Clients often ask us for a construction cost per square foot, then assume interior design and fit-out cost works the same way. It doesn’t. Interior cost swings much more than shell construction, because it’s driven almost entirely by choices — material grade, custom vs. modular furniture, and finish level — rather than by the physical size of the space alone. Here’s how to think about it before you set a budget.
General Market Ranges (2026)
As a planning starting point, interior design and fit-out cost in Dhaka typically falls into three broad bands, on top of a bare shell:
- Economy level — basic modular furniture, standard tiles and paint, minimal customization: roughly ৳400–800 per square foot.
- Standard level — a mix of modular and custom furniture, better lighting design, upgraded tiles and sanitaryware: roughly ৳900–1,800 per square foot.
- Premium level — fully custom furniture and joinery, imported finishes, designed lighting and electrical layouts: roughly ৳2,000–4,000+ per square foot.
These ranges move with material and labor costs year to year, and with how much of the space gets full treatment versus light styling — treat them as a planning range, not a quote.
What Actually Moves the Number
Custom vs. modular furniture. Modular units are faster and cheaper; carpenter-built, fully custom furniture costs more but fits the space exactly and lasts longer. Most interiors we design use a mix of both.
Kitchen and bathroom fixtures. These two rooms usually carry a disproportionate share of any interior budget — cabinetry, countertops, sanitaryware, and fittings add up fast, and it’s where clients most often choose to spend more.
Lighting and electrical complexity. A designed lighting layout (layered ambient, task, and accent lighting) costs more upfront in wiring and fixtures than a handful of ceiling lights, but it’s one of the biggest differences between a space that reads as designed and one that doesn’t.
Scope — full interior vs. partial styling. Furnishing and finishing an entire home is a different budget than refreshing a living room or adding built-in storage to two bedrooms. Defining scope clearly at the start avoids budget creep later.
Why It’s Worth Planning Interior Cost Early
When interior design is planned alongside architecture — rather than as an afterthought once construction is finished — electrical points, storage, and layout decisions get made once instead of retrofitted later. That’s the main reason we handle interior design as one continuous service with architecture and construction, not a separate add-on.
Get a Project-Specific Number
General ranges help with planning, but every space and every brief is different. Book a free consultation with Mark D Studio and we’ll walk your space and give you a scope-specific estimate rather than a market average.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the typical interior design cost range in Dhaka?
Roughly Tk 400 to 800 per square foot at economy level, Tk 900 to 1,800 at standard level, and Tk 2,000 to 4,000-plus at premium level, as a 2026 planning range.
What drives interior cost more than square footage?
Custom versus modular furniture, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, and lighting and electrical complexity typically matter more than raw size.
Should interior design be planned alongside architecture?
Yes, planning them together lets electrical points, storage, and layout get decided once instead of retrofitted later.
Related Reading
- Renovation Cost Guide: Kitchen, Bathroom, and Full-House Remodeling in Dhaka
- Open-Plan vs. Traditional Layout: Which Suits Bangladeshi Families?
- Hidden Costs in Home Construction Nobody Tells You About