Commercial Strip Out Costs and Scope by Property Type
Commercial strip out costs vary by property type: office, retail and industrial spaces price differently per square metre. Here is a real cost comparison.
Commercial strip out cost depends heavily on what kind of space you are stripping. An open-plan office with no asbestos strips out cheaply compared with a heavily fitted retail shopfront or an industrial space with racking and plant to remove. Getting quotes without specifying your property type is the most common reason strip out estimates vary so widely.
Cost per square metre by property type
Retail spaces typically cost more per square metre to strip out than offices. Shopfitting, joinery, signage and specialty finishes take longer to remove and dispose of than an office's partitions and carpet tiles, and retail jobs often run on tighter access windows set by the shopping centre.
Office strip out
$40–$80 per m²
Master Strip Outs, Sydney market price guide, 2025
Retail strip out
$50–$100 per m²
Master Strip Outs, Sydney market price guide, 2025
General demolition cost as a reference point
For broader context, the average commercial demolition cost across Australia sits around $80 per square metre according to Airtasker's national cost guide, though that figure covers general demolition work rather than interior office or retail strip outs specifically, and should be read as a rough reference point, not a like-for-like quote.
What changes the price within a property type
- Building size, height and access, ground floor is cheaper than lift-access upper floors.
- Presence of asbestos, which requires licensed removal and adds time.
- Layout complexity: heavily partitioned spaces cost more than open plan.
- High-specification fitouts with specialty finishes cost more to remove than a basic tenancy.
- Disposal fees and how much material needs to leave the site.
Full cost benchmark table by scope and city
Frequently asked questions
Is retail strip out more expensive than office strip out?
Generally yes, per square metre. Master Strip Outs' 2025 Sydney pricing puts retail strip out at $50 to $100 per square metre versus $40 to $80 per square metre for office space, reflecting the extra shopfitting and signage work retail spaces usually involve.
Does a commercial strip out include reinstatement?
Not always. Some quotes cover demolition and removal only. Ask specifically whether patching, plastering and repainting are included, or you may need a second contractor for reinstatement.
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Sources: Master Strip Outs, Strip Out Cost Sydney Price Guide 2025 , Airtasker, Demolition Cost Guide