What Should Be Included in an Interior Design Quotation?
A detailed interior design quotation should make it clear what you are buying, what materials and quantities are specified, who is responsible for execution, what is excluded and when payments become due.
Quick Answer
Interior A to Z’s current guidance recommends using a detailed quotation or BOQ so materials, quantities, scope, labour, installation and exclusions can be compared rather than choosing a designer from the headline price alone.
Interior Design Quotation Checklist
List every room and work package included.
State drawings, layouts, elevations, 2D/3D views and revisions where applicable.
Show measurements, quantities and major dimensions wherever applicable.
Identify board, finish, hardware, countertop, glass and other important specifications.
Clarify manufacturing, site work, installation and finishing responsibilities.
Separate design fees, GST/taxes, delivery and other applicable charges.
List appliances, civil work, loose furniture or other exclusions explicitly.
Document applicable warranties, snagging and handover responsibilities.
What to Check in Each Section
| Quotation section | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Design | Space planning, drawings, 2D/3D visualization, elevations, specifications and included revisions. |
| Carpentry & cabinetry | Board type, thickness, finish, dimensions, internal construction, quantities and installation. |
| Kitchen | Cabinet construction, shutters, hardware, countertop, accessories, appliances and installation responsibilities. |
| Wardrobes | Internal layout, shutters, hardware, accessories, finish and quantity. |
| Furniture | Built-in and loose furniture should be separated, with dimensions, materials and quantities where applicable. |
| Electrical & lighting | Wiring changes, points, fixtures, switches, installation and what existing infrastructure remains. |
| Ceiling & painting | False ceiling scope, profiles, lighting integration, paint/wall finishes and preparation work. |
| Execution | Site supervision, labour, transportation, installation, finishing, snagging and handover. |
Material Specifications Matter
A quotation becomes much easier to compare when vague terms such as “premium quality” are replaced with relevant specifications.
- Boards: identify plywood, MDF/HDF, blockboard or another specified substrate where applicable.
- Finishes: identify laminate, veneer, acrylic, paint, glass or other finish type.
- Hardware: identify the relevant hinge, drawer, lift, basket or accessory specification or range.
- Countertops: state the material and scope for kitchen or utility areas.
- Edges and installation: clarify edge treatment, fabrication and installation assumptions.
- Substitutions: document whether an alternative material or brand can be used and how a change affects price.
Exclusions, Changes and Extra Work
One of the most important parts of a quotation is the boundary around the quoted scope. Ask the designer to identify what is excluded before approval.
- Appliances and equipment
- Loose furniture or décor items
- Major civil, structural or renovation work
- Additional plumbing or electrical changes
- Transportation, delivery or site-access charges where applicable
- GST/taxes or other statutory charges if not already included
- Design changes or upgrades after approval
- Work caused by unforeseen site conditions
The actual exclusions vary by project. Do not assume that an item is included or excluded simply because it is common elsewhere; ask for it in writing.
Payment Milestones and Timeline
Payment terms should connect money to clearly defined project stages. Interior A to Z’s published payment guidance uses milestone-based stages such as design/BOQ approval, procurement, midway execution, installation and handover. The exact percentages should be agreed in the project contract.
| Stage | What should be clear |
|---|---|
| Booking / design start | What activates the project and whether a separate design fee applies. |
| Design + BOQ approval | Which drawings and itemised costs are approved before procurement. |
| Procurement | What materials are ordered and what payment is tied to procurement. |
| Execution | Which measurable work milestones trigger subsequent payments. |
| Installation | What remains to be installed, tested and finished. |
| Handover | Snagging, corrections, completion conditions and final payment/retention. |
How to Compare Two Interior Quotations
Use the same project brief and compare like-for-like specifications. A lower headline price may simply have fewer items, cheaper materials, fewer design deliverables or more exclusions.
| Compare | Ask |
|---|---|
| Design fee | Is it separate, included, fixed, percentage-based or package-based? |
| Materials | Are board types, finishes and hardware specifications comparable? |
| Quantities | Are both quotations based on similar measurements and quantities? |
| Furniture | Are beds, sofas, dining furniture and other items included in both? |
| Execution | Who manages procurement, site supervision, installation and finishing? |
| Exclusions | What costs could become additions later? |
| Warranty | What product and workmanship support applies after handover? |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should an interior design quotation include?
It should identify the rooms and scope, materials, quantities, furniture and cabinetry, hardware, labour and installation, design deliverables, taxes, exclusions, payment milestones, timeline, change-order terms and applicable warranty or after-sales responsibilities.
Should an interior quotation include a BOQ?
Yes. An itemised BOQ or equivalent schedule of quantities makes major work packages, materials, quantities and commercial assumptions easier to understand and compare.
What material details should be written in the quotation?
Where relevant, specify board type and thickness, laminate or other finish, hardware range, countertop, glass, paint or other finish specifications, plus quantities and installation assumptions.
What should be listed as exclusions?
Common exclusions can include appliances, loose furniture, major civil work, structural changes, taxes, transportation or other site-dependent items. The quotation should state the actual exclusions for that project.
How should payment milestones be documented?
Payments should be linked to clearly described stages such as design and BOQ approval, procurement, execution, installation and handover, according to the agreed contract.
Why compare quotations by scope instead of only price?
Two quotations can have different prices because their materials, quantities, furniture, hardware, execution responsibilities and exclusions differ. Like-for-like scope and specifications provide a more useful comparison.
Need a Clear Interior Project Quote?
Before approving an interior proposal, make sure the scope, materials, quantities, exclusions, payment milestones, timeline and warranty terms are documented. Interior A to Z provides interior design and execution services across Delhi NCR.
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