Odourless paints are low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), so the fumes that force most families to vacate for days are largely gone. That makes them the sensible default if you are moving in immediately, or if there are pregnant women, babies, the elderly or pets in the home.
For a standard 3-bedroom condo (approx 900-1100 sqft), a full repaint in premium Nippon Odourless paint typically runs from S$1,400 to S$1,800, depending on the number of colours and the condition of the existing walls. This is indicative only — your final price is confirmed on site after the painter sees the wall condition and ceiling height, and never above the written quote.
Condo managements usually restrict noisy works (like scraping old paint) to weekdays 9 AM to 5 PM. Ensure your contractor applies for the MCST permit and places the refundable deposit before starting — turning up without one gets the job stopped at the guardhouse. If your repaint is part of a bigger move-in upgrade, compare indicative figures on our condo renovation cost guide before you commit.
Odourless vs Standard vs Premium: What You Are Actually Paying For
"Odourless" in Singapore usually means a low-VOC water-based emulsion such as Nippon Odour-less All-in-1, Dulux Ambiance/EasyClean or Nippon Spotless. The premium versions add washability, anti-mould and anti-formaldehyde claims — useful in our humid HDB and condo environment where bathrooms and north-facing walls grow mildew. The trade-off is paint cost per 5L tin, not labour, so upgrading the paint grade adds far less than people expect.
- Standard emulsion — lower coverage, mild smell for a day or two. Fine for a unit you will not occupy for a week.
- Odourless / low-VOC — safe to sleep in the same night; the sensible default for occupied condos, nurseries and units with pets.
- Premium washable / anti-mould — wipeable fingerprints, better for kitchens, kids' rooms and high-humidity walls.
Indicative Condo Painting Prices by Scope
Painting is quoted by scope (rooms + ceiling + condition of old walls), not by a single flat figure. The ranges below are indicative for premium odourless paint and are confirmed on site after the painter sees the wall condition and ceiling height.
| Scope |
Indicative price (odourless paint) |
| Single bedroom (walls + ceiling) | from S$280 |
| Living + dining (walls only) | typically S$450–S$750 |
| 2-bedroom condo, full unit | typically S$1,000–S$1,400 |
| 3-bedroom condo (~900–1,100 sqft), full unit | typically S$1,400–S$1,800 |
| Feature/accent wall add-on (per wall) | from S$80 |
| Crack filling / skim coat repair | from S$60 per affected area |
Indicative only. Multi-colour schemes, high ceilings, heavy crack repair and furniture-heavy units cost more. Final price is confirmed on site — never above the written quote.
How a Proper Condo Repaint Is Done
The finish you remember from the showflat comes from preparation, not expensive paint. A competent crew will:
- Protect first — move/sheet furniture, mask skirting, sockets and your existing flooring (vinyl, parquet and marble all stain).
- Repair the substrate — sand flaking areas, fill hairline cracks and dents, then spot-prime. Skipping this is why fresh paint peels within a year.
- Two coats minimum — one coat over a colour change almost always shows patchiness; dark-to-light needs a primer coat plus two top coats.
- Cut in and roll — brush the edges, roll the field, keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks.
DIY vs Calling a Pro
DIY makes sense for one small bedroom in good condition where you have time over a weekend — a 5L tin of odourless emulsion plus roller, tray and masking tape runs well under S$100. Call a pro when you are repainting the whole unit, changing dark colours, dealing with mould or cracks, or working to an MCST permit window — a crew finishes a 3-bedder in 1–2 days versus a fortnight of weekends, and carries its own dust sheets and ladders for double-volume ceilings. Painting also pairs naturally with other move-in works such as built-in carpentry and wardrobes, so sequencing them with one coordinator avoids re-masking finished walls.
MCST Permits, Deposits and Timing (The Part People Forget)
Beyond the weekday 9am–5pm noise window, most condo MCSTs require a renovation/works permit, a refundable deposit (commonly S$500–S$2,000) and proof that the contractor will use the service lift and protect common-area flooring. Notify your managing agent before the painters arrive; turning up without a permit gets the job stopped at the guardhouse. For a simple repaint with no hacking, approval is usually quick, but allow a few working days. If your repaint is part of a larger upgrade, read our condo renovation guide and check indicative figures on the full FixMove price list before you commit.
Is odourless paint really safe to sleep in the same night?
Low-VOC odourless emulsions release far fewer fumes than oil-based or standard paints, so most families re-occupy the room once it is touch-dry and ventilated for a few hours. If anyone is pregnant, asthmatic or very young, keep windows open and a fan running overnight to be safe.
How long does it take to paint a 3-bedroom condo?
With a 2–3 person crew, a full 3-bedroom unit with two coats is typically 1–2 working days, including prep and protection. Heavy crack repair, multiple feature colours or occupied units with lots of furniture can push it to 3 days.
Does the price include paint, or just labour?
FixMove repaint quotes are normally inclusive of premium odourless paint, primer, masking and basic crack filling. Specialty finishes (textured, metallic, anti-mould kitchen paint) or extensive skim-coating are quoted as add-ons and confirmed on site.
Can you paint over an existing dark or feature wall?
Yes, but going from dark to light needs a primer/blocking coat plus two top coats to stop the old colour bleeding through, which adds a little to the cost. We assess the existing colour on site and advise the right number of coats.
WhatsApp us for an indicative repaint quote