Blog>Cost Guides>How much does it cost to build a supermarket?
Last updated: 21 December 2023
How much does it cost to build a supermarket?
Building a home is one thing, but how about a supermarket? If you’re wondering how much it costs to build a supermarket, we’ll reveal all here.

Many budding homeowners dream of building a home from scratch. But what if you have even bigger dreams to build your own supermarket? Here, we’ll break down the average cost to build a supermarket to help you budget.
How much does it cost to build a supermarket per m²?
As a ballpark estimate, you can expect to spend around £900 per m² on the basic build of your supermarket (to get it to a shell). Then, you’re looking at around £1,600 per m² for the fit out.
Cost provided item | Unit | Cost (lower range) | Cost (higher range) | Average cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Basic build cost (shell) | Per m² | £750 | £1,000 | £900 |
Fit out cost | Per m² | £1,400 | £1,800 | £1,600 |
Total cost (built and fit out) | Per m² | £2,150 | £2,800 | £2,500 |
Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now |
These costs are based on gross internal floor area.
What’s the total cost of building a supermarket?
The total cost of building a supermarket will depend on a number of factors. These include the:
Size
Location
Layout
Complexity of the design
Quality of the finish
However, you can expect to pay a total cost of around £2,500 per m²for the build and fit out. This comes to around £7,500,000 in total to build a new 3,000m² supermarket.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
What to budget for when building a supermarket
Building a new structure from scratch – whether it’s a house or a supermarket – involves lots of different processes.
For instance, the site will need to be surveyed, foundations will need to be dug, your construction crew will need to build the substructure, lay drains and pour the floor slab. And that’s just the beginning!
Here’s a breakdown of some of the building costs per m² that make up the total cost of building a supermarket.
Cost provided item | Unit | Average cost |
---|---|---|
Sanitary appliances | Per m² | £2 |
Mains water supply | Per m² | £40 |
Heating and air conditioning | Per m² | £25 |
Ventilation | Per m² | £7.50 |
Main electrical fit out | Per m² | £100 |
Gas mains connection | Per m² | £4.50 |
Fire fighting system/sprinklers | Per m² | £1.50 |
Communications, security and control systems | Per m² | £25 |
Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now |
Additional costs to build a supermarket
The £2,500 average cost per m² to build a supermarket doesn’t factor in every single cost involved. You’ll also need to pay for a few services and jobs outside of this – such as hiring anarchitect, structural engineer and project manager.
It’s usually recommended that you budget an extra 15% of the total building cost to pay for these. It can also be wise to save an extra 8% for any permits, permissions or consents you might need.
Key takeaways
You can expect to pay roughly £2,500 per m² to build a supermarket, including build and fit out costs
Your total cost will depend on factors such as your supermarket’s size, location and complexity
Remember to budget extra for design fees, permits and consents
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job