Commercial Fitout Cost Australia 2026
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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Get free quotes →Worked commercial fitout pricing scenarios
Three jobs show how the per-square-metre bands translate. A 150m2 open-plan office refresh at a cat A-plus level — new ceilings, lighting, paint and carpet over sound services — prices around $120,000–$225,000. A 300m2 cat B office fit out with workstations, two meeting rooms, a kitchenette and branding typically lands $450,000–$750,000. And a 100m2 retail shopfit with joinery, feature lighting and a service counter runs $100,000–$200,000. In every case the services trades — mechanical, electrical, fire — are where budgets move most.
Commercial Fitout Costs by Sector
Offices & Corporate
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
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
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
Consult rooms, treatment areas and reception with heavier compliance - infection control, accessibility, lead-lining for imaging and specialised services - and strict certification before 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 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 commercial fitouts are quoted
Most fit-out quotes arrive per square metre against a specification level, then get adjusted for the three things that resist averaging: the base building's condition, the services scope (ductwork, switchboards, fire compliance), and joinery. Design-and-construct firms quote the whole job under one contract; construct-only builders price a designer's documentation. The same 200m2 space can honestly quote $540,000 apart depending on which path and specification you brief.
How to Control Commercial Fitout Costs
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. Read our full methodology →
What a compliant fitout quote includes
A quote worth comparing itemises demolition and make-safe, partitions and ceilings, floor finishes, electrical and data, mechanical adjustments, fire services and compliance certification, joinery, and preliminaries — plus GST stated plainly. Watch for exclusions written in small type: authority approvals, after-hours labour and base-building upgrades are the usual variation generators on a commercial fit out.
Fitout compliance and certification
Any fitout touching services triggers certification — electrical and fire work must be certified, and layout changes can require building approval depending on state and building class. Budget both time and money for it: certification is a line item, not an afterthought, and end-of-lease make-good obligations mean keeping the paperwork matters years later.