How much does a gym fitout cost in Sydney?
A gym or fitness studio fitout in Sydney costs between about $1,200 and $3,500 per square metre in 2026, excluding GST, equipment and base-building work. The floor is mostly open, which keeps the rate near an office, but three things push it up: the mechanical system has to move a lot of air for a lot of people, the showers and change rooms are a wet-area build, and the floor itself (rubber, timber or turf over acoustic underlay) is a trade of its own.
Gym fitout rates by level of finish
| Level of finish | $ per m² | Program on site |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1,200–1,800 | 5–7 weeks |
| Mid | 1,800–2,500 | 7–10 weeks |
| Premium | 2,500–3,500 | 10–14 weeks |
Per m² of floor area, design and construct, excluding GST, equipment and base-building work. Under 80 m² add about 15%.
Basic
A studio in a former gym or open space: rubber flooring, mirrors, paint, lighting, existing showers and mechanical kept.
Mid
New rubber and timber zones, new change rooms and showers, mechanical upgrade for the occupancy, reception and retail joinery, AV and lighting.
Premium
Full design in a shell: new mechanical and ventilation, acoustic treatment to floor and walls, premium change rooms, sauna or recovery room, feature lighting, rig and racks built in.
Worked examples
| Floor area | Basic | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 m² | $180,000 – $270,000 | $270,000 – $375,000 | $375,000 – $525,000 |
| 300 m² | $360,000 – $540,000 | $540,000 – $750,000 | $750,000 – $1,050,000 |
| 600 m² | $720,000 – $1,080,000 | $1,080,000 – $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 – $2,100,000 |
All-in design-and-construct ranges from the September 2026 rates. Run your own floor area through the calculator.
What drives the number
- Mechanical: a gym needs far more fresh air and cooling than an office of the same size, and the base building rarely has it.
- Showers and change rooms: a wet-area build with the hydraulics, waterproofing and ventilation that go with it.
- The floor: impact-rated rubber over acoustic underlay where weights drop, and the structural check that goes with heavy free-weight zones.
- Noise: dropped weights and class music carry through slabs and party walls, and councils condition it.
Approvals
A gym is a recreation facility (indoor) under the planning rules, so going into a former shop, office or warehouse is a change of use. Most go as complying development through a private certifier where the zoning allows it; a 24-hour gym, a large floor area or a residential neighbour usually means a DA with noise and parking conditions. A gym replacing a gym can be exempt or CDC for the internal work.
Exempt, CDC or DA — the full guide · DA or CDC · Change of use
Where the money goes
| Trade | Share | On a 300 m² mid-finish job |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical and ventilation | 20% | $129,000 |
| Rubber and timber flooring | 16% | $103,000 |
| Showers, change rooms and hydraulics | 16% | $103,000 |
| Mirrors, glazing and acoustic treatment | 12% | $77,000 |
| Lighting, electrical and AV | 12% | $77,000 |
| Reception joinery and finishes | 10% | $64,000 |
| Design, approvals and preliminaries | 14% | $90,000 |
Typical split of a mid-finish price; the shares move with the building and the brief. Excludes GST.
Which kind of gym fitout is yours?
| Type | Where it sits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Studio under 200 m² (pilates, yoga, boutique) | Basic to mid | Open floor, mirrors, one or two change rooms; mechanical is the main cost. |
| Franchise gym | Mid | The franchisor's fitout manual sets the floor zones, finishes and signage. |
| Gym in a former warehouse or industrial unit | Mid | Change of use, mechanical from scratch, showers and amenities built new, structural check for the slab. |
| 24-hour gym | Mid | Access control, CCTV and lighting throughout; the DA conditions on hours and noise set the design. |
| Premium or recovery club | Premium | Sauna, ice bath, recovery rooms, premium change rooms and acoustic treatment. |
What these spaces look like
Questions people ask about gym fitouts
What does a 300 m² gym fitout cost in Sydney?
About $360,000 to $540,000 at basic finish, $540,000 to $750,000 at mid and $750,000 to $1,050,000 at premium in 2026, excluding GST and equipment.
Is gym equipment included?
No. Racks, rigs, machines, cardio and free weights are bought or leased separately and are often as much again as the fitout.
Do I need a DA for a gym?
Often not where the zoning permits a recreation facility and the hours are standard; a private certifier can approve it as complying development. Twenty-four-hour trading, a large floor or residential neighbours tend to push it to a DA.
What about the floor and the slab?
Free-weight zones need impact-rated rubber over acoustic underlay, and an engineer should check the slab and the floor below for dropped weights, especially above another tenancy.
How long does a gym fitout take?
Five to seven weeks on site for a studio in an existing space, seven to ten for a mid-finish fitout with new change rooms, ten to fourteen for premium. The change-of-use approval runs before that.
Get a fixed price for your gym fitout
Send the floor area, the address and a few photos. City Fitouts walks the site and comes back with one fixed price for design, construction and approvals.
Other spaces: Office · Shop · Cafe · Restaurant · Medical · Childcare · Food court · Pharmacy · All fitout rates