Tools › Buildout Cost Estimator
Free Tool · Tenants & Buyers

What will the buildout cost?

Before you sign a lease or buy a building, know what it takes to make the space work. Pick your use and finish level for a fast, planning-grade construction estimate — then see how much a landlord’s TI allowance really covers.

SF
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Estimated buildout cost
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Pick a use and enter the size to estimate.
Read this as a range. Real numbers depend on existing conditions, code upgrades, kitchen/medical equipment, and permitting — a general-contractor bid is the only true answer. Use this to budget before you tour, and to know whether the landlord’s allowance actually covers your plan. See how a TI package amortizes into rent with the TI work-letter calculator.

Planning a buildout? Get real numbers

Tell me the space and your use and I’ll connect you with a vetted general contractor for a real bid — and make the landlord fund as much of it as possible in the lease. Free.

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Planning estimate on typical South Florida ranges — not a construction bid. Verify with a licensed general contractor.

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to build out commercial space?

It varies widely by use and finish level. Rough South Florida ranges run about $50–$150/SF for office, $60–$180/SF for retail, $120–$350/SF for medical, and $150–$400/SF for restaurants (kitchens and grease/venting drive that). Warehouse office build-out is lower. These are planning numbers — a GC bid is the real answer.

Does the landlord pay for the buildout?

Often partly. Landlords offer a tenant-improvement (TI) allowance — a set dollar amount per square foot toward your buildout. Anything above it is on you (or gets amortized back into your rent). Estimate your total cost here, then compare it to the allowance with the TI work-letter tool.

What isn’t included in a per-SF buildout number?

Soft costs — permits, architectural and engineering fees, furniture, IT/AV, signage, and contingency — typically add another 15–30% on top of hard construction. Budget for them separately.