How to Read an Interior Design Quotation: A Line-by-Line BOQ Guide

Two interior quotations arrive for the same 3 BHK. One is ₹6 lakh lower than the other. Both are a page or two long, both list wardrobes, kitchen, false ceiling and painting, and neither says which plywood sits behind the laminate. So which one is cheaper?

Honestly, you cannot tell yet. That is the problem a bill of quantities, or BOQ, is meant to solve. This guide walks through an interior design quotation one line at a time: what each column means, what each section usually contains, where surprises hide, and how to compare two quotes fairly before you sign either.

What is an interior design quotation, and how is it different from a BOQ?

Quick answer: An interior design quotation is a priced offer to carry out your interior work. The BOQ is its itemised core: a list of every work item, with a description, specification, unit, quantity, rate and amount. A quotation without a BOQ is a total. A quotation with a good BOQ is a document you can check.

It helps to know the three forms you will meet:

• Per sq ft package: a single rate multiplied by your area. Useful for early budgeting, but it hides what is and is not included.
• Estimate: an early, approximate figure, usually before the drawings are final. Expect it to change.
• Itemised quotation with BOQ: priced from approved drawings, line by line. This is the one to sign against.

A per sq ft figure is a conversation starter, not a contract. Two firms quoting ₹1,000 and ₹1,400 per sq ft may not be quoting the same work at all, because one may include civil and electrical work while the other does not.

The interior design estimate format: what each column tells you

There is no single compulsory format, but a sound interior BOQ follows a similar pattern. Here is how to read each column.

If your quotation has only a description and an amount, you are looking at a summary, not a BOQ. Ask for the full version.

Reading it line by line: the main sections of an interior BOQ

Civil and demolition work

This covers breaking walls or old flooring, new masonry, plastering, waterproofing and tiling. It is where quantities are hardest to predict, because nobody knows what is behind an old wall. Check whether debris removal is included and who pays for it, and whether waterproofing is listed with the method and product named. Some quotes mark these lines “as per actual”. That is fair when it is explained, but it should come with an estimated quantity so you can see the likely range.

Electrical and plumbing

Electrical work is usually counted in points. A “point” is not a universal unit, so ask what one includes: the length of wire, the conduit, the switch plate and the brand. Check whether lights, fans and fixtures are supplied by the studio or by you, and whether concealed wiring in existing walls is included. For plumbing, look at the pipe brand, the number of points and whether sanitaryware is part of the quote.

Carpentry and furniture

This is usually the largest part of the budget, and the place where two quotes differ most. Look at four things.

The unit and how it is measured. Wardrobes are commonly priced per sq ft, and kitchens per running foot, though practice varies between firms. More important is what is measured. One firm may measure the front face (width times height). Another may measure the carcass, shelves and loft separately. The same wardrobe can produce very different areas, so always ask for the dimensions behind the quantity.

The board. “Plywood” on its own tells you nothing. Traditionally, IS 303 covers general-purpose plywood in moisture-resistant (MR) and boiling-water-resistant (BWR) grades, while IS 710 covers marine plywood, sold as BWP. A 2024 BIS amendment also brought a BWP grade into IS 303 for interiors, so the letters BWP alone no longer tell you which standard applies. This is why a good BOQ names the standard, the grade and the thickness, and expects to see the ISI mark on the sheet. Match the grade to the room. Moisture-resistant boards are usually fine in dry bedrooms, while kitchens and bathrooms deserve better.

The finish and edges. Laminate thickness, brand and finish code, edge banding and the back panel should be stated. Acrylic, PU or veneer are different price points altogether.

The hardware. A brand name is not enough, because most brands make several hinge and channel ranges from economy to premium. The model matters, as does whether drawers are soft-close.

Here is the difference in practice:

The example is illustrative. What matters is that every choice in the second line can be checked on site.

Modular kitchen

Check what the kitchen price actually contains. Carcass, shutters, drawers and accessories are usually included, but countertops (granite or quartz), the sink, hob, chimney and appliances often are not. Tall units, corner solutions and pull-out baskets are sometimes priced as extras. If you are comparing quotes, line up these items first. Our page on modular kitchens shows how we think about layout and storage before pricing.

False ceiling, lighting and painting

False ceilings are measured by ceiling area. Check whether cove lights, peripheral profiles and the lights themselves are included. For painting, the area measured is wall and ceiling surface, which is usually much larger than your floor area, so a painting rate quoted against carpet area can look cheaper than it is. The BOQ should state the product, the shade system and the process, such as putty, primer and two coats.

Flooring, stone, glass and soft furnishings

Flooring quantities should include wastage, commonly 5 to 10 percent for tiles. Skirting, thresholds and stone edges are separate lines. Curtains, upholstery and loose furniture are often outside a carpentry BOQ entirely, so check whether they appear anywhere.

Inclusions, exclusions and allowances: where surprises hide

Budget overruns rarely come from the lines you can read. They come from what the quotation leaves out or leaves vague. Look for these in the remarks and terms.

• Lump sum items. A single figure for a large item with no breakdown is a signal to ask for the detail.
• Provisional sums or allowances. Often used for lights, sanitaryware or decorative items. They are legitimate, but ask what the allowance buys. If it buys little, you will pay the difference later.
• Supply only versus supply and install. These are different prices for different work.
• Client scope. Anything listed as “by client” is not in the price.
• Site costs. Electricity, water, lift charges, society deposits, security and daily cleaning.
• GST. Interior design and execution are generally taxed at 18 percent, but confirm whether the amounts shown are before or after tax, and check treatment with your chartered accountant.
• Design and supervision fees. Are they included, charged separately, or a percentage?
• Variations. How are changes priced during the project, and who approves them in writing?
• Payment schedule and warranty. Payments should follow completed milestones, and the warranty should say what it covers and for how long.

How to compare two interior design quotations fairly

A lower total is only a better price if the work is identical. Here is a simple method.

1. Give both firms the same drawings and briefs. Without them, you are comparing two imaginations.
2. Align the units. Convert both to the same measure where you can, and ask for dimensions behind each quantity.
3. Compare specifications line by line. Board grade, laminate, hardware model and paint product. This is where cheaper totals usually come from.
4. List the exclusions side by side. Add the cost of items that one quote leaves out.
5. Bring both to the same GST basis.
6. Ask for samples and spec sheets for the boards, laminates and hardware that matter most.
7. Check the payment schedule against progress. Heavy advances reduce your leverage.

Often the cheaper quote looks like this once corrected: it names a lower board grade, leaves out the countertop and electrical points, and adds GST at the end. The gap then narrows or disappears.

Red flags in an interior design quotation

• Phrases such as “good quality”, “standard”, “branded” or “as per market” with no names.
• A total with no BOQ, or a BOQ that cannot be traced to drawings.
• Very large lump-sum lines.
• A rate far below every other quote, with no explanation.
• No remarks column, or a blank exclusions list.
• A large advance before drawings are approved.
• Pressure to sign quickly because “the rate will change”.

None of these proves bad intent on its own. Together they tell you that the quote will be difficult to hold anyone to.

Why the drawings come before the quotation

A quotation is only as reliable as the drawings behind it. If a studio prices before the layout, the elevations and the detail drawings are settled, the numbers are guesses, and guesses move during the project. Good practice runs in the other direction: site measurements, the brief, approved drawings, a specification schedule, then a BOQ measured from them.

This is how Studio Interplay’s process is built. The studio begins by understanding the site and taking precise measurements, shapes the design vision, refines materials and finishes, and then uses detailed drawings to guide execution. Because design, material sourcing, manufacturing and installation sit with one team in a turnkey interior solution in gurgaon, a line in the quotation can be traced to a drawing, and the supervising team can check it against what arrives on site. Our guide to architect-led turnkey firms versus local sub-contractors explains where the real costs sit in each route.

Site supervision matters as much as the paper. A BOQ that names a board grade is only protective if someone verifies the sheets when they arrive. For readers who want independent oversight of a project, construction project management is a service in itself.

The same logic applies to bespoke work. Custom wardrobes and furniture are where specifications matter most, because the difference between a good and an average piece is often in the carcass, the hardware and the detailing you cannot see on handover day. A refined interior should still feel calm and lasting in five years, and that depends on honest materials chosen deliberately.

Reading your quotation with confidence

An interior design quotation should answer four questions without guesswork: what exactly is being made, from which materials, measured how, and for what price. When it does, comparing studios becomes straightforward, and surprises during the project become rare.

If you already have a quotation and would like a second pair of eyes on it, or you are planning a new project and want a clear scope from the start, As a leading & best interior Designer in gurgaon, Studio Interplay offers a free Interior design consultation. You are welcome to book a consultation, and we will talk through your brief and what a realistic, itemised quotation should look like.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is a BOQ in interior design?

A BOQ, or bill of quantities, is an itemised list of the work in an interior project, with each item’s description, specification, unit, quantity, rate and amount. It lets you see what you are paying for, compare quotations fairly, and check delivered materials against what was promised.

2. What should an interior design quotation include?

A good quotation should include itemised work by room, named materials with grade and brand, units and quantities, rates, GST, a clear list of inclusions and exclusions, a payment schedule, a timeline, the warranty terms and how changes are priced. It should also refer to approved drawings.

3. Is a per sq ft interior quote reliable?

A per sq ft quote is reliable only for rough budgeting. It does not show the materials, the scope or the exclusions behind the rate, and firms often measure area differently. Before signing, ask for an itemised BOQ that is based on approved drawings.

4. What is the standard interior design estimate format?

There is no single compulsory format, but a clear one lists the item number, location, description, specification, unit, quantity, rate, amount and remarks. Sections are usually grouped by trade, such as civil, electrical, carpentry, kitchen, ceilings, painting and flooring.

5. What is the difference between an estimate and a quotation?

An estimate is an approximate cost, usually given before drawings are final, and it is expected to change. A quotation is a firm priced offer for a defined scope, and it should be itemised. Treat the quotation, not the estimate, as the basis for a contract.

6. How do I compare two interior design quotations?

Use the same drawings for both, then compare units, specifications, exclusions, GST treatment and payment terms line by line. Add the cost of items one quote omits. Only then compare totals, because a lower total often reflects lower grades or missing scope.

Palak Ranpura

Co-Founder & Principal Designer at Studio Interplay

Palak approaches design as a dialogue between space and emotion. With a deep appreciation for materiality and detail, she creates interiors that reflect the people who inhabit them rather than the trends of the moment.