Cost to Build a Convenience Store (2026)

The honest answer to "what does a convenience store cost" is a range wide enough to be frustrating. A kiosk with fuel and a highway travel center are both convenience stores. What helps is knowing what each part of the project costs and which decisions move it.

Published 2026 ranges

Terrapin Construction Group published these planning ranges in 2026. They are contractor budget figures, not quotes, and the company notes they are for planning only.

Format	Building $/sq ft	Total project
Kiosk with fuel (under 1,000 sq ft)	$200–$350	$1.0M–$2.0M
Standard store (3,000 sq ft, 4 dispensers)	$150–$300	$2.2M–$2.8M
Large store (5,000 sq ft, 6–8 dispensers)	$160–$320	$3.5M–$5.5M
Travel center (with car wash and QSR)	$180–$350	$4.8M–$14M

For general retail interiors, Cushman & Wakefield's 2026 survey of 15 general contractors put the national average in-line retail fit-out at $157 per square foot. A convenience store, with its refrigeration and food service, usually runs above a general retail fit-out.

Where the money goes

Budget line	What it covers	What moves it
Land	Purchase or lease of the site	Market, corner vs. interior lot
Site work	Grading, paving, utilities, stormwater, curb cuts	Soil, drainage rules, distance to utilities
Fuel side	Tanks, piping, dispensers, canopy	Dispenser count, tank size, state rules
Building	Shell, interior, MEP	Size, region, finishes
Refrigeration	Walk-ins, cooler wall, beer cave, reach-ins	Door count, box size, beer cave
Food service	Kitchen equipment, hood, grease handling	Menu, franchise standards
Fixtures	Shelving, counters, cabinets, graphics	Store size, brand standards
Soft costs	Design, engineering, permits, fees	Jurisdiction, project complexity

Terrapin describes the fuel forecourt as a major cost center, "often rivaling the building." If you are building without fuel, take that column out and the total drops sharply.

The decisions that move the total most

Store size. Every square foot carries building, HVAC and fixture costs. Choose the smallest format that fits your program. See convenience store sizes.
Food service. A full kitchen is one of the biggest jumps in cost, and one of the biggest sources of margin.
Fuel or no fuel. And if fuel, how many dispensers.
Refrigeration scope. Cooler wall length, walk-in size and whether you add a beer cave. Try the cooler wall planner.
Region. Labor and material costs differ widely across the country.

Design and equipment

JayComp's published range for a full store design is $15,000 to $75,000+, depending on size, complexity and whether equipment is included. A basic floor plan starts around $5,000 to $10,000. The equipment package is priced from the equipment schedule once the plan is set. Our equipment cost guide breaks down the main categories.

A design done before you price the building is the cheapest way to make the budget accurate. It sets the size, the cooler wall and the kitchen, which are the numbers every contractor needs.

Sources

Terrapin Construction Group, "Convenience Store & Gas Station Construction Cost (2026)," updated June 2026, budgetary ranges for planning only.
Cushman & Wakefield, "2026 U.S. Retail Fit Out Cost Guide."

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost per square foot to build a convenience store?

Roughly $150 to $350 per square foot for the store building and canopy, according to Terrapin Construction Group's 2026 planning ranges. High-amenity stores and high-cost regions land higher.

How much does a gas station with a convenience store cost?

Terrapin's 2026 examples put a 3,000 sq ft store with four dispensers at about $2.2 to $2.8 million all-in, and a 5,000 sq ft store with six to eight dispensers at about $3.5 to $5.5 million. Land is usually extra.

How much does convenience store design cost?

JayComp's published range for a full convenience store design is $15,000 to $75,000+, depending on size, complexity and whether equipment is included. A basic floor plan starts around $5,000 to $10,000.

Can I build a convenience store without fuel?

Yes, and the fuel side is often the biggest single budget item, so a store without fuel costs far less all-in. Without fuel the store has to win on location, food and selection.

Turn a planning range into a quote for your store

JayComp Development has designed and built more than 2,500 convenience stores, liquor stores and travel centers since 1996, from Ravia, Oklahoma to all 50 states. We design the store, then supply and install the equipment.

Send the site, the store type and your timing. Quotes are free, with no obligation.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Convenience Store?