How much does a shop fitout cost in Sydney?
A retail shop fitout in Sydney costs between about $1,000 and $3,200 per square metre in 2026, excluding GST, stock fixtures and base-building work. Shopfront glazing, display joinery and lighting drive the number; a shop that keeps its existing services and changes finishes is the cheapest job in the trade.
Shop fitout rates by level of finish
| Level of finish | $ per m² | Program on site |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1,000–1,500 | 3–5 weeks |
| Mid | 1,500–2,200 | 5–8 weeks |
| Premium | 2,200–3,200 | 8–12 weeks |
Per m² of floor area, design and construct, excluding GST, equipment and base-building work. Under 80 m² add about 15%.
Basic
Existing shopfront and services kept. New paint, floor, basic slatwall or freestanding fixtures, counter, track lighting.
Mid
New shopfront signage, custom display joinery and counter, new lighting layout, feature wall, fitting rooms, some electrical and data.
Premium
Full brand design, new glazed shopfront, feature ceilings and floors, bespoke joinery throughout, specialist lighting, new mechanical.
Worked examples
| Floor area | Basic | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 m² | $69,000 – $103,000 | $103,000 – $152,000 | $152,000 – $221,000 |
| 120 m² | $120,000 – $180,000 | $180,000 – $264,000 | $264,000 – $384,000 |
| 250 m² | $250,000 – $375,000 | $375,000 – $550,000 | $550,000 – $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
- The shopfront: a new glazed frontage with automatic doors is $30,000–$80,000 on its own.
- Display joinery is where the money goes in a premium shop — allow $1,500–$3,000 per linear metre for bespoke units.
- Centre fitouts (Westfield, Stockland, Vicinity) carry landlord design approval, after-hours work and hoarding costs that strip fitouts do not.
- A change of use to food — a shop becoming a cafe — moves the job into the cafe band because of the exhaust, grease trap and hydraulics.
Approvals
A like-for-like shop fitout with no change of use is usually exempt development. A new shopfront, or a change of use from one kind of shop to another, generally goes as complying development through a private certifier in two to four weeks. Heritage shopping strips (parts of Paddington, Balmain, Newtown, Glebe) need a DA for anything that touches the frontage.
What these spaces look like
Get a fixed price for your shop 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.
Other spaces: Office · Cafe · Restaurant · Medical · Childcare · All fitout rates