Restaurant Construction Cost Breakdown: What a Buildout Actually Costs in 2026
Restaurant construction costs $250 to $450+ per square foot for a ground-up full-service restaurant in 2026, with total project costs typically ranging from $750,000 to $4 million+ depending on building size, kitchen complexity, and finish level. A tenant improvement (TI) restaurant buildout in an existing shell costs $150 to $350 per square foot. These figures represent hard construction costs only and do not include land, design fees, or furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). Timeless Construction is a commercial general contractor in Wilmington, NC that has delivered multi-concept restaurant projects including a $4.75M dual-restaurant development completed in 150 days.
Construction Best Practices
