Kitchen Renovation Cost in Singapore: What You'll Actually Spend (2026)
Prices checked October 2026 against the published price lists of 526 contractors listed on Homees, MOM's 2025 wage data and Qanvast's 2026 report. How we price →
A kitchen renovation in Singapore runs **S$15,000 to S$50,000 for an HDB flat** in 2026 — it comes down to how much you're changing. A light refresh (new cabinets, new countertop, no hacking) can start around **S$5,000**; a full overhaul with hacking, re-tiling, custom carpentry and appliances climbs to **S$30,000–S$50,000+**. Condo kitchens cost more, usually **S$35,000–S$60,000+**, thanks to bigger footprints and MCST rules.Two things drive almost all of that: carpentry (your cabinets — they eat 40–50% of a typical reno budget) and your countertop. Here's how it breaks down.
| Renovation scope | Typical cost (HDB) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Light refresh | S$5,000 – S$10,000 | Cabinet swap, new countertop, basic fixtures, no hacking |
| Moderate | S$15,000 – S$25,000 | New custom cabinets, mid-range countertop, appliances, lighting |
| Full overhaul | S$30,000 – S$50,000+ | Hacking, re-tiling, full custom carpentry, premium finishes, appliances |
| Condo kitchen | S$35,000 – S$60,000+ | Larger footprint, higher-end finishes, MCST rules |
Kitchen renovation cost by flat type
Scope matters most, but your flat type sets the canvas. Drawing on Homees' own historical contractor quotes (adjusted to 2026), here's how kitchen works (excluding appliances) typically land by home:
| Flat type | Light works | Moderate | Extensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-room HDB | S$1,500 – S$4,500 | S$5,000 – S$11,000 | S$11,000 – S$22,000 |
| 3-room HDB | S$1,500 – S$5,000 | S$5,000 – S$11,000 | S$11,000 – S$23,000 |
| 4-room HDB | S$2,000 – S$6,000 | S$6,500 – S$12,000 | S$13,000 – S$27,000 |
| 5-room HDB | S$2,500 – S$7,000 | S$8,500 – S$14,000 | S$15,000 – S$30,000 |
| Condo | S$3,000 – S$8,000 | S$9,000 – S$15,000 | S$15,000 – S$30,000+ |
Works only — add appliances and premium finishes and an extensive job reaches the S$30,000–S$50,000+ full-overhaul tier above.
And within a typical 4-room kitchen job, here's roughly how the trades split:
| Component (4-room HDB) | Light | Moderate | Extensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpentry (cabinets) | S$2,000 – S$3,500 | S$3,500 – S$9,000 | S$9,000 – S$12,500 |
| Hacking | S$200 – S$800 | S$800 – S$1,200 | S$1,200 – S$2,400 |
| Masonry (tiling, bases) | S$400 – S$1,600 | S$1,600 – S$5,500 | S$5,500 – S$10,000 |
Carpentry dominates at every tier — which is why it gets its own section next.
Carpentry: where most of your money goes
In a Singapore kitchen, "carpentry" means your top and bottom cabinets — and it's the biggest single line item, usually 40–50% of the whole reno budget. It's priced per foot run (pfr): measure the total length of your cabinet runs in feet, multiply by the rate.
Standard laminate cabinets with soft-close hardware run about S$100–S$110 per foot run for both top and bottom. So a typical HDB kitchen with 17–20 ft of cabinets is around S$2,000–S$3,000 for the cabinets alone at standard spec.
Two upgrades move that a lot:
- Premium door finishes (acrylic mirror, real wood veneer): adds 50–100% over standard laminate.
- Premium hardware (Blum, Häfele hinges and runners): adds 20–30%.
Stack both and your foot-run rate roughly doubles. Carcass material matters too — solid plywood lasts better in our humidity than cheaper particle board.
One nuance when comparing quotes: some contractors price top and bottom cabinets separately instead of as a combined rate. Quoted that way, expect roughly S$100–S$200 per foot for hanging top cabinets and S$110–S$230 per foot for bottom cabinets with drawers — drawers and internal fittings are what push the bottom run up. Always check whether a per-foot rate means one run or both.
Most people don't buy carpentry piece by piece, though. Cabinet packages are common: basic ones start around S$3,888 (about 20 ft of plywood-and-laminate cabinets, often bundling a quartz top and sink/tap install), with contractor packages from around S$5,590 for a standard HDB kitchen.
Countertops: the second big call
Your countertop is quoted separately from carpentry, also per foot run, and the material you pick swings the price more than almost anything else.
| Material | Per foot run | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | S$30 – S$60 | Cheapest; least durable; fine for light use |
| Solid surface | S$60 – S$120 | Acrylic composite; seamless joints; less heat-resistant |
| Granite | S$100 – S$200 | Natural stone, heat-resistant; needs sealing |
| Quartz | S$120 – S$250 | Non-porous, low-maintenance; the default HDB choice |
| Sintered stone | S$200 – S$400+ | Best heat & UV resistance; take a hot pan; pricey to fabricate |
| Marble | S$150 – S$400+ | Luxurious but porous; stains and etches easily |
Quartz is the default for most HDB kitchens — non-porous, no sealing, and it's the standard in most packages. Cook a lot, or your counter sits under big windows? Then sintered stone's heat and UV resistance earns its premium. Granite and marble have fallen out of favour in modern flats partly because they need sealing and stain from oil and acid.
The other things you'll be quoted for
A kitchen is more than cabinets and stone. Budget for:
- Backsplash / wall tiling: roughly S$8–S$15 psf with labour, tile-dependent.
- Sink + tap (supply & install): around S$300–S$1,200, depending on brand and single vs double bowl.
- Plumbing & electrical: older resale flats often need rewiring or pipe upgrades — budget S$500–S$2,500 if the existing services are dated.
- Wet works (hacking + re-tiling floor/walls): a kitchen-scope lump of roughly S$1,500–S$5,000 if you're changing the tiles.
- Appliances (hood, hob, oven, fridge): a separate budget — anywhere from S$1,000 to S$5,000+ depending on brands.
The big swing, same as flooring: hack or keep. Keeping sound existing tiles dodges the hacking and haulage bill.
A worked example
A typical 4-room HDB kitchen (about 18 ft of cabinets, 14 ft of countertop):
- Carpentry, standard laminate @ ~S$105 pfr × 18 ft ≈ S$1,900
- Quartz countertop @ ~S$150 pfr × 14 ft ≈ S$2,100
- Backsplash, sink/tap, minor plumbing ≈ S$1,500–S$3,000
- Subtotal (no hacking): roughly S$5,500–S$7,000
Add full hacking, re-tiling, premium finishes and appliances, and the same kitchen comfortably reaches S$20,000–S$35,000. The gap between those two numbers is almost entirely scope — what you choose to change, not the base rates.
HDB rules for kitchens
The kitchen is where most HDB rules bite. Before you start:
- Walls: you can only hack non-structural walls. Load-bearing walls, columns and beams are off-limits. Your contractor must be an HDB Registered Renovation Contractor (RRC) who applies for the permit for you.
- Cement mortar base: the combined cement mortar base and tile finish for cabinets and countertops can't exceed 50mm.
- Refuse chute: any change to the refuse chute hopper is prohibited.
- Weepholes: if your kitchen has a sanitary duct weephole (it warns of leaks), don't let carpentry seal or block it.
- Main door: changing the size or location of the main door/gate needs a separate permit.
Always check the current rules against HDB's official renovation guidelines.
How long it takes
A kitchen reno usually runs 4–8 weeks: 1–2 weeks for planning and HDB permit approval, 1–2 weeks for wet works and tiling, and 2–3 weeks for carpentry fabrication and install — that last stage is the longest.
How to keep the budget under control
- Decide scope first, not finishes. The biggest cost lever is whether you hack and re-tile. Settle that before agonising over cabinet colours.
- Match the countertop to how you cook. Quartz suits most homes; you don't need sintered stone unless you cook hard or have heavy sun.
- Right-size your carpentry. A 2–3 person household needs about 20–25 ft of cabinets. Don't pay for runs you won't fill.
- Get 3 line-item quotes — carpentry, countertop and wet works listed separately, so you can compare fairly and spot what's missing.
Lining up vetted kitchen specialists on Homees.co is the easiest way to get comparable quotes from contractors who know HDB rules.
FAQ
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Singapore? For an HDB flat, usually S$15,000–S$50,000 depending on scope. A light cabinet-and-countertop refresh can start around S$5,000; a full overhaul with hacking and custom carpentry runs S$30,000–S$50,000+. Condo kitchens are usually S$35,000–S$60,000+.
How much do kitchen cabinets cost in Singapore? Standard laminate cabinets with soft-close hardware are about S$100–S$110 per foot run, so a typical 17–20 ft HDB kitchen is roughly S$2,000–S$3,000 for cabinets alone. Premium finishes and hardware can nearly double that. Basic packages start around S$3,888.
Which countertop is best for a Singapore kitchen? Quartz is the most popular for HDB kitchens — non-porous, low-maintenance, no sealing (about S$120–S$250 per foot run). For heavy cooking or strong sun, sintered stone offers better heat and UV resistance at S$200–S$400+ per foot run.
Quartz or sintered stone? Quartz is cheaper and fine for most homes. Sintered stone resists heat (rest a hot pan on it) and UV better, but costs more and is harder to fabricate. Many people use quartz on most runs and sintered stone only where it matters.
Do I need an HDB permit to renovate my kitchen? Yes, if you're hacking any walls, changing floor finishes, or altering the main door. Only non-structural walls can be hacked, and a Registered Renovation Contractor must apply for the permit.
How long does a kitchen renovation take? Usually 4–8 weeks: 1–2 weeks for permits, 1–2 weeks for wet works and tiling, and 2–3 weeks for carpentry.
Can I take a renovation loan for my kitchen? Yes. Banks offer renovation loans up to S$30,000 (capped at 6× monthly income, 1–5 year tenure), with interest typically around 3–5% p.a.
Does my flat type change the kitchen renovation cost? Yes — bigger kitchens mean more cabinet run, tiling and masonry. Works-only budgets range from about S$1,500–S$22,000 for a 2-room HDB up to S$3,000–S$30,000+ for a 5-room or condo, before appliances and premium finishes.
Sources
- Interior Diary — Kitchen renovation Singapore: design & cost guide
- Renovation Contractor Singapore — Kitchen carpentry cost per foot run (2026)
- Sky Creation — Kitchen countertop materials: sintered stone, quartz or granite
- SquareRooms — The best kitchen countertop material for every budget
- Renomoji — How much does it cost to renovate an HDB kitchen (2025–2026)
- La Maison Carpentry — Kitchen renovation cost Singapore
- Homees contractor price archive (2021–2024) — by-flat-type and per-component kitchen quote data from contractors listed on Homees, adjusted to 2026 market ranges
- HDB — Renovation guidelines and permitted works
Prices are indicative market ranges as of 2026 and vary by contractor, kitchen size, materials and flat condition. For official renovation rules, refer to HDB's renovation guidelines.
