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How to Read a Renovation Quotation in Singapore
What a Singapore renovation quotation should contain, how to compare carpentry and hacking line by line, the costs quotes often leave out, and the red flags to watch for.
- A good quotation lists every item with quantity, unit and price.
- Compare carpentry on the same foot run, finish and internals.
- Check for haulage, protection, PE endorsement, electrical and plumbing lines, and pay in stages.
Homey Furnishing 3 min read A good renovation quotation in Singapore lists every item with a quantity, a unit and a price, so you can compare contractors line by line. If two quotes look far apart, the difference is usually in carpentry lengths, materials or items one of them left out. Here is what to look for.
The sections a quotation should have
- Preliminaries: protection works for floors, lifts and corridors, debris haulage and disposal.
- Hacking and demolition: each wall, floor or built-in listed separately.
- Masonry and tiling: area in square feet, tile type and whether it is an overlay or hack-and-redo.
- Carpentry: each item in foot run, with the material (laminate, veneer, spray paint) and internal fittings.
- Electrical: number of lighting and power points, and who the licensed electrical worker is.
- Plumbing and sanitary: fittings and who installs them (a PUB Licensed Plumber for toilet bowls).
- Ceiling and partitions: false ceiling area and cove lighting.
- Painting: areas and paint brand.
- Cleaning and handover.
Compare carpentry like for like
Carpentry is usually the biggest item, often around a third of a renovation budget. Compare on the same basis:
- Same lengths: foot run for each wardrobe, kitchen cabinet or console.
- Same finish: laminate is cheaper than veneer, which is cheaper than spray paint. See laminate vs veneer.
- Same internals: drawers, soft-close hinges, pull-out baskets and lighting are often extra.
Typical 2026 laminate rates: swing wardrobes about $200 to $320 per foot run, and kitchen cabinets (top and bottom) about $180 to $360 per foot run.
Costs quotes often leave out
- Debris haulage and disposal.
- Protection works.
- PE endorsement, about $800 to $2,000, where an engineer is required.
- Electrical points and rewiring.
- Plumbing changes and gas works.
- Curtains, lights, appliances and final cleaning.
Ask the contractor to list these lines even if they are $0, so nothing appears later as a variation.
Payment stages and contract checks
- Pay in stages tied to completed work, not a large deposit up front.
- Put changes in writing as signed variation orders with prices.
- Check the contractor is in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors for HDB flats. See HDB registered contractors.
- Ask who holds the HDB permit and how long the works will take.
- Look for CaseTrust accreditation, and check CASE's Company Alert List.
Red flags
- One lump-sum price with no breakdown.
- Carpentry priced "per set" with no lengths.
- No mention of haulage, protection or permits.
- Pressure to pay most of the price before work starts.
- A contractor you cannot find in HDB's directory for HDB works.
For small repair jobs, our guide to clearer repair quotes shows how to get an accurate price from photos. For a full renovation, see BTO renovation costs and our HDB interior design service.
FAQ
Why are renovation quotes in Singapore so different? Usually because of different carpentry lengths and finishes, and items left out of one quote, such as haulage, protection or electrical works.
What should be included in a renovation quotation? Every item with quantity, unit and price, grouped into preliminaries, hacking, tiling, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, ceilings, painting and cleaning.
How much deposit should I pay for renovation? Pay in stages tied to completed work and avoid paying most of the price up front. Agree the schedule in the contract.
How do I check if my renovation contractor is legitimate? For HDB flats, check the company in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors, and look for CaseTrust accreditation and the CASE Company Alert List.
Sources: smartcalculator.sg Renovation Quotation Singapore 2026 and Carpentry Cost Singapore 2026, and HDB Looking for Renovation Contractors, checked 21 October 2026.