planning bands | Basic S$120–180 per sq ft; mall fit-out S$180–300 per sq ft; high-end or flagship S$300+ per sq ft | ID Work Studio |
| Retail renovation (boutiques, showrooms) | S$100–200 per sq ft; 500 sq ft boutique S$50,000–100,000; larger showrooms can exceed S$200,000 | RH Design & Build |
| Strata shop refresh (existing layout, new finishes and lighting) | S$15,000–40,000 | FixMove (shop renovation) |
| HDB shophouse takeover (strip and rebuild for new tenant) | S$30,000–80,000; typically 3–5 weeks | FixMove (shop renovation) |
| Standalone retail fit-out (fashion, electronics, gifts) | S$50,000–150,000 | FixMove (shop renovation) |
| Mall kiosk | S$20,000–50,000 compact walkway kiosk (shop page); S$30,000–70,000 for a 10–25 sqm island or in-line kiosk (retail fit-out page) | FixMove (shop), FixMove (retail fit-out) |
| Mall in-line lot, 40–80 sqm with full shopfront | S$70,000–150,000 | FixMove (retail fit-out) |
| Brand flagship, 100–200 sqm | S$150,000–280,000 | FixMove (retail fit-out) |
| Pop-up store | S$15,000–50,000 (shop page); S$30,000–80,000 for a 2–8 week activation (retail fit-out page) | FixMove (shop), FixMove (retail fit-out) |
| Shop signboard | Basic non-lit acrylic or PVC S$300–800; simple lightbox S$800–2,500; LED channel letters S$1,500–6,000+; full shopfront signage package S$2,500–10,000+ | I-SIGNAGE |
| Shopfront letters, lightbox and window graphics | 3D acrylic letters S$400–2,000; lightbox (1.5–3 m wide) S$600–1,800; window vinyl S$30–80 per sqm; frosted film S$20–50 per sqm | Advert & Signs |
| Signage installation and old sign removal | Basic install S$150–500 (or included); complex installs S$500–2,000+; removing an old sign S$100–800+ | I-SIGNAGE |
| BCA outdoor signboard licence | S$50 a year per licence up to 15 m²; each premises gets a one-time aggregate 5 m² exemption | BCA licence fees |
| Mall shop reinstatement at lease end (500 sq ft) | Light S$6–10 per sq ft (S$3,000–5,000); medium S$10–18 (S$5,000–9,000); heavy S$18–30 (S$9,000–15,000) | REINSTATE. by MCSG |
| Shophouse reinstatement (500 sq ft) | S$8–25 per sq ft (S$4,000–12,500); mall access fees, after-hours premiums and SCDF fees quoted separately | REINSTATE. by MCSG |
What drives the cost
- Type of premises: a mall lot is usually handed over as a shell under the landlord’s fit-out manual, while a shophouse or standalone shop may need fuller renovation. Cosmos Decor notes Grade A buildings and heritage shophouses often cost 15–25% more because of stricter rules.
- Shopfront and joinery: FixMove says the gap between two lots of the same size is almost never paint or flooring. It is the mall manual, how much custom display joinery you need, and how much of the shopfront is fabricated off site.
- M&E works: Cosmos Decor puts construction and M&E (wiring, air-conditioning, plumbing, partitions) at 60–70% of a typical commercial budget, carpentry at 15–20%, design fees at 5–10% and permits and compliance at 5–10%.
- Lighting: Cosmos Decor puts retail lighting at S$12–35 per sq ft. For lighting points, sockets and DBs, see our electrician cost guide.
- Working hours: many malls only allow noisy work after trading hours, adding night-work premiums.
- Ceilings and walls: new ceilings, bulkheads and repainting are separate trades; see the false ceiling cost guide and painting cost guide for rates.
Approvals, mall rules and timelines
Budget time for approvals before you budget for tiles. Major mall landlords publish fit-out manuals that set shopfront treatment, signage, materials, working hours and the fit-out deposit, according to FixMove. RH Design & Build notes hoarding is usually mandatory during works. For HDB shophouses, FixMove says works that affect structure, services or the shopfront need an HDB renovation permit and a licensed contractor. RH also notes URA approval for external signage, visible shopfront changes and change of use.
Fire safety is the other gate. Cosmos Decor notes sprinkler alignment, fire-rated materials and exit signage must follow fire codes, and some projects need an SCDF Notice of Approval for building and fire safety plans before construction. Outdoor signboards may need a BCA licence; BCA lists S$50 a year for a signboard up to 15 m², with a one-time 5 m² exemption per premises. I-SIGNAGE warns against fabricating signs before the landlord or mall approves the drawings.
On timing, FixMove gives about 4–6 weeks for a mall kiosk, 6–9 weeks for a standard mall lot and 9–14 weeks for a flagship. ID Work Studio puts a 200–500 sq ft mall store at 6–12 weeks from design sign-off to opening, with about 4–8 weeks on site. Fortified says mall permit approval can add 2–4 weeks.
What is usually included, and what is not
A retail fit-out quote typically covers space planning and design, hacking and builder’s works, partitions, ceilings, flooring, lighting and electrical, display joinery and the cashier counter, painting, and submissions to the landlord or MCST. Often charged separately:
- the mall fit-out deposit, hoarding and any building-management fees;
- outdoor signage fabrication, BCA licence and any PE endorsement;
- FF&E, POS hardware, security gates and AV screens;
- SCDF and fire-safety submission fees and the qualified person’s fees;
- after-hours work premiums and GST;
- reinstatement at the end of the lease.
Plan for reinstatement on day one
Many retail leases require the unit to be returned to the condition set out in the lease. REINSTATE. by MCSG publishes about S$3,000–15,000 for a 500 sq ft mall shop depending on how heavy the fit-out was; missing the handover date can mean extra rent, penalties or a lost deposit. Our office reinstatement cost guide covers the same make-good trades in more detail.
Contractors to ask for a shop renovation quote
The first two entries are featured partners; the others are not ranked and none paid to appear. Descriptions summarise each company’s own website.
- GetContractor Renovation (SG Directory listing · website): the renovation arm of Trends Interior Design Pte Ltd, a direct contractor since 1999 that specialises in retail and office fit-out. Its own team handles layout design, carpentry, electrical, flooring and tiling, partitions, plumbing, painting and custom metal work. It submits plans to the MCST or landlord, coordinates SCDF approvals where needed, and quotes within 24 hours. bizSAFE Level 3; no price list is published.
- GetContractor Reinstatement (SG Directory listing · website): the same in-house Trends Interior Design team for shop and office reinstatement at lease end, covering electrical and aircon dismantling, partition and signage removal, flooring and ceiling reinstatement, painting, debris disposal and the MCST or landlord submission, with a quote within 24 hours.
- IDBox (S) Pte Ltd (SG Directory listing · website): design-and-build firm set up in 2002 for corporate, retail and F&B interiors, with in-house carpentry, M&E and cost management teams.
- RH Design & Build (SG Directory listing · website): commercial interior design and fit-out firm since 2005 for retail shops, showrooms, offices and F&B outlets on a turnkey or build-only basis, including mall submissions.
- Interea (SG Directory listing · website): design-and-build firm that renovates retail spaces, offices and F&B outlets as well as homes under a single contract.
- Yin Tian’s Pte Ltd (SG Directory listing · website): renovation and interior design company set up in 2013 that handles retail, F&B and office fit-outs, with one designer looking after each project.
Browse more firms under Commercial Fit-Out and Renovation & Interior Design, or Office Reinstatement for lease-end work.
How to get an accurate shop renovation quote
- Send the mall name and lot number (or shop address), floor plan and photos of the current unit.
- Share the landlord’s fit-out manual and your brand guidelines before any design starts.
- State the trade category, handover date and target opening date.
- Ask for an itemised quote: builder’s works, M&E, joinery, ceiling, flooring, lighting, signage, submissions, after-hours premiums and GST.
- Ask what reinstatement will involve at lease end.
Red flags
- A lump-sum per-square-foot price with no breakdown of trades or exclusions.
- A contractor who has not read the mall’s fit-out manual but still promises an opening date.
- Signage fabricated before the landlord or mall has approved the drawings.
- No Licensed Electrical Worker for new circuits, or no mention of fire-safety requirements.
- A promise to compress the programme by skipping approvals, which FixMove calls the one part you cannot compress.
Retail shop renovation cost: FAQ
How much does retail shop renovation cost in Singapore?
Published 2026 ranges run from about S$80–180 per sq ft for basic to mid-range work up to S$300+ per sq ft for flagship stores. A 40–80 sqm mall lot is commonly quoted at S$70,000–150,000.
How much does a mall shop fit-out cost per square foot?
ID Work Studio puts mall fit-outs at S$180–300 per sq ft and flagship work at S$300+. Fortified and Cosmos Decor give S$120–180 per sq ft for a mid-range fit-out.
How long does a shop renovation take?
A light refresh can take 1–2 weeks and a standard shop fit-out 3–6 weeks on site (FixMove). Mall projects take longer because of approvals: about 6–9 weeks for a standard lot.
Do I need approval to renovate a shop in Singapore?
Usually yes. Mall units need landlord or mall management approval under the fit-out manual; HDB shophouse works affecting structure, services or the shopfront need an HDB permit; outdoor signs may need a BCA licence; and some works need SCDF approval of fire safety plans.
How much does it cost to reinstate a shop at the end of the lease?
REINSTATE. by MCSG publishes S$6–30 per sq ft for mall shops, or about S$3,000–15,000 for 500 sq ft, and S$8–25 per sq ft for shophouses.
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