How to Calculate the Renovation Cost In Malaysia?
The most asked question by new homeowners: How much does it cost to renovate a house in Malaysia?
No matter if you’re planning for renovation for the first time or have renovation experience, renovation cost estimation is a MUST-DO homework.
If you don’t, you expect some form of cost overrun, have zero idea about the materials and works needed, and have no reference to negotiating with potential contractors.
Here we’ll share as much detail as possible on the breakdown of renovation costs for new homes in Malaysia.
First, answer honestly in your heart which one best describes your current renovation purpose.
- Budget – You’re running tight on the renovation budget and have a clear-cut on how much to spend on renovation.
- Design – You want to live in a house that truly makes for you.
- Material – You prefer high-quality material that lasts for decades.
Alright, keep your answer, let me share the big figure of full house renovation:
| Budget | Design | Material | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condominium / Highrise | RM25k – 40k | RM100k – 150k | RM40k – 100k |
| Terrace | RM40k – 80k | RM150k – 250k | RM80k – 150k |
| Semi-D | RM80k – 150k | RM250k – 500k | RM150k – 350k |
| Bangalow | Hmmm… | RM300k – ∞ | RM200k – 500k |
These amounts comprise everything:
- Carpentry works (Cabinets, Wardrobes)
- Lighting, Electrical & Plumbing (You need this)
- Ceiling, Wall, Flooring (Good to have)
- Electrical appliances (You will be shocked seeing this)
- Furniture ( My favorite part! )
In this article, we will exclusively disclose the renovation cost of all works at a very granular level, so you know what to expect and better plan your renovation.
Carpentry Works
Cabinets, Wardrobe, TV consoles, and custom-made tables are carpentry works that common requested in renovation projects.
For carpentry, the materials commonly used are:
- Melamine (Most Cost-effective, IKEA furniture mostly use this)
- Plywood (More solid than Melamine)
- Aluminium (Highest quality, costly)
Some houses have come with cabinets from the developer. These costs are hidden in the house cost.
But how much does it cost to build cabinets in your home?
Below are the costs for each type of carpentry work, based on the melamine finish.
| Carpentry Works | Costs From (Melamine) | Costs From (Aluminium) |
| Kitchen Cabinet (Base / Wall) | RM280/FR | RM1000/FR |
| Kitchen Cabinet Counter Top (Quartz Stone) | RM200/FR | – |
| Kitchen Cabinet (Tall, 9ft) | RM650/FR | RM1400/FR |
| Fridge Cabinet | RM260/FR | RM700/FR |
| Kitchen Island | RM290/FR | – |
| Wardrobe | RM550/FR | – |
| TV Console | RM200/FR | – |
| Shoe Cabinet | RM480/FR | – |
| Dressing Table | RM180/FR | – |
Note:
/FR = Per Foot Run, a common unit used in Carpentry works
Do note that these are the bare cost of the material. Price will be different depending on the cabinet layout, material used, type of cabinet door used, and other accessories requested.
Lighting, Electrical, Plumbing
Electrical works are usually omitted by homeowners because most houses have come with sufficient wiring.
However, some homeowners will need to have fancier lights, more electrical power outlets, and rewiring for electrical appliances and air conditioning.
The price lists below provide a reference for you before engaging any electrical and wiring contractors.
| Item | Price From | Unit |
| Lighting Point Wiring | RM90 | unit |
| Subsequent Lighting Point Wiring | RM60 | unit |
| Ceiling Fan Wiring | RM90 | unit |
| Air-conditional Wiring | RM180 | unit |
| Water Heater Wiring | RM180 | unit |
| Doorbell Wiring & Installation | RM150 | unit |
| Autogate Wiring | RM800 | unit |
| External Lighting Point Wiring | RM90 | unit |
| Electric Outlet Wiring & Installation | RM120 | unit |
| Electric Outlet Extended Installation (Beside existing outlet) | RM60 | unit |
| Electric Switch | RM80 | unit |
| Distribution Box (DB) Installation | RM500 | L/S |
| Light Installation | RM20 | unit |
| Ceiling Fan & Hook Installation | RM200 | unit |
| Air-conditional Installation (1HP, Wall) | RM250 | unit |
| Water Heater Installation | RM80 | unit |
| External Lighting Installation | RM20 | unit |
| Full house wiring inspection, 1-phase | RM150 | L/S |
| Full house wiring inspection, 3-phase | RM300 | L/S |
Note: L/S – Lump sum.
All wiring installations include wiring with Surface PVC. Price is different for the Concealed or Surface GI wiring method.
Knowledge: Air-conditionals, water heaters, and auto-gates are usually installed by respective vendors. The pricing may vary for vendors.
Ceiling, Wall, Flooring, Window
Ceiling
Homeowners who wish to improve the interior design of the space by adding plaster ceilings or false ceilings.
A plaster ceiling also conceals the air-cond piping and cables above it. It is also perfect to install light-through.
The general cost of plaster ceiling are as follow:
| Plaster Ceiling Type | Price From | Unit |
| Flat | RM5 – RM7 | sqft |
| L-Box | RM15 – RM25 | FR |
| Tray | RM5 – RM7 | sqft |
| Cornice | RM6 – RM10 | FR |
| Ceiling Painting | Quote separately | sqft |
Note: Light through are quoted based on lighting cost in the previous chapter.
Wall
Tired of the default white wall? Some homeowners apply a coat of paint or install wainscoting to make their walls stand out.
Creative homeowners even use two types of color paint to give the room aesthetic appeal.
The general cost for all types of works of walls are as follows:
| Painting Works | Price From | Unit |
| Painting (1 Coat) | RM2 – RM6 | sqft |
| Painting (Scrap Old Paint + Primer Coat + 2 Coats) | RM 30 – RM40 | sqft |
| Wainscoting (Basic) | RM10 | sqft |
| Wainscoting / Wall beading (Complex) | RM20 | sqft |
| PVC Wall Panel | RM25 | sqft |
Flooring
Not satisfied to step on the icy cold tile? Do not like your bathroom flooring?
You can consider installing new flooring for your home.
Flooring can be expensive, so it is advisable to plan properly before starting.
There are several type of flooring you can choose from:
| Flooring Type | Price From | Unit |
| Carpet | RM5 – 7 | sqft |
| Vinyl | RM6 – 8 | sqft |
| SPC (4mm) | RM7 – 9 | sqft |
| Tile | RM20 | sqft |
| Marble | RM40 | sqft |
| Solid Wood | RM25 – 40 | sqft |
Window
Having a curtain or tinted window is a must for control of natural lights entering the room and for privacy.
People hate being woke up by the bright morning sunlight.
| Item | Price From | Unit |
| Double Layer Curtain (Inc. Rail) | RM80 – 100 | ft |
| Window Tinting | RM5 | sqft |
Electrical Appliances
1. Air Conditional & Fans
Nothing more important than to keep the house comfortable with proper cooling and ventilation system.
Usually, your electrical contractor will help to supply and install the aircond and fans.
Here are some references for you.
| Items | Average Price |
| Air-Conditional (Wall mount 1HP) | RM1.5k |
| Air-Conditional (Cassette, 1.5HP) | RM2k |
| Ceiling Fans | RM450 – 800 |
| Wall Fans | RM400 |
| Ventilator / Exhaust Fan | RM350 |
All prices are inclusive of supply and install costs. Price may vary depending on appliance model and labor costs.
2. Kitchen Electrical Appliances
| Item | Average Price |
| Kitchen Hood | RM600 – 1.2k |
| Kitchen Hob | RM800 – 1.3k |
| Fridge (360L) | RM1k – 1.5k |
| Water Filter (Hot + Cold) | RM2.5k – 3.5k |
| Rice Cooker | RM200 – 500 |
| (Optional) Oven | RM300 – 1k |
3. Living Room, Bed Room, Bathroom Electrical Appliances
| Item | Average Price |
| TV (55”) | RM2k |
| Washing Machine (7kg) | RM1k |
| Vacuum Cleaner | RM100 – 300 |
| (Optional) Audio System | RM1.5k |
Furniture
The most fun part is to process to find your favourite furniture pieces.
You will be going to places like IKEA, Furniture shops, Home Improvement Stores and even hardware store to get all the stuff you want.
Let’s Start with
Living room
- 1-Seater Sofa – RM500 – 1.5k
- 2-Seater – RM1.5k – 2k
- 3-Seater Sofa – RM2k – 3k
- L-Shape Sofa – RM2.5k 3.5k
- Coffee Table – RM500 – 1k
- TV Cabinet – RM800 – 2k
Bedroom
Nothing is more important than a quality sleep.
The pricing of the bed below comprises of mattress and bed frame.
- Single Bed – RM1.5 – 2k
- Queen Bed – RM2k – 2.5k
- King Bed – RM2.3k – 3k
Dinning Set
- Wooden Table + 4 Seats – RM1.5k – 2k
- Wooden Table + 6 Seats – RM2k – 2.5k
- Ceramic Table + 4 Seats – RM2k – 3k
- Ceramic Table + 6 Seats – RM3k – 4k
- Sintered Stone Round Table (5ft) + 6 Seats – RM6k
- Mable Table+ 6 Seats – From RM8k
Do note that the cost of loose furniture differs greatly depending on brand and quality. It is up to homeowners to physically test out the furniture to make better decisions.
Remember, an expensive sofa doesn’t mean it fits well with your living room. On the other side, a cheaper wood dining table set doesn’t mean it is not sturdy.
Let’s see some examples:
Case Study: Mrs Arya’s 800sqft Condo Makeover
Mrs Arya, one of our client shared her cost of partial renovation done to her new 800 sqft condo in Bangsar South, KL, for renting purposes.
The goal is to renovate the house to a state that look nicely and able to be rented out at higher rate.
The kitchen cabinet and tv console are included in the developer package.
Long story short, let see her full house makeover quotation.
At RM16.7k, She is able to get her house ready to be rented.
Conclusion
House Renovation is a process that every homeowner has to go through.
The purpose of the article is to guide you in calculating the average pricing of renovation costs in Malaysia at a granular level.
This makes sure you are getting the renovation result at the right price. Read about 6 Renovation Traps you Should Avoid when doing your renovation.
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