Commercial Cost Guide

Commercial Fitout Cost Australia 2026

By The WTD Editorial Team · Last reviewed June 2026 · Methodology

Updated June 2026·Independently researched·12 min read

Commercial fit-out in Australia is priced per square metre by specification, from a cat A base fit-out through to a full cat B tenant fit-out, with shopfitting, hospitality and medical scopes priced higher again. The biggest cost levers are the specification level, the services scope and the base-building condition. Pick your city below for local pricing, or see the national job-by-job breakdown underneath. Figures are $800-$3,500/m2.

Commercial Fitout by city

Commercial Fitout prices at a glance

Service	Low	Typical	High
Fit-out feasibility / concept design	POAper report	POA	POA
Cat A fit-out (base building)	$800/m²	$1,150	$1,500
Cat B fit-out (tenant, standard)	$1,500/m²	$2,000	$2,500
Cat B fit-out (full / premium)	$2,500/m²	$3,000	$3,500
Retail shopfitting	$1,000/m²	$1,500	$2,000
Hospitality fit-out (cafe / restaurant)	$2,800/m²	$3,700	$4,500
Office partitioning (plasterboard)	$60/m	$75	$90
Glazed office partitioning	$300/m	$450	$600
Suspended ceiling (supply + install)	$50/m²	$100	$150
Joinery / custom cabinetry	POAper job	POA	POA
Services upgrade (mechanical / electrical / data)	POAper job	POA	POA
End-of-lease make-good	POA/m²	POA	POA

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Commercial Fitout Costs by Sector

Offices & Corporate

$1,500-$2,500/m2

Open-plan workstations, meeting rooms, breakout and end-of-trip facilities across multi-tenant towers and owner-occupied buildings in Australia. Cat A vs cat B scope and the services upgrade drive the rate far more than floor area.

Retail & Shopfronts

$1,000-$2,000/m2

Shopfitting for strip shops and shopping-centre tenancies in Australia - shopfront glazing, joinery, display, lighting and POS. Centre trading hours force after-hours work and landlord design approvals that lengthen the programme.

Hospitality

$2,800-$4,500/m2

Cafes, restaurants, bars and venues, where commercial kitchens, exhaust, grease arrest and hydraulic and mechanical services dominate the cost. Australia council and health approvals run in parallel with the build.

Medical, Healthcare & Professional Suites

$2,500-$4,000/m2

Consult rooms, treatment areas and reception with heavier compliance - infection control, accessibility, lead-lining for imaging and specialised services - and strict certification before Australia occupancy.

What Affects Commercial Fitout Costs in Australia

Commercial fit-out quotes in Australia swing on the specification level, the services scope and the base-building condition far more than on floor area alone. Here are the main drivers.

Specification level (cat A vs cat B)

A cat A base fit-out and a full cat B tenant fit-out sit at very different price points. Premium finishes, bespoke joinery and branding push the rate up sharply.

Services scope

Mechanical (HVAC), electrical, data and hydraulic works are often the largest single driver. Reusing sound base-building services is far cheaper than new or relocated services.

Base-building condition & make-good

A raw shell, asbestos in an older Australia building, or a heavy end-of-lease make-good obligation all add cost beyond the visible fit-out.

Programme & after-hours access

Occupied buildings and centre trading hours force night and weekend shifts and staged handover - a real multiplier over a vacant tenancy.

Compliance & certification

BCA/NCC, accessibility (DDA), fire and essential-services compliance and formal certification add documentation, time and cost, especially for healthcare and hospitality.

Joinery, finishes & branding

Custom cabinetry, stone, glazing, feature lighting and branded elements are where budgets blow out. Standardised finishes keep the rate predictable.

How to Control Commercial Fitout Costs

Clarify cat A vs cat B in the brief before tendering - they are very different scopes and quotes are not comparable without it.

Lock the scope and design early; mid-build variations are the most common cause of Australia fit-out cost blowouts.

Negotiate make-good and a landlord fit-out contribution or rent-free incentive into the lease before you sign.

Get services (mechanical, electrical, hydraulic) scoped and surveyed early - they are the biggest cost and the biggest source of surprises.

Reuse sound base-building services and ceilings where you can instead of stripping back to shell.

Get multiple fixed-price tenders on an identical brief rather than comparing rough per-m² estimates.

Our Methodology

Commercial pricing on this page is compiled from Australian commercial contractors, suppliers, published commercial rate guides and peak industry data. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific factors. Our guides are produced independently; no contractor can influence a published figure. All prices are GST-inclusive estimates and will vary with your specific site. Figures on this staging draft are pending verification. Read our full methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a commercial fit-out cost in Australia?

A commercial fit-out in Australia is priced per square metre by specification, with cat A base fit-outs well below full cat B tenant fit-outs, and hospitality and medical higher again. Verified Australia bands are $800-$3,500/m2 - figures will be published once confirmed.

What is the difference between a cat A and cat B fit-out?

A cat A fit-out delivers the base building to a usable standard - services, ceilings, basic finishes and lighting. A cat B fit-out is the tenant-specific layer on top: workstations, meeting rooms, joinery, branding and any specialist requirements. Landlords often provide cat A, with the tenant funding cat B.

How much does retail shopfitting cost in Australia?

Shopfitting a Australia tenancy is priced per square metre and depends on the shopfront, joinery, display, lighting and services. Centre design guidelines and after-hours work add to the cost. Verified bands are $1,000-$2,000/m2.

What is make-good and who pays for it?

Make-good is the obligation to return a leased tenancy to its original (often base-building) condition at the end of the lease. The outgoing tenant usually pays. It is a separate cost from the fit-out itself and should be negotiated into the lease up front.

How long does a commercial fit-out take in Australia?

A straightforward Australia office fit-out typically runs a few weeks once design and approvals are done; hospitality and medical fit-outs take longer because of services, certification and council or health approvals. Design, landlord approval and long-lead items often take longer than the build itself.

Can I get a landlord contribution towards my fit-out?

Often, yes. Australia landlords commonly offer a fit-out contribution, a cat A base fit-out, or a rent-free incentive to secure a tenant - especially on longer leases. These are negotiated as part of the lease deal, so raise them before signing.