Painting & Wall Finishing Cost in Singapore: The Real Numbers (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 →
Repainting an HDB flat in Singapore costs roughly **S$600 to S$2,300** in 2026 — it depends on flat size, paint quality, and how many colours you go for. A 4-room is usually **S$700–S$1,400**; a 5-room or executive flat with premium washable paint can hit **S$2,000+**. Condos cost a bit more, landed a lot more.That's plain paint. Want a feature wall — wallpaper, fluted panels, wainscoting? Different ballgame: usually S$10–S$80 per square foot installed depending on the material, or about S$800–S$3,000 for a typical living-room feature wall.
| Work | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paint a 3-room HDB | S$700 – S$1,600 | Interior, labour + materials |
| Paint a 4-room HDB | S$688 – S$1,400 | The most common job |
| Paint a 5-room / executive | S$950 – S$2,300 | Premium paint pushes the top end |
| Per single room | S$150 – S$300 | Handy for touch-ups |
| Skim coat / plaster (paint-ready) | S$1.40 – S$2.30 psf | Surface prep for smooth walls |
| Wallpaper (installation) | S$4 – S$8 psf | Plus the roll cost |
| Fluted / panel feature wall | S$10 – S$80 psf | Material-dependent |
Painting cost by flat size
Most painters quote a package by flat type, covering labour, materials and basic prep:
| Property | Typical cost (interior) |
|---|---|
| 2-room HDB | S$600 – S$1,200 |
| 3-room HDB | S$700 – S$1,600 |
| 4-room HDB | S$688 – S$1,400 |
| 5-room HDB | S$950 – S$2,300 |
| Executive HDB | S$1,100 – S$2,100 |
| Maisonette | S$1,200 – S$2,300 |
| Condo (under 1,000 sqft) | S$950 – S$1,350 (larger up to S$4,000) |
| Landed | S$2,000 – S$5,000+ |
A two-person team usually finishes a 4-room in 2–3 days. If you only need labour and you supply the paint, a whole flat is about S$400–S$800, and a single room S$150–S$300.
What actually moves the price
Five things:
- Paint quality. Economical paints (Nippon Vinilex 5000, Matex) are about S$20–S$40 per litre; mid-range washable S$40–S$70 per litre; premium anti-mould / ultra-durable lines cost more. A 20-litre tin of Vinilex 5000 alone is around S$165 now — paint has gone up a lot in the last few years.
- Number of colours. Every extra colour means more masking, mixing and cutting-in — so more labour.
- Wall condition. Cracked, peeling or stained walls need skim coating or plastering first (below), which adds to both labour and material.
- Oil sealer undercoat. HDB walls with layers of old paint usually need an oil sealer first — about +S$500. It stops old stains bleeding through the new coat.
- Ceiling, doors and pipes. Ceiling painting, and door/pipe painting, are usually charged separately from the wall package.
Wall finishing: the "types" beyond paint
Paint is the baseline. When you want more character — usually on one feature wall — here are the common finishes and what they cost installed:
| Finish | Installed (psf) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Skim coat / plaster | S$1.40 – S$2.30 | Paint-ready smooth walls; fixing unevenness |
| Wallpaper | S$4 – S$8 (install) + roll | Bedrooms, feature walls; vinyl works in damp areas |
| 3D textured panels | S$10 – S$30 | Sculpted accent walls |
| Wainscoting | S$12 – S$25 | Hallways, dining, master bedrooms |
| Fluted MDF / laminate panels | S$15 – S$35 | The popular modern feature wall |
| WPC fluted panels | S$15 – S$27 | Waterproof; wet or dry areas |
| Slatted wood battens | S$20 – S$50 | Open, layered dividers / feature walls |
| Fabric-wrapped panels | S$25 – S$60 | Soft, acoustic accent walls |
| Solid wood fluted panels | S$40 – S$80 | Premium timber statement walls |
On wallpaper: rolls go from about S$50 (entry) to S$80–S$150 (mid-range vinyl/non-woven) and S$300+ (premium), with a standard roll covering roughly 50 sqft. A single HDB feature wall lands around S$400–S$700 all-in; a full living room S$1,200–S$2,500. One thing people miss: most panels and wallpaper need a flat, skim-coated wall underneath, so factor that in for older flats.
The costs people forget
- Oil sealer undercoat: +S$500, and often not optional in older flats.
- Skim coating damaged walls: S$80–S$120 per wall, or from ~S$1,700 to plaster a whole flat.
- Ceiling painting: another S$200–S$500 if it's not in your base package.
- Door & pipe painting: charged separately, often S$80–S$250.
- Working around aircon units, outlets and switches: wallpaper and panel installers sometimes charge extra for the fiddly cutting.
- Furniture protection & moving: good contractors sheet everything — confirm it's included.
Sample budgets
- Refresh a 4-room HDB, standard paint, one or two colours: roughly S$700–S$1,100.
- Same flat, premium washable paint + oil sealer + ceilings: closer to S$1,800–S$2,400.
- Add one fluted-panel feature wall (about 90 sqft): another S$1,400–S$3,200 depending on the material.
A quick note on rules
Interior painting doesn't need an HDB permit. Two practical points though: condos usually cost about S$100 more than the same HDB job and may need building-management coordination (lift protection, working hours). And exterior walls — relevant for landed homes — need weatherproof paint and proper access.
How to keep the cost down
- Fewer colours. Less prep, less labour.
- Spend on washable paint where it counts. A bit more upfront in high-traffic areas means you repaint less often.
- Prep what you can yourself. Minor patching before the painter arrives saves on prep fees.
- Bundle it. Painting combined with other reno works often gets a package discount.
- Get itemised, written quotes — with sealer, ceilings and door/pipe work listed separately so you can compare fairly.
Comparing vetted painters and finishing contractors on Homees.co is the easiest way to line up quotes you can trust.
Painting cost and duration by housing type
Price and how long the job takes, by home type, from our archive:
| Type of Housing | Price Range | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Condo below 1000 sq ft | $900-$1300 | 1-4 days |
| Condo 1200-1500 sq ft | $1100-$1600 | 1-4 days |
| Condo 1500-1800 sq ft | $1300-$1700 | 2-5 days |
| Condo 1800+ sq ft | $1500 & Above | 2-5 days |
| HDB Executive Apartment (EA) (single storey) | $900-$1700 | 2-4 days |
| HDB Executive Apartment (EA) (double storeys) | $900-$2000 | 2-4 days |
| HDB maisonette apartment | $1000-1600 | 2-4days |
Rates from the Homees contractor price archive (2023) — expect roughly 10–15% higher in 2026. Use as relative benchmarks, and get current itemised quotes.
FAQ
How much does it cost to paint an HDB flat in Singapore? Roughly S$600–S$2,300 depending on flat size and paint. A 2-room is about S$600–S$1,200, a 4-room S$688–S$1,400, and a 5-room or executive up to S$2,300 with premium paint.
How much to paint one room? Usually S$150–S$300, depending on size, wall condition and the number of colours.
Why do painters charge for an oil sealer? HDB walls usually carry several layers of old paint. An oil-based sealer (around +S$500) blocks old stains and patches from bleeding through, and helps the new paint last longer.
How much does wallpaper cost in Singapore? Rolls range from about S$50 (entry) to S$300+ (premium), with installation around S$4–S$8 psf. A single HDB feature wall is roughly S$400–S$700; a full living room S$1,200–S$2,500.
How much is a fluted-panel feature wall? Fluted MDF or laminate panels are about S$15–S$35 psf installed; solid wood S$40–S$80 psf. A typical living-room feature wall (80–100 sqft) totals roughly S$800–S$3,000.
Do I need to skim coat before painting or wallpapering? If your walls are cracked, peeling or uneven, yes. Skim coating gives a smooth, paint- or paper-ready surface and costs about S$80–S$120 per wall.
How long does painting an HDB flat take? Usually 1–3 days. A team of two typically does a 4-room in 2–3 days.
Sources
- Fortified — How much does house painting cost in Singapore (2025)
- Best Painting SG — 4-room HDB painting cost in Singapore
- PaintingGuy.sg — Cost to paint a 5-room HDB flat
- Painting Service Singapore — Painting service cost breakdown
- Goodrich Global — Wall panel Singapore: types and costs
- Goodrich Global — Wallpaper cost Singapore guide
- Best Painting SG — Wall plastering cost in Singapore (2026)
Prices are indicative market ranges as of 2026 and vary by contractor, flat size, paint quality and wall condition.
