HDB painting cost in Singapore: per room and full unit (2026)

Painting a full HDB flat in Singapore in 2026 starts at around $480 for a 3-room and goes up to $880 for a 5-room. Per-room rates start at $150 for a single feature wall and $250 for a small bedroom. The difference depends on flat size, the brand of paint, and whether you need wall prep before painting.

This article breaks down the actual rates, what those numbers cover, what they don't, and how to choose between brands and finishes.

Full HDB unit pricing

For a complete repaint of the whole flat — walls and ceilings, two coats, mid-spec paint:

• HDB 3-room (full): from $480
• HDB 4-room (full): from $680
• HDB 5-room (full): from $880

These are starting prices. They include wall preparation (light sanding, filler for minor cracks, masking around fittings), two coats of mid-spec paint, and clean handover. They assume the flat is empty or furniture can be shifted to the centre of each room.

What pushes the price up: dark colours that need a third coat for proper coverage, premium paint brands, significant wall repair beyond minor cracks, or painting in a still-furnished unit where everything has to be carefully covered and worked around.

Per-room rates

If you don't need the whole flat done, you can paint individual rooms. Rates depend on room size and what's being painted:

• Single feature wall: $150-$250 (one wall, 2-3 hours)
• Small bedroom (8-10 m²): $250-$350 (3-5 hours)
• Kitchen — walls only (8-12 m²): $280-$400 (4-5 hours)
• Study or nursery (10-14 m²): $280-$400 (4-5 hours)
• Master bedroom (12-16 m²): $300-$450 (4-6 hours)
• Living room (20-30 m²): $400-$600 (5-7 hours)
• 1-wall touch-up (single wall, existing colour): from $80

All prices include paint, drop sheets, two coats, and clean-up. Feature walls with dark or saturated colours sometimes need three coats — that's built into the upper end of the range.

What's included in a standard quote

When we quote a painting job, the price covers:

• Light wall preparation — sanding rough patches, filling minor cracks and nail holes
• Masking around switches, sockets, skirting, door frames, and ceiling edges
• Drop sheets to protect flooring and any furniture being worked around
• Two coats of paint in your chosen colour and finish
• Ceiling painting (white, standard ceiling paint) if included in scope
• Clean-up — removing masking, vacuuming dust, taking away paint cans

What's usually extra

A few common scenarios that add to the base quote:

Major wall repair. Standard quotes cover minor cracks and nail holes. Larger cracks, holes from removed wardrobes, water damage, or smoke-stained ceilings need extra prep work — usually $50-$150 per room depending on the scope.

Stain sealing. Old water marks, oil stains, or smoke stains will bleed through normal paint. A stain sealer coat needs to go on first. Adds $80-$150 to the job depending on the affected area.

Premium paint brands. Stepping up from mid-spec to washable premium adds $30-$60 per room. Worth it for high- traffic areas like kids' rooms or kitchens; less critical for spare bedrooms.

Custom colour matching. Standard colours from the brand's palette are free. Custom matched colours (from a sample you provide) add a small mixing fee, typically $15-$30 per colour.

Painting in occupied units. If you can't empty rooms or shift furniture to the centre, additional protection and slower working means usually +15-25% on top of empty-unit pricing.

Choosing the paint

Most painters in Singapore use Nippon or Dulux. Both are reliable; the difference between them is mostly about which product line you pick within each brand.

Nippon Vinilex. The default mid-spec emulsion. Good coverage, fine for most rooms, mid-range price. This is what's included in our base quote unless you ask for something else.

Nippon Spotless or Dulux Wash & Wear.Premium washable paints. Stains wipe off with a damp cloth rather than soaking in. Worth the extra cost in kitchens, kids' rooms, hallways, and any high-traffic area. Adds roughly $30-$60 per room.

Dulux EasyClean. Mid-tier washable option, sits between Vinilex and the premium lines.

Finish choice (matte vs eggshell vs satin) is less about price and more about preference. Matte hides wall imperfections best; satin is easier to clean but shows every dent. Eggshell is the compromise most people end up choosing.

When does an HDB flat need repainting?

Most HDB walls hold up well for 5-7 years before they start looking tired. Common triggers for a repaint:

Pre-move-in. A fresh coat in the colours you want, before furniture moves in, while you can paint behind every wall. The cleanest way to do it.

After 5-7 years of normal wear. Walls picking up scuff marks, kitchen wall getting greasy near the stove, hallway near the door showing handle marks. A full repaint resets the unit.

Prep for resale. Fresh paint genuinely increases viewing-day impression and sometimes sale price. A $700 paint job before listing often pays for itself in a higher offer.

After renovation. Post-renovation painting is slightly different from a regular repaint because of all the dust and prep needed. It typically costs $300-$500 more than a like-for-like repaint of a finished unit, mostly because of extra cleaning and primer work on raw surfaces.

What about condos and landed properties?

Condos and landed properties don't price by HDB size — we quote room by room or by the unit, depending on what works better.

• Condo (per room): from $220 depending on room size
• Landed (full interior): from $1,800, quoted after a site visit

Landed properties especially vary a lot — the price depends on how many storeys, whether there are high ceilings (which need ladders or low scaffolding), and whether there's exterior painting included.

How we quote

WhatsApp us a photo of the room or rooms you want painted, the flat type, and any specific issues (water stains, dark walls to cover, lots of furniture in the way). We can usually ballpark within 10% from the photos. On-site, we confirm the price before starting.

Most painting jobs in Singapore take 1-3 days depending on scope. Full HDB units are usually finished in 2-3 days.

The short version

HDB painting in Singapore in 2026:

• 3-room full repaint: from $480
• 4-room full repaint: from $680
• 5-room full repaint: from $880
• Single bedroom: $250-$450 depending on size
• Living room: $400-$600
• Feature wall: $150-$250
• Touch-up: from $80

Add $30-$60 per room for premium washable paint. Add $80-$150 if there are stains that need sealing. Otherwise the quoted price is what you pay.