Interior design costs about ₹900–3,500 per sq ft in India in 2026 for basic to premium work, as reported by two design firms. CasaStruct reports basic interiors at ₹900–1,500, standard at ₹1,500–2,200 and premium at ₹2,200–3,500 per sq ft (22 July 2026 guide). Espace N Design reports ₹1,800–3,500 for a mid-range full home (10 August 2026 guide). These are individual firms' published bands, not an India-wide average.
At reported item rates and assumed quantities, five main items (wardrobes, kitchen, gypsum ceiling, wall paint and new electrical points) come to about ₹2.9–4.3 lakh for an 800 sq ft 2BHK and ₹4.1–6.1 lakh for a 1,200 sq ft 3BHK, worked below. To compare real quotes, an interior-work BOQ puts every bidder on the same measured quantities.
Interior design cost per sq ft: reported finish levels#
Reported rates rise from ₹900 per sq ft for basic interiors to ₹3,500 for premium work. Each figure below is reported by the named firm, dated, and tied to that firm's own scope. A finish label is not a specification.
| Finish level in the source | Reported rate per sq ft | Reported scope / limits | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | ₹900–1,500 | Basic kitchen and wardrobes, minimal ceiling, ready-made furniture; quantities not fixed | CasaStruct, 22 Jul 2026 |
| Standard / mid | ₹1,500–2,200 | Modular kitchen, laminated wardrobes, gypsum ceiling and semi-custom furniture; no item schedule | CasaStruct, 22 Jul 2026 |
| Premium | ₹2,200–3,500 | Custom furniture, veneer/acrylic wardrobes, designer ceiling and fixtures; no fixed appliance allowance | CasaStruct, 22 Jul 2026 |
| Mid-range, full home | ₹1,800–3,500 | Kitchen, wardrobes, living/dining and bedroom furniture, ceilings, painting and basic electrical/plumbing changes | Espace N Design, 10 Aug 2026 |
The two mid-range bands overlap, but Espace's top end is ₹1,300 per sq ft higher. Its stated scope adds living, dining and bedroom furniture and basic services changes, which may explain part of the gap. Neither page gives a BOQ, unit sizes, brands or hardware counts.
Carpet area, built-up area and measured work are different#
Get the area basis in writing. Carpet area is the usable floor inside the walls; built-up area adds the walls. A brochure's super built-up area is larger again, so a quote on that basis looks cheaper per sq ft. The source bands above are not tied to one stated area basis.
For a hypothetical ₹12,00,000 quote, dividing by 1,000 sq ft gives ₹1,200/sq ft; dividing the same price by 800 sq ft gives ₹1,500/sq ft. Nothing has become cheaper. Only the area basis has changed.
Item rates use their own units: a wardrobe is priced on its front (shutter) area, paint on the surface painted, a kitchen on its running length. None of these is the home's floor area.
What is included in an interior package?#
A package includes only what its quote lists; there is no standard inclusion list. Use this table as a scope sheet with the contractor and mark each item included, separate, retained or not required, with its drawing reference.
| Work | What to put in the BOQ | What needs an explicit allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Civil changes | Demolition, partitions, plaster repairs and debris removal | Wall changes, wet-area repairs and making good after service shifts |
| Electrical | Number and type of new/relocated points; cable, conduit and switch series | DB changes, mains, earthing, chasing repairs, fixtures and fans |
| False ceiling | Room-wise board area, frame specification, coves and access panels | Paint, cut-outs, lighting and additional levels |
| Painting | Net wall/ceiling surface, preparation and coat system | Damp treatment, old-paint removal, repairs and access |
| Fixed joinery | Shutter area or unit/run lengths, depth, internals and hardware | Lofts, mirrors, drawer organisers and premium mechanisms |
| Loose furniture | Beds, sofa, dining table, chairs and quantities | Mattresses, curtains and upholstery selections |
| Kitchen and appliances | Base/wall/tall units, counter and backsplash as distinct items | Sink, tap, hob, chimney, oven, refrigerator and connections |
| Design and delivery | Drawings, revisions, site coordination and installation responsibilities | Transport, floor access, protection and removal of packaging |
If existing tiles remain, record that. If they change, use the tiling cost guide or marble, granite and wooden flooring guide to specify the replacement scope. Do not let flooring slip into a package that was priced around retained floors.
Interior cost for 2BHK and 3BHK: worked component examples#
At reported low and high rates, five main items come to ₹2,90,100–4,27,800 for an assumed 800 sq ft 2BHK and ₹4,14,950–6,11,700 for an assumed 1,200 sq ft 3BHK. These are not full package prices. Bedroom count alone cannot price a home: carpet area, wardrobe frontage, kitchen length and retained finishes all matter.
These are planning exercises, not completed projects or quotations. The assumed homes have 800 sq ft and 1,200 sq ft of carpet area and keep their existing flooring, bathrooms and main wiring. Only the listed new electrical points are counted.
Cited unit rates used#
The low total uses the bottom of every reported band; the high total uses the top. The rates come from different cities and scopes, so the totals are an estimating exercise, not an offer from any one supplier.
| Component | Reported band and source date | Low / high rate used | Basis and unresolved scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| BWP ply + laminate wardrobe | Reported ₹1,400–1,900/sq ft; Krafts by Omkar, Pune, 3 Jul 2026 | ₹1,400 / ₹1,900 per sq ft | Front elevation width × height; source includes materials, hardware and installation; internal accessories and lighting usually separate |
| Laminate kitchen | Reported ₹9,500–14,000/running ft; Houscade, 18 Aug 2026 | ₹9,500 / ₹14,000 per running ft | Allowance for a base-plus-wall run; agree cabinet heights, counter and accessories before accepting |
| Plain gypsum ceiling on GI frame | Reported ₹95–150/sq ft installed; SpaceForm, 20 Jul 2026 | ₹95 / ₹150 per sq ft | Plain horizontal area; paint and cut-outs need confirmation |
| Basic interior wall painting | Reported ₹12–20/sq ft, putty + primer + emulsion; HouseYog, updated 26 Mar 2026 | ₹12 / ₹20 per sq ft | Painted wall area; confirm preparation and coats; also covered in our painting rate guide |
| New electrical points | Reported ₹700–1,600/point with basic materials; Clyft Home, 17 Aug 2026 | ₹700 / ₹1,600 per point | Point wiring with standard modular switches; DB, mains, earthing, fixtures and civil repairs separate |
Treat the kitchen line as an allowance. Houscade's rate build-up assumes base and wall units with a counter and backsplash, so do not add a countertop again. Get an itemised cabinet and counter quote before treating it as a contract sum.
Quantities × rates#
Assume each hinged wardrobe is 6 ft wide × 7 ft high = 42 sq ft of shutter/front area, with an agreed 2 ft depth. Count two in the 2BHK and three in the 3BHK. The front-area rate covers the complete wardrobe as specified, not shutters alone. Lofts are excluded.
The other quantities are assumptions too. Kitchen lengths are running feet, not floor area. Ceiling areas cover selected rooms only. Wall-paint areas are net surfaces after openings, not a multiple of carpet area. Electrical counts are new points for an assumed furniture layout.
Each amount is quantity × low rate, then quantity × high rate. For example, 84 sq ft × ₹1,400 = ₹1,17,600 and 84 sq ft × ₹1,900 = ₹1,59,600.
| Item | 2BHK quantity (assumed) | 2BHK amount, low–high | 3BHK quantity (assumed) | 3BHK amount, low–high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wardrobes | 2 × 6 ft × 7 ft = 84 sq ft | ₹1,17,600–1,59,600 | 3 × 6 ft × 7 ft = 126 sq ft | ₹1,76,400–2,39,400 |
| Laminate kitchen allowance | 12 running ft | ₹1,14,000–1,68,000 | 16 running ft | ₹1,52,000–2,24,000 |
| Plain gypsum ceiling | 300 sq ft | ₹28,500–45,000 | 450 sq ft | ₹42,750–67,500 |
| Wall painting | 1,800 sq ft | ₹21,600–36,000 | 2,600 sq ft | ₹31,200–52,000 |
| New electrical points | 12 points | ₹8,400–19,200 | 18 points | ₹12,600–28,800 |
| Five-item subtotal | ₹2,90,100–4,27,800 | ₹4,14,950–6,11,700 |
These subtotals exclude civil alterations, flooring, loose furniture, appliances, curtains, decorative lights, wardrobe lofts and accessories, full rewiring, design fees and delivery or site coordination. Ceiling paint stays unpriced until the ceiling contractor confirms whether it is included. Unpriced items still cost money.
For a measured example and editable download, use the interior BOQ format in Excel.
For ceiling quantities and detailing, see false ceiling cost per sq ft; for a complete point schedule, see the electrical work rate list. Replace every assumed quantity with dimensions from your plans and elevations before requesting a quote.
Modular kitchen cost per sq ft versus per running ft#
Reported modular kitchen rates are ₹9,500–14,000 per running ft for laminate and ₹15,000–22,000 for acrylic (Houscade, August 2026). Per-sq-ft figures, such as AlcorOne's reported ₹600–1,500, price only the finished shutter face, not the whole kitchen. So a kitchen quote must say which area it prices: finished shutter area, total cabinet elevation, sheet-material area and kitchen floor area are four different measurements.
| Pricing basis | Reported range | Source and date | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate kitchen, per running ft | Reported ₹9,500–14,000 | Houscade, 18 Aug 2026 | A kitchen-run allowance, not a shutter-only rate |
| Acrylic kitchen, per running ft | Reported ₹15,000–22,000 | Houscade, 18 Aug 2026 | Confirm the same unit heights and bundle before comparing |
| Laminate on HDHMR, finished shutter | Reported ₹600–900/sq ft | AlcorOne, Hyderabad, 27 Jul 2026 | Shutter face only; not the complete cabinet, counter or kitchen |
| Acrylic on HDHMR/MDF, finished shutter | Reported ₹1,100–1,500/sq ft | AlcorOne, Hyderabad, 27 Jul 2026 | Finished shutter scope; carcass and other items need separate definition |
Do not divide a running-foot rate by an assumed universal height. For example, 10 ft of base shutters at 2.5 ft height plus 10 ft of wall shutters at 2 ft height = 25 + 20 = 45 sq ft of front area. That is our example, not a manufacturer's standard. A shorter overhead run, tall pantry or open shelf changes the conversion.
Carcass material: name the board behind the finish#
- BWP plywood: specify the standard, grade, thickness, brand and back panel. BWP is a grade of general-purpose plywood (IS 303), not marine plywood. If marine plywood is promised, ask for the IS 710 marking and licence number (see below).
- HDHMR: Action TESA describes its board as a dense, moisture-resistant fibre board for cabinet shutters, drawer units and kitchen shelving (manufacturer guide, 23 Sep 2026). Specify the exact product, edge treatment and where it may be used; a material name alone does not define a wet-area cabinet.
- MDF: ask which grade. Action TESA says its MDF is not suitable for high-humidity areas and recommends HDHMR for kitchen cabinets (TESA Inside, undated; accessed 21 Oct 2026). Do not accept an unspecified MDF substitution under a quote for a different board.
Shutter finish and hardware tiers#
Laminate, acrylic and PU describe the finish, not the carcass. AlcorOne describes laminate as the most cost-effective option, acrylic as a high-gloss finish, and PU as paint sprayed onto HDHMR that allows routed grooves but needs careful handling to avoid chipping (kitchen guide, 8 Jul 2026). Ask for a PU sample and a separate written rate; we found no reported PU rate to cite.
For hardware, use three quote columns: basic baskets/standard runners, soft-close hinges and drawers, and premium drawer/corner/lift-up systems. AlcorOne's same guide distinguishes wire baskets from soft-close drawer systems and names Hettich and Blum systems. These are examples, not a brand ranking. A brand name is not enough: record model, drawer width, load rating, number of hinges/runners and warranty provider. Price each upgrade against the same cabinet dimensions.
How to compare interior quotes using an item-wise BOQ#
Send every bidder the same dimensioned layout, elevations, finish schedule and BOQ. Keep quantities visible when someone offers a cheaper board or an upgraded finish.
| BOQ field | What a useful entry says |
|---|---|
| Location and drawing | Bedroom 1, wardrobe W1, elevation revision and date |
| Quantity basis | 6 ft × 7 ft = 42 sq ft of shutter/front area, agreed depth 2 ft |
| Board and finish | Carcass/shutter/back thicknesses, board grade, brand, laminate/acrylic/PU product and edge finish |
| Hardware | Hinge and runner models with counts; accessories as separate items |
| Kitchen counter | Running ft with width and thickness, or actual sq ft; cut-outs and edge work identified |
| Services | Number of points by type, wire specification, route-length basis and fixture exclusions |
| Commercial comparison | Same quantities × each bidder's rates, with every exclusion and provisional item visible |
A blank rate needs resolution. It does not mean the work is included elsewhere. Ask the bidder to cross-reference any bundled item, and agree revised quantities and rates before approving a variation.
Verify IS 303 and IS 710 marine-ply claims#
BWP on its own does not mean marine plywood. BIS's July 2024 product manual for IS 303:2024 covers plywood for general purpose and lists MR, BWR and BWP grades (BIS manual, scope on page 2).
Marine plywood has its own standard, IS 710:2024 (BIS product manual, July 2024). Ask for the standard number, the manufacturer's BIS licence number and the product marking, and match them to the invoice and the approved sample. An IS 303 BWP board is not evidence that IS 710 marine plywood has been supplied.
Get measured quantities before choosing the package#
Measure first, then ask vendors to price. Our BOQ for interior work separates joinery, ceilings, finishes and fittings so every vendor prices the same scope. Send dimensioned plans, kitchen and wardrobe elevations, ceiling layouts and a material schedule; our desk lists missing specifications alongside the quantities.
To start, send your drawings for a BOQ. Mark retained items, owner-supplied furniture and appliances, and rooms outside the job before measurement starts.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the interior design cost per sq ft in India in 2026?#
₹900–3,500 per sq ft for basic to premium work, as reported by CasaStruct in July 2026. Espace N Design reports ₹1,800–3,500 for a mid-range full home (August 2026). The bands cover different scopes, so compare quotes on the same area basis and measured quantities.
How much should I budget for a 2BHK interior?#
About ₹12,00,000–17,60,000 for a full package on 800 sq ft, at CasaStruct's reported standard band of ₹1,500–2,200 per sq ft, which it says suits most 2BHK and 3BHK homes. Our five-item example for the same area comes to ₹2,90,100–4,27,800 at reported item rates; it leaves out furniture, lighting, civil work and design, which a package may include. Replace the assumed measurements with your own before fixing a budget.
How much does a 3BHK interior cost?#
About ₹18,00,000–26,40,000 for a full package on 1,200 sq ft, at the same reported standard band. Our five-item example for that area comes to ₹4,14,950–6,11,700. Bedroom count alone does not set the price: a smaller 3BHK that keeps its furniture can need less new work than a heavily customised 2BHK.
Does a modular kitchen rate per sq ft include the countertop?#
No. A per-sq-ft shutter rate covers only the shutter face. A running-foot kitchen rate may include the counter: Houscade's build-up assumes a 2 ft deep counter and a backsplash. Ask for separate cabinet, counter, backsplash, hardware and appliance lines, with a clear reference wherever an item is bundled.
Are design fees and execution costs the same?#
No. Ask whether the proposal pays for drawings and revisions, the installed work, site coordination, or all three. Keep fees and execution scope visible even when the designer offers one package amount.
What drawings are needed for an interior BOQ?#
Dimensioned floor and furniture layouts, room elevations, kitchen and wardrobe details, reflected ceiling plans, and finish and electrical schedules. Confirm site dimensions before fabrication; identify missing dimensions as assumptions until they are checked.
References and Further Reading
Primary and supporting sources cited in this article.
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