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How Much Do Renovation Contractors Cost in Singapore, and Can You Use CPF?
Typical HDB renovation costs in Singapore for BTO and resale flats, what drives the price, and why CPF savings cannot be used for renovation.
- By the Lookup team
- Updated
- 2 min read
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Renovation costs in Singapore depend on the scope of work, materials, flat size and condition. No official government survey publishes average renovation spending, so the figures below come from commercial renovation platforms and should be treated as rough benchmarks. Always get itemised quotes.
Typical cost ranges
SingSaver and MoneySmart, citing Qanvast market data, give these ranges for HDB flats:
| Flat | BTO | Resale |
|---|---|---|
| 3-room | about S$36,100 to S$43,700 | about S$51,000 to S$61,800 |
| 4-room | about S$51,000 to S$61,800 | about S$64,300 to S$80,300 |
| 5-room | about S$67,000 to S$82,400 | about S$84,300 to S$97,000 |
Other 2026 estimates are lower or wider. For example, SmartCalculator puts a 4-room BTO at about S$40,000 to S$56,000 and a 4-room resale at about S$55,000 to S$83,000, and ShopBack suggests about S$35,000 to S$65,000 for a 4-room BTO. Sources also differ on whether furniture and appliances are included. The pattern is consistent though: resale flats usually cost more than BTO because of hacking, rewiring and re-plumbing, and carpentry is typically the biggest single item.
The 2023 version of this article quoted average spending of about S$44,000 for BTO and S$67,000 for resale. Those figures are not comparable with the newer, flat-type-specific ranges above, so we have replaced them.
Can you use CPF for renovation?
No. According to the CPF Board's terms for use of CPF under the Housing Scheme, CPF savings cannot be used to pay for construction works, improvements, repairs or renovation of your HDB flat. An earlier version of this article said the Home Protection Scheme could offset renovation costs for BTO flats. That was wrong: the Home Protection Scheme is mortgage insurance for your housing loan and has nothing to do with renovation.
CPF savings can be used for government upgrading programmes such as the HDB Main Upgrading Programme and the Town Council Lift Upgrading Programme, which are separate from private renovation. For renovation financing, check with banks or HDB directly.
What drives the cost
- Scope of work: Painting and fixtures cost much less than hacking walls or changing layouts.
- Materials and finishes: Premium tiles, flooring and fittings cost more than standard ones.
- Property size and type: Larger flats cost more, and resale or older flats often need more work.
- Carpentry: Built-in wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and shelving are often the largest line item.
- Contractor or designer: Design-and-build firms charge differently from contractors who work to your plans.
Budgeting tips
- Get at least three itemised quotes and compare line by line.
- Keep a contingency for unexpected work, especially in resale flats.
- Decide what is included: furniture, appliances and curtains are often extra.
- For HDB flats, use an HDB-registered renovation contractor (see our guide to hiring renovation contractors).
Sources: CPF Board terms and conditions for use of CPF under the CPF Housing Scheme; Qanvast data as reported by SingSaver and MoneySmart; SmartCalculator and ShopBack renovation cost guides (2026).