When it comes to building a retail or showroom space, one of the first questions people have is "How much will it cost me?" 

As you’d imagine, this question doesn’t have a simple answer as the costs to build a retail or showroom building vary based on a range of factors including size, features, location, and site conditions. 

In this guide, we’ll provide clarity by exploring the key variables that impact pricing. If you’re in the early planning stages or want to understand what drives costs up and down, this article will help you anticipate costs and make informed decisions. 

If you have a good idea of the size and specification of your project and want an automatic estimate, why not try our Budget Estimator Tool? Simply fill in your details and get a budget range sent directly to your email. 

Table of Contents 

• Base Build Costs: Structure and Dimensions 
• Site-Specific Considerations 
• Office & Showroom Fit-Out Costs 
• Exterior and Civil Works 
• Regional Cost Variations 
  
• Plan Ahead with Confidence

BASE BUILD OF THE RETAIL OR SHOWROOM BUILDING: STRUCTURE AND DIMENSIONS MATTER.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST FOR THE RETAIL OR SHOWROOM BUILDING SUPERSTRUCTURE? 

The base build of a retail or showroom building typically ranges from $950 –$1,600 per square meter, depending on features and complexity. This includes the foundations, concrete floor, walls, and roof but excludes earthworks, offices, and specialized systems. 

Here’s a closer look at the factors that influence the price: 

Building Dimensions: Retail buildings often require specific layouts to accommodate customer flow and product display areas as well as car parking and site traffic flow. Often, they are on brownfield sites which may have irregular shapes, meaning that there is sometimes less opportunity to optimize the building dimensions and shape.  

Brownfield Sites: Most retail stores need to be located in central areas of a city – which often means that the sites are brownfield (been built on before) rather than a greenfield site (site which has not been built on before (i.e. Rural land rezoned to industrial/commercial) Brownfield sites can come with extra challenges such as: 

• Demolition of existing structures: Sometimes this can involve heritage New Zealand if the site is of historical significance or pre-1900, and often older buildings can contain asbestos.

• Contamination: Older sites can often have contaminated soils from previous activities, especially if there were activities involving fuels or processing/manufacturing.  

• Precast Panels: Often retail buildings need to be situated close to boundaries to maximize space. This can increase the number of precast firewalls required which increases the cost per m2.  

• Glazing & Feature cladding: Large glazed shopfronts and custom facade features increase material and installation costs. 

It also depends on the point the 'base-build’ is taken to, as different retail spaces require different features, for example: 

• Suspended Ceilings: Higher-end retail spaces often require suspended ceilings for aesthetic and acoustic control. 

• HVAC Systems: Temperature control for customer comfort may require more advanced HVAC solutions. 

• Security Features: Surveillance systems, reinforced glass, and security shutters all increase costs. 

SITE-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS 

The starting point of our ranges are based on level sites with good ground conditions. If significant earthworks or demolition is required, expenses can quickly rise. Retail locations in urban areas may also require additional site preparation for utilities, pedestrian access, and traffic management. 

Office and Showroom FIT-OUT COSTS 

HOW MUCH DOES AN OFFICE OR AMENITIES AREA COST? 

Inside the retail space, you may have requirements for offices and amenities for staff. These costs vary a lot depending on if it's simply adding some basic toilets and lunchrooms or if you are including full-scale offices for larger numbers of staff.  

At the basic end, it can cost $2,000 - $2,500 per m2 to add offices to the base-build figures above. This would be a basic design with standard flooring and toilet areas. For larger custom offices and fit outs can range from $3,000 - $4,500 depending on the scale and specifications. It also depends on if you're having double-level offices or single-level spaces as mezzanine floors can add additional costs per m2 for the floor design and fire protection requirements.