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What’s the cost difference between turnkey package vs design-only service?

Here’s a comparison between Turnkey Package vs Design-Only Service — what they include, how much they cost in Delhi NCR, what to watch out for, and when each makes sense. This should help you decide which is better for your project.


🏗 What Each Service Means

Service TypeWhat It IncludesWhat It Omits / You Have to Handle
Turnkey PackageDesign + Execution. That means: layout & concept, 2D/3D drawings, sourcing materials & furniture, labour & site supervision, installation, finishing, often soft-furnishings & décor. Often one contract, one point of contact.Sometimes you may need to pick certain furniture, décor or appliances separately; you may give input / approvals. But most work is done by the firm.
Design-Only ServiceYou get concept/layout, mood boards, 2D/3D visuals, BOQ/design bill of quantities, maybe vendor suggestions.You will need to handle sourcing, execution, contractors, labour, supervision. You might also need to buy furniture/appliances yourself.

📊 Cost Difference / Typical Rates in Delhi NCR

From current data sources, here are some typical numbers & rates. (These are estimates; actual cost depends heavily on finishes, size, scope, your location, materials.)

ScenarioApprox Cost / Rate – Design-OnlyApprox Cost / Rate – Turnkey (Design + Execution)
Per sq.ft. basis₹50 – ₹150 / sq.ft for basic design / consultation. (interioratoz.com)₹1,200 – ₹3,500 / sq.ft for full turnkey interiors. (interioratoz.com)
2BHK FlatDesign-Only: ~ ₹30,000 – ₹1,20,000 depending on the designer & finishes. (interioratoz.com)Turnkey Basic: ~ ₹6,00,000 – ₹10,00,000; Premium turnkey: ~ ₹10,00,000 – ₹20,00,000+ (interioratoz.com)
3BHK FlatDesign-Only: maybe ~ ₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000+ depending on scope. (Layouts + drawings + maybe 3D)Turnkey/All-inclusive: ~ ₹15,00,000 – ₹30,00,000+ for good finishes & full work. (interioratoz.com)

⚙️ What Accounts for the Price Gap

Here are the reasons why turnkey is significantly more expensive than design-only:

  1. Materials + Furniture Costs — procurement, transport, storage, markup.
  2. Labour & Execution — carpentry, civil work, electricians, plumbers, finishing.
  3. Project Management & Supervision — someone needs to coordinate all trades, visits, ensure quality, schedule.
  4. Finishes & Quality — higher-rate finishes, premium brands, custom hardware etc. increase cost.
  5. Risk & Responsibility — turnkey firms take on delivery risk, delays, defects. Design-only pushes risk to you.

🔍 When Each Option Makes Sense

Use-CaseBest For TurnkeyBest For Design-Only
You want everything handled: design, procurement, execution with minimal effort.✔ Yes
Tight schedule, want quick completion full service.✔ Yes
Budget control: you want to source furniture yourself / get best local deals.✔ Design-Only
Want to manage labour & supervise execution to save cost.✔ Design-Only
Already have some furniture, but need layout + visualisation + matching design.✔ Design-Only

✅ What to Ask Your Designer to Compare Effectively

  • Can you show me both Design-Only & Turnkey quotes for my home (same scope) so I can see the difference?
  • What is included in each quote (furniture, appliances, soft furnishing, décor, site visits, supervision)?
  • What kind of finishes / brands are used in the turnkey quote.
  • What is the responsibility for sourcing / quality / finishing in my design-only case (so I know what extra to budget).
  • Are there hidden costs in turnkey (transport, GST, site supervision, cleaning, warranty)?

If you want, I can prepare a sample Turnkey vs Design-Only Comparison Sheet for your home size (say your 2BHK in Burari) with rough numbers for both scenarios — that will help you see exactly how much you might save (or spend) either way. Do you want me to build that for your case?


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