Short answer: carpentry in Singapore is usually priced per foot run (also written pfr), meaning one linear foot measured along the length of a piece at its standard height and depth. SmartCalculator's 2026 market estimates put laminate carpentry at about $130 to $450 per foot run depending on the item: around $200 to $320 for a swing-door wardrobe and $250 to $400 for a sliding-door wardrobe. Wood veneer and spray-painted finishes cost more. These figures are indicative only; your quote depends on materials, hardware and the carpenter.

What "per foot run" means

A foot run is measured along the length of the piece. Height and depth are assumed to be standard for that item. As SmartCalculator puts it, a 3-metre kitchen cabinet run is about 10 feet.

Two things to check on every quote:

  • What "standard" means. A full-height wardrobe and a half-height cabinet may be priced on different rates. Ask what height and depth each rate assumes.
  • Kitchen top and bottom. SmartCalculator notes that top and bottom kitchen cabinets are often charged separately, so "$150 per foot" may mean $150 for the top run plus another rate for the bottom. Other quotes give one rate for both together. Confirm which before comparing.

Indicative 2026 prices per foot run

SmartCalculator's 2026 estimates for laminate on quality plywood with standard hardware (indicative, not official rates):

  • Study table or bookshelf: $130 to $260
  • Bathroom vanity: $150 to $280
  • Shoe cabinet: $150 to $300
  • Bay window seat or platform with drawers: $150 to $290
  • TV console: $170 to $320
  • Wardrobe, swing door: $200 to $320
  • Kitchen cabinets, top and bottom together: $200 to $320
  • Wardrobe, sliding door (aluminium-framed): $250 to $400
  • Kitchen island (countertop priced separately): $250 to $450

Kitchen cabinets by material

SmartCalculator's separate kitchen guide gives these 2026 ranges per foot run (indicative):

  • Laminate on plywood: top $100 to $160, bottom $120 to $190
  • Aluminium: top $160 to $260, bottom $190 to $320
  • Solid surface or acrylic: top $180 to $290, bottom $210 to $340
  • Stainless steel: top $210 to $320, bottom $240 to $390

It also notes items usually priced outside the run rate: the worktop (per foot, from about $30 to $70 for laminate up to $220 to $380 for sintered stone), tall pantry units, soft-close accessories and moisture-resistant carcass upgrades. See kitchen cabinets and countertops for the options.

What is usually included, and what is not

According to SmartCalculator, a base per foot rate usually includes a plywood carcass, laminate on doors and visible surfaces, standard hinges or runners, basic shelving, and installation. Usually quoted separately:

  • Countertops.
  • Premium hardware: soft-close fittings, pull-outs, aluminium sliding tracks, internal organisers.
  • Upgraded finishes such as veneer or spray paint.
  • Upgraded boards, such as marine or moisture-resistant plywood.

How finishes change the price

SmartCalculator gives rough multipliers against laminate: wood veneer about 1.3 times, and spray paint (2K, Duco or PU) about 1.45 times. Many homes use laminate for most pieces and keep one feature item in a premium finish. Compare finishes on our carpentry finishes page.

HDB rules that affect carpentry

HDB's building works guidelines include several points carpenters and designers should plan around:

  • Fixings: for items such as gypsum partitions, timber wall panels and false ceilings, fasteners must not exceed 6mm in diameter and 40mm in penetration depth.
  • Kitchen weepholes: some kitchens have enclosed sanitary ducts with a weephole to show leaks. HDB says these must not be sealed or blocked by carpentry.
  • Household shelter: fixtures that cannot be removed easily in an emergency should not be installed in the shelter, and drilling into its internal walls is limited to 50mm with non-metallic inserts and removable screws.
  • Hardwood platforms on joists: HDB says the void beneath must not be sealed and must not be used for storage, and a 1m safety barrier height must be kept from the top of the platform to the window sill. Ask your carpenter how a storage platform will be built and how it complies. See beds and platforms.

How to compare carpentry quotes

  1. Measure the same footage. Give every carpenter the same drawings, so the totals are comparable.
  2. Match the specification: board type, laminate range, door type, hardware and internal fittings for each item.
  3. Check solid versus hollow panels and marine versus normal plywood, so a cheaper quote is not simply a thinner specification (a point SmartCalculator also makes).
  4. Ask what the rate excludes, especially countertops, handles and lighting inside cabinets.

Our quotation comparison guide explains the method, and our renovation budget guide shows where carpentry sits in the overall plan.

Ways to spend less on carpentry

  • Cut footage first: only build in what needs to be built in.
  • Choose swing doors over sliding where space allows.
  • Use laminate as the default and save premium finishes for one piece.
  • Standardise hardware, putting soft-close and pull-outs where you use them most, usually the kitchen.

Compare built-in and freestanding options on our wardrobes page.

How JIAHOME helps

We draw your carpentry with dimensions and finishes, show it in up to 10 3D views, and give you a quotation listing every item without prices, so each carpenter quotes the same footage and specification. See our services.

Last updated 14 October 2026