Short answer
The three office fit-outs Officea has published took 28 days (3,000 sq ft, Gurgaon), 43 days (10,000 sq ft, Noida, full MEP) and 105 days (28,000 sq ft, Bangalore, stone and curved glass). Size and specification set the baseline; late approvals and late design changes are what move the date.
Most "how long will it take" answers online are generic ranges. This article uses only the three projects Officea has published in full, with the quoted and actual timelines side by side. Three projects are not an industry average, but they show what the timeline depended on in each case.
How long an office fit-out took: three published projects
| Project | Scope | Quoted | Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 sq ft, Gurgaon | Complete design and build | 60 days | 28 days |
| 10,000 sq ft, Noida | Design, full MEP, high-end specification | 75 days | 43 days |
| 28,000 sq ft, Bangalore | Design and build, stone cladding, curved glass, all-glass internal walls | 90 days | 105 days |
For the Gurgaon and Noida projects the quote ran from design freeze to handover.
Why the Gurgaon office finished in 28 days
The 3,000 sq ft Gurgaon floor went from bare space to a move-in-ready office as a single design and build scope under one contract. Because the same team owned the design decisions and the construction schedule, there was no handoff delay between the two. Civil and MEP work started as soon as drawings were locked, rather than waiting for a separate contractor to be briefed and mobilised. It closed 53% faster than the quoted 60 days.
Why the Noida office with full MEP took 43 days
The 10,000 sq ft Noida project had a high-end specification and a full MEP scope: electrical distribution, HVAC, fire detection and suppression, and plumbing. At this size, MEP is usually the schedule risk. HVAC ducting, electrical first-fix and fire systems all have to be sequenced tightly with the ceiling and civil programme, and a late design change can turn into weeks of rework. Running MEP engineering, design and construction as one coordinated scope kept that risk out of the schedule. The office was handed over 43% faster than the quoted 75 days.
Why the Bangalore office took 105 days
The 28,000 sq ft Bangalore office was built around stone cladding, curved glass and glass used for every internal wall. Curved glass is cut and templated to the radius of each panel, and stone cladding needs a level substrate and slower, more precise fixing, so the 90-day quote already allowed for that. The extra 15 days came from internal approval sign-offs on design revisions and material selections that sat pending on the client's side, not from design or construction.
Want a timeline for your floor? Tell us the city, the area and the move-in date and Officea will prepare a costed proposal with a programme.
What this means when you plan your own timeline
- Quote from design freeze. Ask any contractor which day the clock starts. In Officea's Gurgaon and Noida projects it starts at design freeze, so the time spent agreeing the layout comes before it.
- Decide approvals in advance. The one project that ran over was delayed by sign-offs. Name who approves design revisions and material selections, and agree how fast they respond.
- Keep design and build in one scope. See design and build vs a traditional fit-out for how the two routes differ.
- Test the floor before you lease. A test-fit plan shows whether your layout works before the clock starts.
For what the work costs, see the India office fit-out cost index.
Common questions
How long does an office fit-out take in India?
It depends on size, specification and how quickly approvals come through. In Officea's three published projects, a 3,000 sq ft Gurgaon office took 28 days, a 10,000 sq ft Noida office with full MEP took 43 days, and a 28,000 sq ft Bangalore office with stone cladding and curved glass took 105 days.
How long does a 3,000 sq ft office fit-out take?
Officea delivered a 3,000 sq ft office in Gurgaon, as a complete design and build project, in 28 days against a quoted 60 days from design freeze to handover.
How long does a 10,000 sq ft office fit-out take?
Officea delivered a 10,000 sq ft designer office in Noida, with full MEP (electrical, HVAC, fire and plumbing), in 43 days against a quoted 75 days from design freeze to handover.
What makes an office fit-out run late?
In Officea's published Bangalore project, the 15 days beyond the 90-day quote came from internal approval sign-offs on the client's side, not from design or construction. Late design changes can also push MEP work back, because HVAC ducting, electrical first-fix and fire systems have to be sequenced with the ceiling and civil programme.
Does design and build make an office fit-out faster?
In the Gurgaon project, the same team owned the design decisions and the construction schedule, so civil and MEP work started as soon as drawings were locked rather than waiting for a separate contractor to be briefed and mobilised.