Great that you’re asking this 👍 — a clear payment schedule is one of the most important things to fix in your contract. In Delhi NCR, most interior designers follow a milestone-based payment system (never 100% upfront).
✅ Typical Payment Schedule for Interiors
1. Design Fee (if charged separately)
- Either a flat fee (₹50,000–₹2,00,000) or per sq.ft. (₹50–₹250/sq.ft).
- Sometimes adjusted in the execution cost if you proceed with the same designer.
2. Execution Payments (Milestone-Based)
Here’s a common structure:
| Stage | What Happens | % Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Booking / Advance | To lock the project & start design | 10% |
| Design + BOQ Approval | After 2D/3D designs & itemised costing are signed | 15–20% |
| Material Procurement | Plywood, laminates, hardware, tiles, fittings purchased | 30–40% |
| Midway Execution | Carpentry, false ceiling, electrical work in progress | 20–25% |
| Final Installation | Wardrobes, kitchen, furniture fitted | 10–15% |
| Handover / Snagging | Final finishing & corrections | 5–10% |
👉 In most cases, 40–50% gets paid upfront (first 2 stages) and the rest is tied to progress.
⚠️ Red Flags
- Designer asks for >50% upfront. 🚩
- No milestone breakup, only lump sums.
- No retention (final 5–10% at handover).
💡 Pro Tips for You
- Always pay via bank transfer / cheque, not full cash.
- Keep the last 5–10% for snagging/touch-ups after handover.
- Ask for a payment schedule in writing tied to work completion milestones, not just dates.
- Example: “20% when kitchen carcass is ready” → safer than “20% in 3 weeks”.
👉 Would you like me to draft a sample Payment Schedule (Excel / PDF) with milestone-linked payments that you can attach to your interior design contract, so the terms are crystal clear?