The major enteroviruses causing nationwide epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Singapore were enterovirus 71 (EV71), coxsackievirus A6 (CA6) and A16 (CA16). A mathematical model was used to estimate the basic reproduction number (R<sub>0</sub>) of these enteroviruses based on the cumulative number of reported cases in the initial growth phase of each HFMD outbreak. The median R<sub>0</sub> was estimated to be 3.50 for EV71, 2.42 for CA16, and 5.04 for CA6. The enterovirus-specific R<sub>0</sub> estimates would be helpful in providing insights into the potential growth of future HFMD epidemics for timely implementation of disease control measures.