HDB Renovation Cost Guide: Ranges by Flat Type

Renovating an HDB flat is one of the largest cash outlays most households make, and Singapore has no official price list — so the honest starting point is a range, not a single number. The figures below are illustrative ranges compiled from published industry data (Qanvast’s 2026 estimates, projected from 2025 medians across hundreds of real projects). They are a planning guide, not a quotation. Your own cost depends on your flat, the scope of works and your choice of finishes.

What a renovation actually costs

For a full renovation (works only, before furniture and appliances), 2026 illustrative ranges look like this:

Flat type	BTO / new flat	Resale flat
3-room	S$40,800 – S$52,500	S$55,000 – S$68,300
4-room	S$50,000 – S$60,000	S$70,000 – S$81,600
5-room	S$60,600 – S$76,500	S$80,800 – S$98,900

Illustrative ranges — Source: Qanvast 2026 HDB renovation cost estimates. Not quotes.

A light, “move-in essentials” renovation can come in well under these figures if you keep built-in carpentry to the kitchen and wardrobes and furnish the rest with loose pieces. See the full worked example for a 4-room BTO breakdown.

Where the money goes

Most quotations break down into the same handful of trades. The selected per-trade estimates below come from Qanvast’s renovation calculator for a moderate-scope job; they are illustrative examples, not a complete whole-flat breakdown, and do not sum to the headline full-renovation totals above:

Card listing selected illustrative HDB renovation work estimates by trade

Selected illustrative per-trade estimates from Qanvast’s renovation calculator — not a complete budget breakdown, not quotes.

Work	Illustrative range
Hacking / removal of finishes or approved non-structural walls	S$400 – S$700
Masonry (tiling & flooring)	S$1,300 – S$3,000
Carpentry (cabinets, wardrobes, shelving)	S$3,400 – S$6,100
Electrical (lighting, power points)	S$1,700 – S$3,200
Painting (walls & ceilings)	S$200 – S$1,400
Windows, doors & grilles	S$2,600 – S$5,100
Cleaning & disposal	S$300 – S$1,100

Illustrative ranges — Source: Qanvast renovation calculator. Not quotes.

Carpentry is almost always the biggest driver. Built-in cabinetry is priced by the foot run and by material and detailing, so a kitchen and a few wardrobes can quickly dominate the budget. The kitchen alone often runs S$11,500–S$28,000 once appliances are included.

BTO vs resale: why resale costs more

A resale flat usually costs noticeably more to renovate than a comparable new BTO, because an older unit often needs extra work before the “nice” renovation even starts: removing old floor and wall finishes, and — after inspection — rectifying ageing electrical, plumbing or waterproofing, or repairing spalling concrete where present. Note that any wall hacking requires HDB’s prior written approval and must go through a DRC-listed contractor. The resale flat renovation guide explains those possible line items in detail.

Build in a buffer

Industry surveys consistently find that most homeowners exceed their original renovation budget. Set aside a 10–20% contingency for variation orders and surprises uncovered after hacking. Remember too that furniture, appliances and furnishings are usually quoted separately and can add another S$10,000–S$30,000.

If you are financing part of the cost, several major banks currently offer renovation loans of up to the lower of 6× your monthly income or S$30,000, subject to the lender’s eligibility and credit assessment — see the renovation loan guide.

How we source these ranges

We do not inspect flats or test prices ourselves. These ranges are compiled from published industry estimates and are labelled illustrative throughout. Before you commit, get at least three itemised quotations from contractors in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors and compare like-for-like scopes.

Cost figures are illustrative ranges compiled from published industry sources, not quotes. Rules and prices change; confirm current figures with your contractor and the official sources.