If you’re reading this article, you might either be collecting the keys to, or thinking of buying, a 3-room BTO flat. The next step━if you’ve not already jumped the gun━is renovating it to fit the Pinterest board of your heart’s desires. How much is it going to cost in 2025 to renovate a 3-room BTO flat? We help you break down the numbers below.
3-room BTO flat renovation costs in 2025
Generally speaking, renovating a 3-room BTO flat should cost less than a 3-room resale HDB flat. For starters, a BTO flat is brand new━think of it as a clean slate on which you can do whatever you like. You’ll probably encounter less items you’ll want to hack and replace, as compared to a resale flat that’s already been done up according to someone else’s style.
A quick look at renovation platforms and offers on interior design firm websites show the average cost of renovating a 3-room BTO flat lies between $35k to $45k.
Furthermore, there is a tendency towards spending less on 3-room BTO flats. Post-pandemic Singapore saw a clear buying preference towards larger HDB flats. More often than not, current owners do not see the smaller 3-room units as their forever home. Instead, these 3-room BTO flats are homes that may be sold when the family gets bigger or when the property fulfills its Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). In turn, less is spent on renovation and furnishing as the property will be upgraded eventually.
To give you a better idea of what renovation works can be done at varying price points, here are some 3-room BTO reno projects across various price points━with the reno prices have been referenced from Qanvast. Do note that most of these projects were completed some time ago, so do factor in inflation rates as well.
<$30k
3-room BTO flat in Alkaff Crescent: $30k
Image credit: The Interior Lab
Completed in 2021, this Scandinavian home by The Interior Lab cost $30k to construct. Some carpentry, plumbing, and tiling works were done. The owners also hacked some walls to expand the space, and had a feature wall built.
3-room BTO flat in Senja Close: $25k
Image adapted from: Starry Homestead
The renovation cost for this modern Scandinavian home by Starry Homestead was $25k. Aside from carpentry, plumbing, and tiling works, the owners had a false ceiling installed. The renovation works were completed in 2022, so do factor inflation in.
$31k to $40k
3-room BTO flat in Bidadari Park Drive: $38k
Image credit: Inizio Atelier
If you prefer an all-wood aesthetic, the prices do move up the scale. This Bidadari Park Drive home by Inizio Atelier was completed in 2021 and was designed by Inizio Atelier.
Image credit: Inizio Atelier
With a $38k budget, the owners were able to get extensive carpentry work, a false ceiling, vinyl flooring, tiling work for the toilet, hacking, and electrical rewiring completed.
3-room BTO flat in Skyparc @ Dawson: $35k
Image adapted from: Kraftsmen Carpentry
Sticking to contemporary design principles, we see a strong emphasis on using natural materials, clean lines, and stark contrasts. At $35k, Kraftsmen Carpentry were able to completely transform this Skyparc @ Dawson home.
Image credit: Kraftsmen Carpentry
The fluted paneling of the feature wall is the highlight of the home. Hacking, carpentry work, flooring installation, electrical rewiring, and plumbing works were included.
$41k to $50k
3-room BTO flat in Bedok South Horizon: $45k
Image credit: Ascend Design
Ascend Design completed this Minimalist project in Bedok South Horizon. The clever use of contrasting materials in the living room carved out different areas within a singular space.
Image adapted from: Ascend Design
Meanwhile, the curved detailing and neutral colour palette allowed the home to retain a soft, cohesive look. The $45k price tag includes costs for a feature wall, carpentry, hacking, tiling, plumbing, and painting.
>$50k
3-room BTO flat in Dawson: $55k
Image adapted from: Happe Design Atelier
Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you a beautiful home. This eclectic Dawson BTO flat’s renovation was done by Happe Design Atelier for $55k.
Image adapted from: Happe Design Atelier
They went for the full works: feature wall installation, carpentry, flooring, hacking, tiling, plumbing, painting, and electrical rewiring. The renovation was completed in 2021.
Cost breakdown for 3-room BTO flat renovations
It’s clear that basic renovation costs and a ‘less is more’ approach to design are more likely to help you save on reno costs. By only going for the absolute essentials and some finishing, you might be able to shave things own to a more palatable $30k. The moment you start adding in customised works, opt for more premium, or higher quality materials, the price will start to increase.
Even if you compare similar-looking homes, the scope of work and hence, labour costs, as well as the choice of material, will inevitably impact overall renovation costs.
| Item | Estimated cost |
| Hacking | $400 to $900 for hacking a wall |
| Painting | $600 to $1,200 for an entire 3-room BTO flat |
| Tiling and flooring | $3.20 per tile, $4-$6 psf for tile laying labour, $6 per foot run for skirting
|
| Carpentry | $100 to $250 per foot run range |
| Plumbing | $1,500 per bathroom (for new sinks, toilets, and showers, excluding fixtures) |
| Electrical work | 10 additional power points can set you back about $2,000 |
Structural changes (i.e. hacking)
Open-concept homes are a popular design choice to enlarge the living space of a 3-room BTO flat, but this involves hacking, unless you’re one of the lucky applicants of an open concept white flat. You’re looking at estimated costs of $400 to $900 for a single wall; partial hacking might cost even more than that. You’ll also have to pay for demolition and disposal fees.
A good rule of thumb is that the more structural changes are made, the more expensive the final bill. This would include building faux or feature walls, adding columns or beams, changing your window frames, and making significant changes to the floor slabs. Before you make any structural changes, remember to check if they are legal and apply for approval from HDB before you proceed.
Painting
A fresh coat of paint will cost between $600 to $1,200 for an entire 3-room BTO flat. Prices vary depending on the paint quality and quantity. Painting a bedroom costs between $275 to $575, a kitchen costs between $175 to $375, and a single door can start from $50.
Tiling and flooring
If you don’t like the tiles provided, you may want to hack or overlay new tiles on top. The former involves demolition work, and you might need to redo the waterproofing and so on, before then adding on the costs of buying new tiles and then getting them installed.
The average tile is priced at $3.20 per tile, and labour costs for laying tiles is $4-$6psf. You’ll also have to pay for skirting costs, which average $6 per foot run. Considering how 3-room BTO flats are 645-700sqft, redoing the tiling for your whole house could easily cost upwards of $10k.
Alternatively, overlaying your tiles with vinyl could be one way to spend less. Estimated costs for vinyl flooring is $2-$5psf, with installation costs between $1-$3psf. Even on the higher end of the range, overlaying your space would cost about $5k.
Carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work
Skilled labour costs for carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work will likely make up a large part of your 3-room BTO flat renovation budget. For those who want extensive amounts of carpentry work done, be prepared to shell out a lot more. On average, custom carpentry costs between $100 to $250 per foot run range, where each foot run is about 30cm.
Making cosmetic updates to your home usually costs less. Instead of built-in cabinets, kitchen islands, and walk-in cupboards, opt for framed art pieces and loose furniture to jazz up your space.
Similarly, electrical work and plumbing can add thousands of dollars to your final bill. For instance, including 10 additional power points would set you back about $2k. Installing new sinks, toilets, and showers could cost up to $1.5k per bathroom, excluding the costs of the fixtures themselves.
3-room BTO flat renovation costs in 2025
Ultimately, the renovation costs for a 3-room BTO flat depend on the choice of materials, how extensive the renovation is, and the contractor that you go with. For those on a tighter budget, consider working with the provided BTO fixtures and tilings, and adapting them into your final design. The little compromises you make will definitely help you achieve your dream space on your desired budget.
Read more articles related to BTO renovation costs here:
- Saving $10k on our BTO reno even though we opted out of the OCS scheme
- How we saved $1.5k by painting our home ourselves
- How to finance your home reno
Cover image adapted from:
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