Bare Unit BTO Package Singapore 2026: Prices, What's Included & How to Choose

Receiving your BTO keys is one of the most significant financial milestones in Singapore. What follows — transforming a new flat into a liveable home — demands as much careful decision-making as the flat application itself. A bare unit BTO package bundles the main trade categories required for that transformation into a structured scope, reducing the guesswork of coordinating separate masonry, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and painting contractors.

This guide explains what a bare unit package covers, how RCS prices compare across the 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room tiers, how to decide between tiles and vinyl flooring, and when a bare unit package is the right choice over a move-in or kitchen-and-toilets package.

Key Takeaway: RCS bare unit BTO packages for Singapore homeowners start at S$14,290 for a 3-room flat (Standard Vinyl) and reach S$20,690 for a 5-room Premium Tiles configuration. Prices are based on RCS live collection pages at writing time; final quotes depend on site measurement, layout, material selection, and applicable HDB renovation requirements.

What Is a Bare Unit BTO Package?

A bare unit BTO package covers a broad renovation scope designed to bring an HDB BTO flat from key-collection state to move-in condition. Depending on whether the homeowner selected HDB's Optional Component Scheme, a new BTO flat may still need flooring, kitchen carpentry, painting, lighting, and appliance connections before it feels complete.

Unlike a move-in package (which targets only the most essential items to make the flat habitable quickly) or a kitchen-and-toilets package (which focuses on wet areas), a bare unit package addresses every room and every trade in a single engagement. This matters for project coordination: one contractor manages the sequencing of masonry, carpentry delivery, plumbing, electrical, and paint, reducing the risk of scheduling conflicts that inflate timelines.

HDB tells homeowners to ensure approvals and permits are applied for before starting renovation works. Use HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) to verify contractors, and check HDB's renovation permit page before confirming any work. RCS holds HDB Licence HB-11-5877Z and is listed on the DRC.

One important constraint for new BTO owners: bathroom and wet-area works are compliance-sensitive because waterproofing, sanitary plumbing, and floor finishes affect neighbouring units. Before committing to any bathroom hacking, tile replacement, or waterproofing work, check the latest HDB renovation guidelines and ask your contractor to confirm what is allowed for your specific flat.

RCS Bare Unit BTO Package Prices 2026

RCS publishes fixed package prices across three flat types and two tiers (Standard and Premium), each available in either Tiles or Vinyl flooring for living areas and bedrooms. All prices below are drawn from RCS live collection pages and are inclusive of the full scope detailed in the next section.

Full Pricing Table — Bare Unit Packages by Flat Type

Prices are based on RCS live pages at writing time. Final quotes depend on site measurement, layout, material selection, and applicable HDB renovation requirements.

Sources: RCS 3-room collection | RCS 4-room collection | RCS 5-room collection

The Price Ladder — Room-by-Room Increments

The step-up from 3-room to 4-room reflects the larger floor area requiring more flooring material, paint coverage, and extended carpentry runs. The Standard Tiles tier increases by S$2,700 from 3-room to 4-room, then a further S$1,300 to 5-room. The vinyl tiers follow a similar stagger — the jump from 3-room to 4-room Standard Vinyl is S$2,100, with a smaller S$1,100 increment to the 5-room tier, indicating that base labour mobilisation rather than linear material volume drives much of the cost difference at the upper end.

What the 4-Room Premium Tiles Package Includes

The RCS 4-Room Bare Unit BTO Package — Premium Tiles at S$19,390 provides the most transparent picture of what a fully bundled bare unit scope delivers. The inclusions span six trade categories:

Professional Services

• Project management and on-site supervision throughout the renovation

• Materials selection and consultation session

• 3D rendering (one set, with one revision)

• Technical drawing

Masonry Works

• Supply of labour and materials to lay floor tiles in living, dining, and all bedrooms — 700 sq ft

• Free skirting included

• Tiles specified at 600×600 mm at S$3.30/sq ft or lower (inclusive of GST)

• Construction of a 10 ft concrete base for kitchen cabinet

Note: tiles wastage depends on tile type and chosen layout pattern. Non-standard tile sizes will incur additional labour costs.

Kitchen Carpentry

• 10 ft bottom cabinet fabrication and installation

• 10 ft top cabinet fabrication and installation

• 10 ft Quartz countertop (Tier 1, single profile)

All carpentry includes internal colour carcass, ABS door trimmings, soft-closing hinges and drawer tracks, and laminate finish up to S$60 per piece.

Free carpentry inclusions:

• 3 drawers with soft-closing runners

• Frosted glass with laminate frame for dish rack door

• Standard 304 stainless steel dish rack with tray

• Waterproofing board for kitchen cabinet sink area (up to 3 ft)

• 304 stainless steel hinges for kitchen cabinet sink area door (4 pieces)

• BLUM HK for dish rack

Plumbing Works

• Supply of labour and tools to install sink and tap (1 set)

• Supply of labour and tools to install storage heater tank (1 unit)

Electrical Works

• Hood point supply and installation (1 point)

• Free installation of hood and hob

• Storage heater tank point connection (1 point)

• Ceiling light installation — 7 units

Painting, Logistics, and Cleaning

• Whole-house painting in Nippon Vinilex (ceiling in Matex white, up to 4 wall colours)

• Haulage labour

• Paper protection during active works

• Debris clearance and transport

• Whole-house general cleaning and chemical wash upon completion

Free appliances and fittings:

• Rinnai hood and 3-burner hob

• Sink

• Sink tap

• 20L Slimline storage heater tank

This scope covers the complete renovation from bare concrete to a painted, tiled or vinyl-finished home with a working kitchen — ready for furniture and appliances to move in.

★ Information Gain: Vinyl vs Tiles — Decision Framework for Bare BTO Units

Most renovation content presents vinyl and tiles as a simple cost trade-off. For bare BTO units, the decision is more nuanced because the choice affects installation timeline, long-term replaceability, acoustic performance in high-rise blocks, and how the flat presents to future buyers or tenants.

Upfront Cost Differential

Within the RCS pricing structure, choosing Standard Vinyl over Standard Tiles saves S$1,500 on a 3-room flat, S$2,100 on a 4-room flat, and S$2,300 on a 5-room flat. The Premium tier shows a similar pattern: Premium Vinyl costs S$1,800 to S$2,800 less than Premium Tiles depending on flat size. This is a useful decision point because flooring affects material cost, installation sequence, maintenance expectations, and the visual tone of the whole flat.

When to Choose Tiles

Tiles are the better choice for:

• Households with high foot traffic or frequent wet spills — ceramic and porcelain tiles handle moisture, dropped items, and heavy furniture impact better than vinyl

• Homeowners planning a longer occupancy — tile surfaces are usually selected for durability, heat resistance, and a more permanent finish

• Premium aesthetics — large-format tiles (e.g., 900×900 mm) create a seamless, high-end look that is difficult to replicate in vinyl

• Resale positioning for a higher-tier market — tiles are perceived as more premium in the Singapore resale market, particularly for 4-room and 5-room flats where buyers compare finishes

When to Choose Vinyl

Vinyl is the better choice for:

• Budget-conscious first-time buyers — the S$1,500–S$2,300 saving is meaningful when combined with other fit-out costs (air-conditioning, furniture, appliances)

• Households with elderly residents or young children — vinyl is softer underfoot and quieter, which matters in HDB blocks where impact noise travels between floors

• Flats intended as investment properties — vinyl is faster to install, easier to replace individual planks, and lowers the total renovation outlay for rental yield optimisation

• Tight key-collection timelines — vinyl's faster installation can compress the overall renovation by two to three working days, meaningful when trying to move in before a school term or work relocation

The Combination Approach

Many experienced BTO homeowners use tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms (where moisture and heat resistance are non-negotiable) and vinyl in living, dining, and bedroom areas. Within the RCS bare unit package structure, the tiles vs vinyl choice applies to living, dining, and bedroom areas — bathroom wet areas are handled separately under the masonry and plumbing scope.

★ When Bare Unit Is the Right Package — Not Move-In, Not Kitchen-and-Toilets

The Three Main BTO Package Types

RCS offers three categories of BTO renovation packages, each targeting a different scope and budget:

Sources: RCS 3-room, 4-room, 5-room collection pages.

Choose Bare Unit When

You opted out of HDB's Optional Component Scheme (OCS). BTO buyers who waived the HDB flooring option receive truly bare concrete floors in living, dining, and bedroom areas. A bare unit package is the purpose-built solution — it lays floor finishes, paints the whole house, installs lighting, and renovates the kitchen as a coordinated scope.

You want full design control over flooring. Homeowners who accepted HDB's OCS flooring receive pre-selected tile finishes that may not match their intended interior style. A bare unit package replaces or overlays existing finishes with homeowner-selected materials and tile patterns.

You are moving in with family and need a fully functional home immediately. A move-in package provides the bare minimum to occupy the flat; a bare unit package delivers a finished home with working kitchen appliances, lighting, painted walls, and laid floors — reducing the post-move fit-out to furniture and air-conditioning only.

You prefer a single-contractor scope. Coordinating a masonry contractor, a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician, and a painter independently significantly increases project management burden and scheduling risk. The bare unit package consolidates all six trades under one project manager.

Choose Move-In Package When

You have a very tight initial budget and plan to renovate in phases. At S$7,590–S$8,490, a move-in package makes the flat habitable; subsequent phases can add carpentry and flooring as funds allow.

Choose Kitchen + Toilets Package When

You accepted HDB's OCS flooring option and are satisfied with the existing floor finishes, and want to focus renovation spend on the kitchen and bathrooms where HDB does not provide built-in cabinets or full fittings.

The HDB Renovation Permit Process — What BTO Owners Need to Know

HDB requires homeowners to check renovation requirements before work begins. According to HDB's renovation guidelines, planning thoroughly helps prevent oversight and unauthorised work, while separate guideline pages cover building works, window works, electrical works, air-conditioning installation, water and sanitary plumbing, and gas works.

Use the HDB permit application page before finalising any scope that includes building, plumbing, electrical, window, or air-conditioning work. HDB also directs homeowners to its e-Service for DRC contractors and BCA-approved window contractors, so contractor verification should happen before deposit payment.

RCS, as an HDB-registered contractor (Licence HB-11-5877Z), can advise on permit-sensitive scope items and coordinate the relevant application steps where required.

Planning checkpoints before work begins:

• Finalise the written scope before permit checks

• Confirm whether the contractor is listed in HDB's DRC

• Confirm whether window, electrical, air-conditioning, plumbing, or gas works need separate trade handling

• Keep cash reserves because CPF cannot be used for renovation works

Important: CPF savings cannot be used for renovation works. Renovation costs must be funded from cash savings or a renovation loan from a licensed financial institution.

Standard vs Premium: What Changes

Both tiers cover identical trade categories — masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, and cleaning. The difference is in material specification. Standard specifies 600×600 mm tiles at S$3.30/sq ft and laminate finishes up to S$60 per piece. Premium opens access to a wider tile selection and higher-specification LVT vinyl planks; additional material upgrades beyond the included tier are quoted separately. Standard suits most 3-room and 4-room buyers well. Premium is most relevant for 4-room and 5-room homeowners who want to specify larger-format tiles or premium vinyl planks as part of a tailored design brief.

FAQ: Bare Unit BTO Package Singapore

Q1: What exactly does a bare unit BTO package cover?

A bare unit BTO package covers the full renovation scope needed to transform an HDB BTO flat from key-collection state to move-in condition. It includes floor tiling or vinyl installation in living, dining, and bedrooms; kitchen cabinet fabrication and installation; countertop supply; sink, tap, and storage heater installation; electrical points and ceiling lighting; whole-house painting; and post-renovation cleaning. It does not typically include air-conditioning, bedroom wardrobes, or additional built-in carpentry beyond the kitchen.

Q2: How much does a bare unit BTO package cost in Singapore in 2026?

RCS bare unit BTO packages start at S$14,290 for a 3-room Standard Vinyl configuration and reach S$20,690 for a 5-room Premium Tiles package. The 4-room tier — the most common flat type — ranges from S$16,390 (Standard Vinyl) to S$19,390 (Premium Tiles). These prices are published on RCS's collection pages and are subject to adjustment based on site measurement, layout, and material selection.

Q3: Is a bare unit package lower cost than renovating trade by trade?

Bundled renovation packages can reduce coordination risk compared with engaging individual masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and painting contractors separately. The value comes from one written scope, one project manager, and clearer sequencing between trades. However, always compare itemised quotations because the final value depends on material grade, workmanship scope, and exclusions.

Q4: Can I use CPF to pay for my BTO renovation package?

No. According to CPF Board, CPF savings cannot be used for renovation or repair works. You must fund renovation costs through cash savings or a personal renovation loan from a licensed bank or financial institution.

Q5: How long does a bare unit BTO renovation take?

A full bare unit renovation usually takes longer than a move-in package because it covers more trade categories. Plan for site measurement, design sign-off, material selection, permit checks where required, fabrication, installation, and cleaning. Ask RCS for a project schedule after the final scope is confirmed, because timelines vary by flat size, material availability, and HDB requirements.

Q6: What is the difference between Standard and Premium in an RCS bare unit package?

Both tiers cover identical trade categories and scope of works. The Standard tier specifies 600×600 mm tiles at the S$3.30/sq ft material tier and laminate finishes up to S$60 per piece. The Premium tier provides access to a wider material selection and higher-specification finishes within the package. Premium is most relevant for homeowners seeking larger-format tiles, upgraded vinyl planks, or a more tailored material palette.

Q7: Do I need to apply for an HDB renovation permit myself?

Do not assume the homeowner or contractor process is identical for every scope. For homeowners engaging an HDB-registered contractor like RCS (Licence HB-11-5877Z, listed on the HDB DRC), confirm which works need approval and how application steps are handled. Refer to HDB's renovation permit guidelines before finalising the renovation scope.

Q8: Can I upgrade or add items to my bare unit package?

Yes. The package defines a fixed scope and baseline material tier. Homeowners can discuss upgrades — such as a larger tile format, additional lighting points, extended carpentry, or bedroom wardrobes — during the design consultation. Upgrades are quoted separately and itemised clearly before contract signing.

Get a Fixed Quote for Your BTO Bare Unit Package

Selecting a bare unit BTO package is the single most consequential renovation decision you make after receiving your keys. The right package eliminates coordination risk, consolidates six trades under one project manager, and delivers a move-in-ready home with verified materials and a transparent fixed price.

RCS Renovation Specialists holds HDB Licence HB-11-5877Z and is listed on HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors. The team can advise on permit-sensitive scope, site supervision, and material selection for 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room BTO packages across Singapore.

View packages and request a quote:

• 3-Room Bare Unit BTO Packages — from S$14,290

• 4-Room Bare Unit BTO Packages — from S$16,390

• 5-Room Bare Unit BTO Packages — from S$17,490

Pricing is based on published rates at writing time. Site measurements and material selection will be confirmed during your consultation before any contract is signed.