Office fitouts in Canberra typically range from around $600 to $1,800+ per square metre, depending on the fit level, base building condition and how much of the space needs rebuilding. A basic refresh sits at the lower end; a high-end fitout with custom joinery, full mechanical services and premium finishes sits at the top. The right figure for your business depends on scope, not guesswork. These ranges give you a realistic starting point before you request quotes.
Fitout pricing is almost always quoted per square metre because it scales with floor area more reliably than a flat quote. Three tiers cover most Canberra projects:
These figures cover construction only — they exclude furniture, IT cabling, security systems and signage, which are usually quoted separately and can add another 10–20% to the total project cost.
A fitout quote generally breaks down into a handful of cost categories and understanding these helps you compare quotes properly rather than just looking at a single bottom line figure.
Construction and trades make up the bulk of the cost such as partitioning, ceilings, flooring, painting and joinery. Mechanical and electrical works cover air conditioning, power, data cabling and lighting, and these can vary significantly depending on whether the existing base building services are adequate or need upgrading. Design and documentation fees cover the drawings, specifications and approvals needed before work starts. Project management and site costs cover supervision, waste removal and site setup. Finally, a contingency of around 5–10% should be built into any budget to absorb unforeseen issues once walls come down and the real condition of the space is exposed.
Smart layout decisions early on keep costs down — our guide to maximising space in your office fitout covers the design choices that stretch a budget furthest, particularly for smaller tenancies where every square metre matters.
For a small office (typically under 150m²), total project costs commonly land between $90,000 and $250,000, depending on fit level and how much of the existing space can be retained. A small tenancy with reasonable existing services and a basic fit can come in toward the lower end. A small but high-spec office, particularly one needing new mechanical services or extensive joinery, will track toward the top of that range or beyond.
Smaller projects often carry a slightly higher cost per square metre than larger ones, because fixed costs such as site establishment, design fees, a base level of mechanical and electrical work get spread across less floor area. It's a common surprise for businesses budgeting off a per-m² rate calculated from a much larger project.
National cost guides are a reasonable starting point, but they're built on Sydney and Melbourne data, while Canberra's market has its own dynamics that shift the numbers.
ACT compliance and approvals run through a different process than NSW or Victoria. Building certification timelines here can affect programming and in turn, cost. Trade availability is tighter in a smaller market — Canberra doesn't have the same depth of specialist fitout subcontractors as the larger capitals, so scheduling and pricing can be more sensitive to how busy the local market is at any given time. The ACT commercial market itself is smaller and more government tenant driven than Sydney or Melbourne, which affects everything from base building standards to the typical scope tenants expect in a fitout. Freight and materials sourcing also adds a small premium compared to markets with more local suppliers.
None of this means Canberra fitouts are automatically more expensive, but it does mean a Sydney based cost guide can understate the planning time and slightly overstate the trade competition you'll actually encounter here.
A handful of factors consistently move the needle on price, regardless of fit tier:
These ranges are a planning tool and not to be taken as a quote. Costs vary widely by scope, so it's worth pricing your specific space with a local team that delivers office fitouts in Canberra from design through to final handover. That's the only way to know what your fit level actually costs in your building with your services.
You can see the finish level behind these price ranges across Complete Property Projects' completed commercial fitout work in Canberra, which is a useful reference point when deciding which tier your business should be budgeting for.
Because every site differs, the only accurate figure is a scoped one. Get in touch for a tailored quote based on your floor area and fit level.
Most Canberra office fitouts fall between $600 and $1,800+ per square metre, depending on fit tier. Basic fitouts sit at the lower end; high-end fitouts with custom joinery and full services upgrades sit at the top.
Small offices under 150m² typically cost between $90,000 and $250,000 in total, though the per square metre rate can be higher than larger projects due to fixed costs like design and site establishment being spread over less floor area.
A fitout cost typically covers construction and trades, mechanical and electrical works, design and documentation, project management and a contingency allowance. Furniture, IT cabling and signage are usually quoted separately.
ACT-specific compliance and approval processes, a smaller pool of specialist trades and a government tenant driven commercial market all shape Canberra fitout pricing differently to the larger capital markets.
Timelines vary with scope, but most fitouts run from a few weeks for a basic refresh to several months for a high-end fitout requiring services upgrades and custom joinery. Programming should always be confirmed against ACT approval timelines.
National guides are a useful starting point but don't account for ACT-specific compliance timelines or Canberra's smaller trade market. Treat them as a general benchmark rather than a Canberra-specific figure.
