Cushman & Wakefield reports strengthening contractor confidence across Asia Pacific office fit-out market

United States-based Cushman & Wakefield's Asia Pacific Office Fit-Out Cost Guide 2026 highlights a clear shift in regional market dynamics, with sentiment strengthening and activity levels improving across several key markets, Cushman & Wakefield reported.

Contractor confidence has risen year-on-year, with 70 per cent of respondents to the firm's annual Contractor Sentiment Survey anticipating improved conditions in 2026. This positive sentiment is further supported by stronger-than-expected 92 million square feet of office absorption in 2025 and a tightening construction pipeline outside India.

Of the 180 survey respondents, nearly two thirds reported project backlogs of around six months, reflecting improving project delivery conditions across the region. Whilst Japan and Indonesia remain outliers with longer backlogs, most markets expect stabilization or slight improvement in delivery timelines in 2026.

Tom Gibson, president of project and development services and sustainability for APAC and EMEA at Cushman & Wakefield, said fit-out and project delivery conditions are improving across Asia Pacific. "Across Asia Pacific, fit out and project delivery conditions are improving, with contractors reporting more balanced workloads, strengthening pipelines and better visibility over labor and materials availability," Gibson said. "As construction pipelines tighten in several major cities, competition for high quality space will intensify, making early planning and disciplined project execution even more critical."

The 2026 guide reported divergence in city-level fit-out costs measured in US dollars per square foot across the region. Costs rising include Japan and Taipei, which posted the largest year-on-year increases with Tokyo at US$215 (€185) versus US$195 (€168) and Taipei at US$145 (€125) versus US$110 (€95).

Access complete analysis of Cushman & Wakefield's Asia Pacific Office Fit-Out Cost Guide 2026 and regional market dynamics.