Office buildings are usually grouped into grades so that occupiers, landlords and investors can compare them consistently. In Singapore the grades run from Prime Grade A at the top, through Grade A and Grade B, to Grade C. There is no single official grading standard. Grades are applied by the market: landlords, property consultants and brokers assess each building relative to others in the same market. This guide takes the grades from the top down, explains what each means in Singapore, and sets out what actually decides a building's grade.
Quick answer
| Grade | Typical profile in Singapore | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Grade A (also Grade A+, Premium or "Super Grade A") | The newest and most prestigious CBD towers, with the highest specifications, sustainability ratings and management | Regional headquarters and firms for which address and image are central |
| Grade A | High-quality CBD and city-fringe towers with modern building systems and strong management; includes older towers kept to Grade A standard through major upgrades | Most enterprise and multinational occupiers |
| Grade B | Well-built, functional buildings, usually older or slightly outside the core CBD, with more modest lobbies and specifications | Teams that prioritise cost efficiency over prestige, back-office and operations teams |
| Grade C | The oldest stock, often needing renovation, with limited building systems | Occupiers for whom location and specification matter least |
Grades are relative and change over time: a building can move down a grade as it ages, or up after a major asset enhancement.
Prime Grade A (also called Grade A+, Premium or "Super Grade A")
Prime Grade A is the top tier of the market. "Grade A+", "Premium Grade A" and "Super Grade A" are informal names for the same tier, not official categories. Research firms track "prime" space separately. Savills defines prime offices as the top tier of Grade A space, typically commanding the highest 5% to 10% of rents in the market. In its Prime Office Costs report for the second quarter of 2024 (as reported by EdgeProp), Singapore's prime office rents carried a 21% premium over the wider Grade A stock.
In practice, Prime Grade A towers are typically the newest, with the largest efficient floor plates, the highest sustainability ratings (such as BCA Green Mark Platinum and LEED Platinum), direct MRT connections and premium amenities. On our building pages, Guoco Tower and Frasers Tower are tagged Grade A (Premium), our label for this tier.
Because "prime" is a judgement about rent and standing rather than a fixed test, consultants differ on exactly which buildings belong in it. Treat the label as a guide to where a building sits, and check the specification of the floors you would actually occupy.
Grade A
Grade A buildings are high-quality office stock: a strong address, modern building systems, efficient and often column-free floor plates, good lobbies and access control, and professional management. In Singapore most Grade A towers sit in the CBD (Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Tanjong Pagar, Shenton Way) or in established city-fringe districts.
Floor plate size alone does not make a building Grade A or Prime Grade A. Newer towers have very large floors: Guoco Tower is about 30,000 sq ft, and Asia Square Tower 1 approximately 32,000 to 35,000 sq ft. But several long-established Grade A towers have much smaller floors, such as Six Battery Road (approximately 12,000 sq ft) and Republic Plaza (approximately 9,500 to 15,000 sq ft). Those remain Grade A because of their address, management and upgraded building systems.
Grade B
Grade B buildings are well-built and fully functional but usually older, with more modest lobbies, finishes and building systems than Grade A. Many sit on the edge of the CBD or in suburban business districts, though some share prestigious CBD addresses with Grade A neighbours. They are a common choice for teams that prioritise cost efficiency over image, and for operations or back-office functions. A building can move from Grade A to Grade B as it ages if it is not upgraded.
Grade C
Grade C buildings are the oldest office stock, often in less central locations, with limited building systems, and usually in need of renovation. Some are upgraded to Grade B through asset enhancement initiatives (AEI), but reaching Grade A is unusual because location and building fabric cannot easily be changed.
What decides a building's grade?
- Location and address: the CBD core versus the fringe, and the building's standing with clients.
- Age and condition, including asset enhancement works.
- Floor plates: size, efficiency and column-free layouts.
- Building systems: lifts (number and speed), air-conditioning, power, raised floors, access control.
- Sustainability: for example BCA Green Mark rating, LEED or WELL.
- Transport: direct or short-walk MRT access.
- Management and amenities: quality of property management, lobby, end-of-trip facilities, F&B.
Examples: Prime Grade A and Grade A towers in Singapore
From our building pages (specifications as published on each page, October 2026), newest first. Consultants differ on where Prime Grade A ends and Grade A begins, so we show each building's specification rather than assigning a tier.
| Building | District | Completed | Typical floor plate | Sustainability | MRT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CapitaSpring | Raffles Place | 2021 | 21,800 to 23,500 sq ft (owner's figures), column-free | Green Mark Platinum | Raffles Place (sheltered access) |
| CapitaSky | Tanjong Pagar | 2020 | Approx. 23,700 to 25,600 sq ft, column-free | Green Mark Platinum | Tanjong Pagar, Shenton Way |
| Frasers Tower | Tanjong Pagar | 2018 | Approx. 21,000 sq ft, column-free | Green Mark Platinum | Tanjong Pagar, Telok Ayer, Shenton Way (short walk) |
| Guoco Tower | Tanjong Pagar | 2016 | About 30,000 sq ft, column-free (owner's figures) | Green Mark Platinum; LEED Platinum | Tanjong Pagar, direct underground link |
| Asia Square Tower 1 | Marina Bay | 2011 | Approx. 32,000 to 35,000 sq ft, column-free | Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy); LEED Platinum | Downtown, direct connection; Raffles Place a short walk |
| Ocean Financial Centre | Raffles Place | 2011 | Approx. 20,000 to 25,000 sq ft, column-free | Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy); LEED Platinum | Raffles Place, direct underground link |
| Republic Plaza | Raffles Place | 1996 | Approx. 9,500 to 15,000 sq ft, column-free | Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy) | Raffles Place, direct underground link |
| Six Battery Road | Raffles Place | 1984 (major AEI 2013) | Approx. 12,000 sq ft | Green Mark Platinum | Raffles Place (short walk) |
Browse all Grade A office space for rent in Singapore, or compare two premium towers in Guoco Tower vs CapitaSpring.
FAQ
- What is a Prime Grade A, Grade A+ or Super Grade A building? Prime Grade A is the top tier of Grade A: typically the newest towers, with the largest efficient floors, the highest sustainability ratings and direct transport links. Grade A+, Premium and Super Grade A are informal names for the same tier. None is an official category.
- What is the main difference between Grade A and Grade B office space? Grade A buildings combine a strong address, modern building systems, high-quality lobbies and professional management. Grade B buildings are well-built and functional but usually older, with more modest specifications and lower rents.
- Is there an official office grading system in Singapore? No. Grades are applied by the market (landlords, consultants and brokers) relative to other buildings, so different sources can grade the same building differently.
- Can a building's grade change? Yes. Ageing buildings can slip a grade, and major asset enhancement can lift one, as with Six Battery Road's upgrade completed in 2013.
- Is Prime or Grade A space worth the higher rent? For regional headquarters and client-facing teams, address, image, building quality and staff experience usually justify the premium. Back-office or cost-focused teams often find a well-located Grade B building better value.
- Do you charge occupiers for advice? No tenant advisory fee is payable for our office-search service. We are paid by landlords in most transactions. Talk to us about the right grade of building for your team.
Last reviewed: October 2026
