In Delhi you can hire three different ways: a turnkey studio (one contract, one price, one accountable party), a labour contractor (you buy all material and manage the site), or a design-only consultant (drawings, you execute separately). Turnkey costs roughly 15–25% more than labour-contract but absorbs the wastage, coordination and rework that usually eats that difference.
This is the decision most Delhi homeowners get wrong, because the three models are quoted in a way that makes them look comparable when they are not. A labour rate and a turnkey rate are not the same number measured differently — they cover different amounts of risk. Here is what each one actually is.
What are the three models?
| Turnkey studio | Labour contractor | Design-only consultant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Design, BOQ, material, execution, handover | Manpower and site supervision | Drawings, 3D views, material schedule |
| Who buys material | The studio | You | You |
| Who coordinates trades | The studio | You | You or your contractor |
| Typical Delhi rate | ₹1,300 – ₹2,300 / sq ft | ₹250 – ₹500 / sq ft labour + your material | ₹40 – ₹150 / sq ft, or 5–10% of project |
| Who is accountable for a defect | One party | Split — material vs workmanship | Nobody on site |
| Your time commitment | 2–4 hours a week | 15–25 hours a week | Varies |
| Best for | People who cannot be on site daily | People with time, trade contacts and site experience | People who already have a trusted contractor |
Why the price gap is smaller than it looks
A labour contract looks 15–25% cheaper on the quotation. Four things usually close that gap on a Delhi site:
- Retail versus trade material rates. A studio buys plywood, laminate and hardware at trade prices. Buying the same items yourself at a Kirti Nagar or Panchkuian Road retail counter typically costs 8–15% more.
- Wastage. On self-managed sites, ply and laminate wastage of 10–12% is normal because cutting is optimised per item rather than per sheet. A studio cuts to a sheet plan.
- Rework. The classic Delhi sequence is: ceiling closed, then the electrician finds a missing point. Under a labour contract, reopening the ceiling is your cost. Under turnkey, it is not.
- Your time. Fifteen to twenty-five hours a week for three months is the real hidden line item, and it is the one people discover in week four.
None of this makes labour contracting wrong. It makes it a genuine choice for someone who has done it before, has the time, and knows their material suppliers.
When is a labour contractor actually the right call?
- You have executed an interior before and know how a Delhi site sequences.
- You have reliable plywood, hardware and tile suppliers already.
- You are physically available on site most days — a rented flat nearby, or working from home in the same building.
- The scope is small and mostly one trade (only painting, only a wardrobe run, only false ceiling).
- You are comfortable holding the risk if two trades clash and neither accepts responsibility.
When is design-only the right call?
Design-only makes sense when you already have a contractor you trust and want the layout, material palette and detailing done properly. It stops making sense the moment the drawings are the only thing standing between you and a site with nobody accountable for reading them. A common and workable Delhi hybrid: design-only for the drawings, plus a paid site-supervision retainer for weekly checks.
What to ask before you pick
| Ask this | Turnkey studio should answer | Labour contractor should answer |
|---|---|---|
| Give me a line-item BOQ | Material, brand, quantity, rate per line | Labour rate per sq ft per trade |
| Who buys the plywood? | We do, at trade rate, BWP grade named | You do |
| Who pays if the ceiling is reopened? | We do | You do |
| What is the payment schedule? | Stage-linked to completed work | Usually weekly or fortnightly |
| What warranty do I get? | 12 months workmanship + manufacturer | Rarely any |
| Who deals with the RWA and society rules? | We do | You do |
If a turnkey studio cannot give you a line-item BOQ, it is a labour contractor charging turnkey rates. That is the combination to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start turnkey and switch to labour halfway?
Technically yes, practically it goes badly. The handover point becomes the argument point — every later defect gets attributed to the other party. If cost is the concern, reduce scope rather than switching model mid-project.
Do turnkey studios inflate material rates?
Some do, which is exactly why you should ask for a BOQ that names brand and grade per line. Then the rate is checkable. A studio that resists naming brands is telling you something.
Is turnkey worth it for a small 1BHK?
Often not, if the scope is only a kitchen and one wardrobe. Below roughly ₹4–5 lakh, coordination overhead is small enough that a good carpenter and your own supervision can work.
What does IntExt Concepts do?
We work turnkey — one contract covering design, BOQ, material, execution and handover, with our own supervisor on site. We will also tell you honestly when your scope is small enough that turnkey is not worth paying for.
About the studio behind this page
IntExt Concepts is a turnkey interior design and execution studio based at Chhatarpur, South Delhi, working across Delhi NCR since 2012. We handle design, BOQ, procurement, site execution and handover under one contract, with our own supervisors on site rather than sub-let coordination.
- Studio address: Chhatarpur, New Delhi 110074
- Operating since: 2012
- Scope: Design + BOQ + execution + handover (single contract)
- Coverage: South Delhi, West Delhi, Dwarka, Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad
- Phone: +91 87440 41617
Get a line-item estimate
Share your floor plan or site dimensions and we will send a line-item BOQ — material grade, brand, quantity and rate for each item — instead of a lump-sum figure. Call +91 87440 41617 or use the enquiry form. See also: how turnkey interior design works in Delhi and how to read an interior BOQ.