Quick answer: the best time to paint a new BTO flat is after the noisy and dusty renovation work is done and before you move your furniture in. Our HDB painting packages are priced by flat type, from $689 for a 4-room flat with Nippon Matex White, and every package includes paint, labour, protection and cleanup. If walls were patched or replastered during renovation, add a sealer coat (+$40 per room, or +$140 to $340 for the whole flat). WhatsApp us your floor plan to confirm the price for your BTO.
BTO painting prices (2026)
A BTO flat is priced the same way as any HDB flat: by flat type and the paint package you choose. These are our two most popular packages:
| BTO flat type | Basic Nippon Matex White |
Standard Nippon Vinilex 5000, one colour |
|---|---|---|
| 2-room | $589 | $639 |
| 3-room | $639 | $689 |
| 4-room | $689 | $789 |
| 5-room | $889 | $989 |
Our Superior (Nippon Odourless Premium) and Luxury (Nippon Odourless EasyWash) packages, and every add-on, are on the full painting price list. Send us your floor plan and the colours you have in mind, and we will confirm the price for your flat before you book.
When to paint a new BTO
- Check the flat at key collection. New BTO flats come with a 1-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) from the key collection date. HDB asks owners to report defects within 30 days of key collection and before starting renovation, because it is hard to tell who caused a defect once renovation has begun (HDB move-in guide). Cracks, damp patches and uneven walls should be fixed under the DLP, not painted over.
- Do the noisy and dusty work first. Hacking, wiring, plastering and tiling all create dust that sticks to wet paint and leaves marks on finished walls.
- Paint before built-in carpentry if you can. Walls behind wardrobes and cabinets then get painted too, and there is no need to mask new carpentry. If your carpentry is already in, we paint around it and protect it.
- Paint before moving in. An empty flat is faster to paint, with no furniture to move or protect, and the paint smell can clear before you sleep there.
Painting is quiet work. HDB allows general renovation work from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and noisy work such as hacking only from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (HDB renovation guide). Check your block’s notice board for anything specific to your project.
Do new BTO walls need sealer?
Sealer is a primer coat that helps paint bond evenly to fresh or patched plaster. You need it where walls have been replastered, skim coated or heavily patched during renovation, for example after electrical points were moved. Walls that were not touched usually go straight to two coats of paint.
- Sealer for one room: +$40
- Sealer for the whole flat: +$140 to $340, depending on flat size
Read more in our guide to what sealer paint is for.
Choosing colours for a BTO
- Keep ceilings white. It keeps rooms brighter, and white ceilings are cheaper to touch up.
- Use one main colour for the whole flat and save stronger colours for one feature wall per room. An extra colour costs $40 per wall or $90 per room.
- Pick washable paint for children’s rooms, hallways and the kitchen. Nippon Odourless EasyWash (our Luxury package) can be wiped clean.
- Choose from the Nippon Paint, Asian Paints or Benjamin Moore catalogues. Ideas for living rooms are in our HDB living room colour guide.
Useful add-ons for new flats
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Sealer (new or patched walls) | +$40 per room, or +$140 to $340 for the whole flat |
| Anti-mould ceiling upgrade | +$40 per bedroom |
| Door and door frame set | +$50 (door frame only: +$20) |
| Extra colour | $40 for one wall, $90 for one room |
| Pipe painting | +$40 per toilet or yard |
How it works
- Send your floor plan and the colours you are thinking of on WhatsApp.
- Get a confirmed price based on your flat type, package and add-ons.
- Pick a date after your noisy renovation work is done.
- We protect and prepare floors, windows and any carpentry, then fill small dents and sand the walls.
- We paint two to three coats with brand-new Nippon paint, depending on the wall.
- Touch-ups and cleanup before we hand the flat back to you.
Related guides
- How long it takes to paint a 4-room HDB
- How much paint a 4-room HDB needs
- HDB painting packages
- Full painting price list
- How to choose a reliable painter
- HDB painting ideas: feature walls and colours
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a 4-room BTO?
From $689 with our Basic package (Nippon Matex White) or $789 with our Standard package (Nippon Vinilex 5000, one colour), up to $1,340 with our Luxury package. Sealer for patched walls is extra. Send your floor plan to confirm the price.
Should I paint my BTO before or after carpentry?
Before, if the timing works: walls behind wardrobes and cabinets get painted too. If the carpentry is already installed, we paint around it and protect it.
Can I paint over cracks I found at key collection?
Report them to HDB first. Defects should be reported within 30 days of key collection and fixed under the 1-year Defects Liability Period. Painting over them makes them harder to claim.
How soon can I move in after painting?
Keep the windows open for two to three days after painting so the smell clears (see how long paint smell lasts). Choosing a low-odour paint, such as Nippon Odourless Premium, helps if you need to move in quickly.
Painting your new BTO?
WhatsApp us your floor plan and colours, and we’ll confirm your price.