How much does a medical or dental fitout cost in Sydney?
A medical or dental fitout in Sydney costs between about $2,200 and $4,500 per square metre in 2026, excluding GST, clinical equipment and base-building work. Infection control, accessibility, specialised plumbing and electrical, and the approvals that go with a health use push it above office rates — and a dental surgery with its chairs, compressor and suction sits at the top of the band.
Medical fitout rates by level of finish
| Level of finish | $ per m² | Program on site |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2,200–2,800 | 8–10 weeks |
| Mid | 2,800–3,500 | 10–14 weeks |
| Premium | 3,500–4,500 | 14–20 weeks |
Per m² of floor area, design and construct, excluding GST, equipment and base-building work. Under 80 m² add about 15%.
Basic
Existing services kept, consult rooms partitioned, vinyl floors, hand basins added where drainage exists, reception counter, basic lighting. Allied health and GP rooms.
Mid
New partitions with acoustic rating, new lighting, hydraulics to every consult room, treatment room with medical gas or compressed air rough-in, accessible WC, reception joinery.
Premium
Dental and specialist: surgeries with chair plumbing, suction and compressor plant, lead-lined radiology, sterilisation room to AS/NZS 5667, full mechanical, bespoke reception.
Worked examples
| Floor area | Basic | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m² | $220,000 – $280,000 | $280,000 – $350,000 | $350,000 – $450,000 |
| 200 m² | $440,000 – $560,000 | $560,000 – $700,000 | $700,000 – $900,000 |
| 400 m² | $880,000 – $1,120,000 | $1,120,000 – $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 – $1,800,000 |
All-in design-and-construct ranges from the September 2026 rates. Run your own floor area through the calculator.
What drives the number
- Hydraulics: a basin in every room, and in dental a chair connection in every surgery, means drainage runs through the slab or a raised floor.
- Dental plant — compressor, suction, sterilisation — needs its own room, power and ventilation.
- Accessibility: an accessible WC and path of travel are not optional for a health use, and retrofitting one into an old shop is a real cost.
- Radiology (X-ray, OPG, CT) needs lead shielding and an EPA licence — budget it separately.
Approvals
Medical is where approvals bite. A medical centre replacing a medical centre can be complying development, but a shop or office becoming a medical centre is a change of use that usually needs a DA, with parking and traffic the usual sticking points. Allow 8–16 weeks and start the approval before the lease starts, not after.
What these spaces look like
Get a fixed price for your medical fitout
Send the floor area, the address and a few photos. Republic Design Build walks the site and comes back with one fixed price for design, construction and approvals.
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