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
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:
It also depends on the point the 'base-build’ is taken to, as different retail spaces require different features, for example:
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.
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.
Once the base build has been completed there are often additional showroom fit-out costs which may fall on the tenant, if the tenant is a different entity from the landlord.
Some of these include
Site preparation and exterior works are critical to a functional retail or showroom space. These costs can vary significantly:
Material and labour costs differ by location. Urban retail sites often have higher build costs due to increased traffic management and logistics. Remote sites may incur additional transport and logistics costs if key materials like aggregate and concrete are coming from afar.
PLAN AHEAD WITH EXPERT GUIDANCE
Building a retail or showroom space is a significant investment, with costs ranging from $750 to $1,200 per square meter for superstructures and $2,500 to $4,500 per square meter for office and showroom spaces. To recap, the main factors influencing costs are:
Building a retail or showroom space is a significant investment, with costs ranging from $950 to $1,600 per square meter for superstructures and $2,500 to $4,500 per square meter for office and showroom spaces. To recap, the main factors influencing costs are:
Planning your retail or showroom space?
Use our Budget Estimator Tool for a quick cost range or contact us for a personalised estimate. Our experienced team can guide you through every stage of the build to ensure you get value for your investment. With accurate planning and expert advice, your facility can be tailored to your needs without blowing your budget.