Most Bengaluru businesses approach fit-out budgeting the wrong way — they set a total number and work backwards. The right approach is to build a budget from trade-level estimates, understand where the money goes, and make informed trade-offs. This guide breaks down where every rupee of a typical commercial interior fit-out budget is spent.
| Trade | % of Budget | Rs/sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Civil (walls, ceiling, flooring) | 28% | Rs 504 |
| HVAC | 18% | Rs 324 |
| Electrical and MEP | 15% | Rs 270 |
| Furniture and Joinery | 20% | Rs 360 |
| IT and Structured Cabling | 8% | Rs 144 |
| CCTV and Access Control | 4% | Rs 72 |
| Fire Safety | 4% | Rs 72 |
| Design and Project Management | 3% | Rs 54 |
Note: These are indicative averages for a standard Rs 1,800/sq ft office fit-out. Server rooms, premium joinery, and high-end HVAC shift these proportions significantly.
Civil works are typically the largest trade. Glass partitions cost 3–5x more than drywall partitions. Marble flooring costs 4–8x more than vinyl flooring. Premium false ceiling systems (linear metal, wood-look) cost 2–3x more than standard gypsum. Acoustic wall treatment adds Rs 500–1,500 per sq m. Budget lever: standardise partition type across most areas and reserve premium finishes for high-visibility zones (reception, boardroom).
HVAC is where the biggest budget mistakes are made — both over-specification and under-specification. Under-specification means the office is always hot, productivity suffers, and HVAC runs at 100% capacity and fails early. Over-specification means you paid for cooling capacity you never use. Budget lever: get a proper heat load calculation done. Size accurately. Do not assume 1 tonne per 100 sq ft — it varies significantly by floor, orientation, and occupancy.
| Item | Budget | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workstation (per seat) | Rs 8,000 | Rs 15,000 | Rs 30,000 |
| Cabin desk | Rs 15,000 | Rs 30,000 | Rs 60,000 |
| Conference table (8-seat) | Rs 35,000 | Rs 80,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
| Reception counter | Rs 40,000 | Rs 1,00,000 | Rs 3,00,000 |
| Ergonomic chair | Rs 5,000 | Rs 12,000 | Rs 30,000 |
Budget lever: standardise workstation chairs at a mid-range ergonomic specification. This is where employee comfort matters most and cheap chairs create HR problems.
IT infrastructure is the easiest place to under-invest and hardest to fix. Cabling is concealed in walls and ceilings — recabling means redoing finishes. Underfloor power is impossible to add after flooring is laid. Server room cooling cannot be added without opening the ceiling. Budget lever: never compromise on cabling specification. If budget is tight, reduce furniture spec — not cabling spec.
The most expensive budget mistakes: no contingency (10–15% contingency is mandatory, not optional); forgetting IT structured cabling and AV from initial budgets; assuming pre-installed HVAC is adequate for new layouts; change orders after work begins (each design change mid-project costs 3x what it would have pre-project); and low-cost electrical (undersized panels and poor earthing create safety hazards and fail BESCOM inspection).
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Free Pre-Lease Audit WhatsApp UsStandard corporate fit-out costs Rs 1,200–1,800 per sq ft. Premium fit-out with VRF HVAC, glass partitions, and high-end furniture runs Rs 2,000–3,000 per sq ft.
Typically 15–22% of total fit-out budget. For server-intensive offices or south-facing floors in Bengaluru's climate, HVAC can reach 25–30% of budget.
Always. Budget 10–15% contingency. The most common contingency triggers are design changes mid-project, unforeseen building conditions, and long-lead material delays.
Yes. Large offices can be phased — fit out and occupy phase 1, then fit out phase 2 while phase 1 is in use. Requires careful planning of MEP and IT infrastructure to avoid rework.
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