Homepage / Restaurant Fitout Cost Australia: 2026 Pricing Guide: How Much Does a Restaurant Fitout Cost in Australia?
Planning to open a new restaurant or transform an existing venue? One of the first questions most restaurant owners ask is: how much does a restaurant fitout cost?
Shape Shopfitters has over 25+ years of experience completing restaurant shopfitting for some of Australia’s most famous restaurants such as Guzman Y Gomez, Grill’d, Schnitz and Macdonalds. The answer depends on several factors, including the size and condition of the premises, commercial kitchen requirements, electrical and plumbing services, custom joinery, materials, signage, design and the overall complexity of the project.
As a broad budgeting guide, restaurant fitout costs in Australia can range from approximately $1,000 to $4,000+ per square metre, with highly customised or technically complex restaurants potentially costing more.
These figures should only be considered a starting point. Every restaurant project is different, and the final restaurant fit out cost depends on the site, scope of works, materials, services and level of customisation required.
In this guide, Shape Shopfitters explains the key factors that influence the cost of a restaurant fitout, what is typically included and how careful planning can help you make the most of your investment.
One of the simplest ways to start estimating a restaurant fitout cost per square metre is to consider the level of fitout you are planning.
As a broad budgeting guide:
Fitout type | Indicative cost per m² |
Basic restaurant fitout | $1,000–$2,000+ |
Mid-range restaurant fitout | $2,000–$3,000+ |
Premium restaurant fitout | $3,000–$4,000+ |
Highly customised project | $4,000+ |
These figures are indicative only and should not be treated as a fixed price or quotation.
A 100m² restaurant will not necessarily cost exactly twice as much to fit out as a 50m² restaurant. Kitchen requirements, existing services, restaurant design complexity and the condition of the premises can have a significant impact on the final restaurant shopfitting price.
For this reason, a detailed site assessment and scope of works are much more useful than relying solely on a price-per-square-metre figure.
A restaurant fitout involves much more than creating an attractive dining area.
Depending on the project, a commercial restaurant fitout can include:
This is one of the main reasons restaurant fit out costs vary significantly between projects.
Shape Shopfitters provides an end-to-end commercial fitout service covering design, shopfitting, commercial joinery, planning and permits, architectural metalwork, signage and project management.
The size of your premises will naturally influence the overall cost of restaurant fitout, but the layout is equally important.
A restaurant needs to accommodate customer seating, ordering and collection areas, kitchen preparation, cooking, storage, refrigeration, staff areas and amenities.
An experienced shopfitter can help determine how the available space can be used efficiently while maintaining practical customer and staff movement.
The condition of the tenancy can have a major impact on restaurant fitout costs.
An existing hospitality venue may already have suitable:
A vacant retail tenancy may require considerably more work before it can operate as a restaurant.
Before committing to a lease, it is therefore worth understanding exactly what infrastructure is already available and what will need to be installed or upgraded.
The commercial kitchen can be one of the most significant components of a restaurant fitout.
Depending on the menu and operating model, the kitchen may require:
The kitchen also needs to be designed around staff workflow and operational efficiency.
A well-planned kitchen can reduce unnecessary movement and help staff work effectively during busy service periods.
Custom joinery can have a significant impact on the restaurant shopfitting cost.
It may include:
The materials, finishes and level of customisation will all influence the final cost.
Shape Shopfitters provides bespoke commercial joinery for restaurants, hospitality venues and other commercial environments. You can check out a range of our restaurant shopfitting projects that we have completed, such as Grill’d, Macdonals, Gami Chicken, People’s Choice Credit Union & our Axil Coffee Cafe Fitout
Restaurant design needs to balance aesthetics with functionality.
Flooring, tiles, timber, stone, laminates, lighting, feature walls and furniture can all influence the final budget.
More premium restaurants may also incorporate bespoke finishes, architectural metalwork, feature ceilings and custom lighting.
The shopfitting design process should therefore consider both the customer experience and the practical requirements of the business.
Depending on the premises, this may include:
If significant upgrades are required, these can become an important part of the overall commercial restaurant fitout cost. So our suggestion at Shape Shopfitters is to always plan with additional budget to ensure you cover these potential additional restaurant fitout costs.
Your restaurant needs to attract customers before they even walk through the door.
External illuminated signage, internal branding, menu boards, wall graphics and digital displays can all form part of the overall fitout.
Integrating commercial restaurant signage into the design from the beginning can create a much more cohesive result.
If you observe the case study above of Guzman Y Gomez in Elsternwick, Melbourne, you can see how strong the outdoor signage is to encourage foot traffic to enter the restaurant. The bright yellow signage with black writing is a clear visual attraction. Strong branding and high-visibility signage can attract attention, reinforce brand awareness and encourage customers to visit the restaurant.
Restaurant projects can involve planning, building, food premises and other compliance requirements.
These should be considered early rather than after construction has started.
Shape Shopfitters can assist with planning and permits as part of the wider project delivery process, as sometimes this can get quite confusing if this is your first fitout. Engaging specialised shopfitting companies like Shape with over 25+ years experience can support in this very well. Always ask our team for help and support!
There can be a significant difference between a restaurant renovation cost and the cost of fitting out a completely new restaurant.
Renovating an existing restaurant may allow you to retain infrastructure, kitchen equipment, services or parts of the existing interior.
However, older premises can also present challenges.
Electrical systems, plumbing, ventilation, kitchen infrastructure or other services may need to be upgraded before the restaurant can operate effectively.
Before signing a lease, it is therefore worth understanding exactly what infrastructure is already available.
A completed hospitality project provides a useful example of how the different components of a restaurant fitout come together.
Shape Shopfitters worked on the Guzman y Gomez Elsternwick restaurant in Melbourne, creating a customer-facing environment alongside practical back-of-house facilities.
The Guzman Y Gomez project demonstrates how restaurant fitouts need to balance brand identity, customer experience, staff workflow and operational functionality. Shape Shopfitters are commonly renowned for an end to end solution to satisfy all your shopfitting needs, from design phase through to restaurant completion.
We understand the requirements for completing projects efficiently, safely and to the highest standard. Our success rate is exceptional and we back this with our brand promise, “On time. Every-time. Guaranteed”.
Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, renovating an existing venue or converting a new commercial tenancy, getting the planning right from the beginning can make a significant difference to your final restaurant shopfitting costs.
Shape Shopfitters provides end-to-end commercial fitout services, including design, planning and permits, commercial joinery, architectural metalwork, signage and project management.
If you are looking for a shopfitting company in Australia, that knows how to bring the perfect design to a high-traffic area site, then fill out the Shape Shopfitters Quote Form Online.
Click the link below to speak with one of our friendly team members!
