A quotation format should make the project
easy to understand and approve.
An interior design quotation is a commercial record of what a studio proposes to deliver, how the price is built and which assumptions sit behind it. The format matters because a clear document gives the client a path from scope to investment without hiding important detail inside a single lump sum.
This guide concentrates on the document itself: the fields, item table, room totals, GST presentation, exclusions and payment schedule. For the wider preparation process, read our guide to creating an interior design quotation in India.
DOCUMENT ANATOMY
Essential fields in an
interior quotation.
A professional quotation should identify the parties and the project before it presents the price. It should then connect each amount to a measurable scope item and finish with the commercial conditions that govern approval and delivery.
- Document details
- Quotation number, version, issue date and validity period.
- Studio and client
- Legal or trading name, addresses, contact details and GSTIN where applicable.
- Project reference
- Project name, site address, property type and the measurements used.
- Scope and specifications
- Room, work item, material, finish, hardware and installation assumptions.
- Pricing basis
- Quantity, unit, rate, line amount, discount and taxable value.
- Commercial terms
- Taxes, exclusions, timeline, payment milestones, variations and acceptance.
ITEMISED SAMPLE
A room-wise quotation
with measurable pricing.
The fictional Mehra Residence example below shows how a studio can combine room grouping with item-level quantities and specifications. Rates have been selected only to make the arithmetic clear.
Mehra Residence
Residential interiors · Pune, Maharashtra
| Room | Scope and specification | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foyer | Shoe storageBWP plywood carcass, laminate shutters and soft-close hardware | 18 sq ft | ₹1,600 / sq ft | ₹28,800 |
| Living room | TV unitPlywood base, laminate finish and open display ledge | 24 sq ft | ₹2,100 / sq ft | ₹50,400 |
| Living room | False ceilingGypsum board ceiling on a metal framework | 180 sq ft | ₹160 / sq ft | ₹28,800 |
| Kitchen | Kitchen cabinetryBWP plywood cabinetry, laminate shutters and soft-close hardware | 90 sq ft | ₹2,400 / sq ft | ₹2,16,000 |
| Kitchen | Quartz countertop20 mm quartz countertop, edge finishing and installation | 30 rft | ₹1,800 / rft | ₹54,000 |
| Master bedroom | WardrobePlywood wardrobe, laminate finish and internal fittings | 80 sq ft | ₹2,000 / sq ft | ₹1,60,000 |
| Bedroom two | WardrobePlywood wardrobe, laminate finish and standard hardware | 56 sq ft | ₹1,900 / sq ft | ₹1,06,400 |
| Whole home | Interior paintingSurface preparation, primer and two coats of emulsion | 1,200 sq ft | ₹40 / sq ft | ₹48,000 |
| Project-wide | Design coordinationDesign detailing, coordination and scheduled site reviews | 1 lot | ₹57,600 / lot | ₹57,600 |
| Illustrative subtotal | ₹7,50,000 | |||
On a narrow screen, scroll the table horizontally to review every pricing column.
Illustrative figures only. Actual quantities, specifications, rates, labour, transport and site conditions must be assessed for the project being quoted.
PRICING LOGIC
Show how each amount
has been calculated.
The amount for each item is its measured quantity multiplied by the agreed unit rate. In the sample, kitchen cabinetry is 90 sq ft × ₹2,400 per sq ft, producing ₹2,16,000. The same calculation is applied consistently to every measured line.
- 01Calculate each line
Quantity × unit rate = line amount.
- 02Group and review
Add line amounts by room, then reconcile the subtotal.
- 03Establish taxable value
Apply any documented discount before the relevant tax calculation.
- 04Present the final total
Show taxable value, each applicable tax and the total separately.
GST PRESENTATION
State the tax assumption.
Do not imply a universal rate.
Interior engagements can include design services, goods, installation or a wider composite scope. The correct GST treatment can depend on the nature and classification of the supply, the contract, registration status, place of supply and current notifications. A studio should therefore verify the treatment for the actual engagement instead of assuming that one rate applies to every quotation.
The 18% above is used only to demonstrate the calculation. If a qualified adviser confirms intra-state treatment at that rate, the tax would ordinarily be shown as equal CGST and SGST components. Where IGST applies, it would be shown as IGST. The quotation should not decide this from the client address alone: place-of-supply rules for services connected with immovable property can make the property location relevant.
A quotation also does not replace the eventual tax invoice. The final invoice should contain the particulars required for the supplier and transaction under the applicable GST rules.
PRESENTATION STRUCTURE
Combine room-wise clarity
with item-wise control.
Room-wise pricing helps a residential client understand where the investment sits. Item-wise pricing gives the studio a measurable basis for procurement, revisions and variations. A hybrid format provides both: room headings for navigation and detailed lines for commercial accuracy.
Use consistent units within an item category. Cabinetry may be priced by square foot, countertops by running foot, painting by measured surface area and a defined professional service by lot or fee. Explain the measurement basis whenever a unit could be interpreted differently.
SCOPE BOUNDARIES
Specifications define the promise.
Exclusions define its edge.
An item name alone is rarely enough. Record the core material, finish, relevant thickness or grade, hardware level and whether delivery and installation are included. If a brand or finish may change, describe how an approved equivalent will be selected.
Exclusions should be specific to the project rather than copied from a generic legal block. Depending on the engagement, useful examples may include:
- Demolition, civil repairs or structural work not listed in the itemised scope.
- Appliances, loose furniture, decorative lights and client-supplied products unless itemised.
- Electrical or plumbing rerouting beyond the points specifically included in the quotation.
- Statutory permissions, society charges and deposits unless expressly included.
- Repairs arising from concealed site conditions that could not be observed during measurement.
- Changes to approved drawings, materials or quantities, which should be priced as variations.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Tie payments to
recognisable project events.
Milestone percentages must add to 100%, and the quotation should say whether they apply to the pre-tax or tax-inclusive total. The schedule below is an illustration calculated from the sample tax-inclusive total of ₹8,85,000; it is not a prescribed payment structure.
BEFORE YOU SHARE
A practical quotation
review checklist.
- Client, project, quotation number and version are correct.
- Every item has a clear description, unit, quantity and rate.
- Material grades, finishes, hardware and installation assumptions are stated.
- Room subtotals and the final arithmetic have been checked.
- GST wording reflects the studio's actual registration and supply treatment.
- Exclusions, validity, timeline, milestones and variation terms are visible.
A REPEATABLE WORKFLOW
Turn a clear format into
consistent proposals.
Designoira helps interior studios organise catalogue rates, prepare itemised quotations, preserve revisions and share a polished client proposal from one connected workflow.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Practical questions about
quotation format and GST.
Which columns should an interior design quotation contain?
A useful item table normally identifies the room or work category, item description, material specification, quantity, unit, rate and amount. Below the table, show discounts, taxable value, applicable taxes and the final amount separately.
Is GST always 18% on interior design work?
No single rate should be assumed for every project. The applicable treatment can depend on the nature and classification of the supply, the contract structure, registration status, place of supply and current notifications. The 18% calculation in this article is an illustration only and should be verified for the actual engagement.
How should GST be displayed in an interior quotation?
State whether prices are inclusive or exclusive of tax, identify the taxable value, show the assumed rate and tax amount separately, and specify CGST plus SGST or IGST only after confirming the applicable place-of-supply treatment. The eventual tax invoice must meet the rules applicable to the supplier and transaction.
Should interior pricing be room-wise or item-wise?
A hybrid format is often the clearest: group work under room headings, then show measurable items within each room. This lets the client understand the project room by room without losing the quantity and rate detail needed for commercial control.
Which exclusions should be included?
List only exclusions relevant to the project, such as unlisted civil work, appliances, permissions, major electrical or plumbing changes, client-supplied items and concealed site conditions. Clear exclusions are more useful than a long generic disclaimer.
How should payment milestones be calculated?
Choose milestones tied to real project events, make the percentages total exactly 100%, and say whether they apply to the pre-tax or tax-inclusive value. The example in this guide calculates every milestone from the illustrative tax-inclusive total.
Can the final quantity differ from the quotation?
Yes, when a quotation uses preliminary measurements. Mark provisional quantities clearly, explain when final measurements will be taken, and document how additions or reductions will be valued before production begins.
Does a quotation replace a tax invoice?
No. A quotation presents proposed scope, pricing and terms before acceptance. A tax invoice is issued under the applicable GST requirements for the supply and must contain the prescribed particulars.