Interior · 6 min read
Interior design fees in India: how to quote a project
Interior projects mix design work with buying, making and installing. That makes pricing harder than in many other design fields. This guide explains the usual fee models and how to write a quotation clients trust.
Common ways to charge
- Design fee per square foot: simple for clients, common for homes and offices
- Percentage of project value: a share of the total spend on the interior
- Lump sum: a fixed fee for a clearly defined scope
- Design and build (turnkey): you deliver the finished interior and price materials, labour and your margin together
Design fee or turnkey?
With a design fee, the client pays you for drawings and supervision and pays vendors directly. With turnkey, you manage everything and carry more risk, so your price must cover delays, wastage and coordination. Be clear which model you are offering.
What a good quotation includes
- Scope room by room, and what is excluded
- Drawings and visuals the client will receive
- For turnkey: an itemised bill of quantities with materials, brands and finishes
- Payment schedule linked to stages such as design approval, production and installation
- Timeline, number of site visits and how changes are charged
- Taxes and validity of the quote
Avoid the common mistakes
Do not quote before a site measurement. Do not give one round figure without a breakdown. Do not start production without a signed drawing and an advance. Most interior disputes come from unclear scope.
Rules, fees and practices change. Always check the current official source for your city and project.