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What is your design fee structure (flat, % of project, per sq.ft.)?

Thatโ€™s one of the most important questions ๐Ÿ‘ โ€” because every interior designer in Delhi NCR has a different fee structure, and not clarifying it upfront can lead to major confusion later.

Here are the common models ๐Ÿ‘‡


โœ… Typical Design Fee Structures

๐Ÿ”น 1. Flat Design Fee

  • Fixed lump sum for the whole project.
  • Example: โ‚น1.5L โ€“ โ‚น5L+ for a 2BHK/3BHK depending on scope.
  • โœ… Good for clarity if project scope is well-defined.
  • โŒ Risk: If project expands, designer may renegotiate.

๐Ÿ”น 2. Per Sq.Ft. Fee

  • Charged based on carpet/built-up area.
  • Range: โ‚น50 โ€“ โ‚น250 per sq.ft. in Delhi NCR.
    • Budget designers: โ‚น50โ€“โ‚น100/sq.ft.
    • Premium: โ‚น150โ€“โ‚น200/sq.ft.
    • Luxury studios: โ‚น200โ€“โ‚น250+/sq.ft.
  • โœ… Easy to estimate cost from flat size.
  • โŒ Risk: You pay for total area, even for spaces with minimal work.

๐Ÿ”น 3. Percentage of Project Cost

  • Charged as 7โ€“15% of total interior project value.
  • Example: If interiors cost โ‚น20L, designer fee = โ‚น2L (10%).
  • โœ… Aligns designerโ€™s fee with your total spend.
  • โŒ Risk: Designer may push for higher project spend.

๐Ÿ”น 4. Hybrid Model

  • Some charge flat design fee for drawings + percentage/sq.ft. for execution supervision.
  • Example: โ‚น2L for design + 8% of project cost for execution.

๐Ÿ’ก What You Should Ask Your Designer

  1. What is your design fee model (flat, % of project, per sq.ft.)?
  2. Does it include site visits, BOQ, 3D renders, revisions?
  3. Is the design fee adjustable/refundable if I go ahead with execution with you?
  4. Do you charge extra for partial design (only kitchen, only bedrooms)?
  5. Is GST included in the quoted design fee?

โš ๏ธ Red Flags

  • No clear breakup of what the fee includes ๐Ÿšฉ.
  • Very low fee (โ‚น10โ€“20k for a 2BHK) โ†’ usually a trap for upselling execution.
  • No contract โ†’ disputes later on revisions or scope.

โœ… Pro Tip

  • For apartments (2BHK/3BHK in Delhi NCR), expect โ‚น1.5L โ€“ โ‚น5L design fee.
  • For villas/penthouses, design fees usually start at โ‚น5L+.
  • Always insist on a written agreement with scope of services (layouts, 3Ds, revisions, site visits).

๐Ÿ‘‰ Do you want me to prepare a Design Fee Comparison Sheet (Flat vs Sq.Ft. vs % of Project) with pros, cons, and typical Delhi NCR rates โ€” so you can use it to cross-check what different designers quote you?


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