Your house is finished: tiles laid, bathrooms fitted, walls painted. Yet it still doesn’t feel like home. Now three carpenters have handed you three quotes that look nothing alike. One says PKR 6,500 “per foot” for the kitchen, another says PKR 1,100 “per sq ft”, and the third just gives a lump sum. Which one is fair?
This guide answers that. The interior design cost in Lahore in 2026 typically runs from PKR 700 to 4,000+ per sq ft of covered area. That covers the interior fit-out layer added on top of standard finishing: design, kitchens, wardrobes, media walls, feature ceilings, wall treatments and lighting. Below, we break it down by budget tier, marla size, room and item, so you can read any quote with confidence.
The rates come from HA Design Studio, a Lahore-based architecture, construction and interior design firm led by Ar. Haris Azmat. We’ve spent 15+ years designing and finishing homes across DHA, Lake City, Bahria Town and Model Town, and we cross-checked our figures against current 2026 market rate guides.
Quick Takeaways (October 2026 rates)
- Essential interior: PKR 700–1,200 per sq ft of covered area
- Standard interior: PKR 1,200–2,200 per sq ft (most Lahore families land here)
- Premium interior: PKR 2,200–4,000+ per sq ft
- 10 marla house, Standard tier: roughly PKR 41–75 lakh
- Design fee only: from PKR 125 per sq ft, or 8–12% of project value
- Biggest single cost: the kitchen, usually 20–30% of the interior budget
- Biggest saving: plan ceilings, lights and woodwork at grey-structure stage, not after
How Much Does Interior Design Cost in Lahore in 2026?
Interior design in Lahore costs PKR 700 to 4,000+ per sq ft of covered area in 2026, covering design plus the fixed fit-out works. Loose furniture, appliances and décor are extra. The rate depends far more on the finish level than on house size.
| Tier | Rate (PKR per sq ft of covered area) | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | 700 – 1,200 | Rental units, first homes, tight budgets |
| Standard | 1,200 – 2,200 | Most family homes in Lake City, Bahria, Johar Town |
| Premium | 2,200 – 4,000 | DHA and corner houses, owners who want a showpiece |
| Luxury | 4,000+ | Imported materials, smart-home systems, custom furniture |
Interior Cost vs Finishing Cost: Don’t Count Twice
Many online guides mix finishing and interior into one number, which is why their ranges look so wide. DBL’s 2026 guide, for example, quotes an all-in mid-range figure of PKR 2,800–4,000 per sq ft. We keep the two separate:
- Finishing = tiles, marble, sanitary ware, doors, wiring, plumbing and basic paint. See our house finishing cost in Lake City guide for those rates.
- Interior = the design layer on top: kitchens, wardrobes, media walls, feature ceilings, wall treatments, lighting design and blinds. That’s what this guide prices.
When a contractor quotes a single “interior” rate, ask which of these two lists it covers.
What Each Budget Tier Actually Includes
Two quotes at the same rate can deliver very different homes. Use these lists to check what your rate should buy.
Essential (PKR 700–1,200 per sq ft)
- Plain gypsum ceilings with LED panels in the lounge and drawing room
- Laminate kitchen with local hinges and runners
- MDF laminate wardrobes, no internal accessories
- One basic TV wall in the lounge
- A simple 3D layout so furniture fits before you buy it
Standard (PKR 1,200–2,200 per sq ft)
- Stepped gypsum ceilings with cove lighting in main rooms
- Laminate or high-gloss kitchen with soft-close hardware and a granite top
- Full-height wardrobes with drawers, shoe racks and lofts
- One feature wall per main room (fluted panel, wallpaper or texture)
- Media wall with concealed wiring in the TV lounge
- Room-by-room lighting plan and blinds
Premium (PKR 2,200–4,000+ per sq ft)
- Layered ceilings with profile lights and track lighting
- Acrylic or lacquer kitchen with imported hardware and a quartz top
- Veneer or lacquer wardrobes with glass shutters and internal lighting
- Wall panelling in lounges and headboard walls in bedrooms
- Custom built-in furniture and a curated décor plan
If you want to see how these finishes look in real homes, browse our interior design work before you pick a tier.
Interior Design Cost by Marla Size
To budget by plot size, multiply your covered area (not plot area) by the tier rate. The table uses typical double-storey covered areas in Lahore, without a basement.
| House size | Typical covered area | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | ~2,000 sq ft | PKR 14 – 24 lakh | PKR 24 – 44 lakh | PKR 44 – 80 lakh |
| 10 marla | ~3,400 sq ft | PKR 24 – 41 lakh | PKR 41 – 75 lakh | PKR 75 lakh – 1.36 crore |
| 1 kanal | ~5,250 sq ft | PKR 37 – 63 lakh | PKR 63 lakh – 1.16 crore | PKR 1.16 – 2.1 crore |
Figures cover design and interior fit-out only. Finishing (tiles, sanitary, doors, wiring), loose furniture and appliances are extra.
5 Marla House Interior Cost
A 5 marla home has little room for waste, so smart storage matters more than expensive finishes. Most of our 5 marla clients choose the Standard tier, keep bedroom ceilings simple, and spend on a compact, well-planned kitchen. For room-by-room layouts, read our 5 marla house interior design guide.
10 Marla House Interior Cost
The 10 marla house is the most common family home in Lahore. A Standard interior typically lands between PKR 41 and 75 lakh. The drawing room, TV lounge and kitchen usually take 55–60% of that budget, and servant quarters can stay at the Essential tier to bring the total down.
1 Kanal House Interior Cost
A 1 kanal house often has a double-height lobby, a basement and four to six bedrooms. That’s where layered ceilings, feature staircases and custom lighting push costs into the Premium range. At this scale, a 5% saving on materials can free up more than PKR 5 lakh.
If you’re still at the construction stage, pair this guide with our construction cost per square foot breakdown to see your full project budget.
Room-wise Interior Design Cost in Lahore
If you’re doing one room at a time, budget by room instead. These Standard-tier ranges assume average Lahore room sizes and cover the interior fit-out only, not finishing or loose furniture.
| Room | Typical size | Standard tier (PKR) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 10 × 12 ft | 600,000 – 1,600,000 | Cabinet finish, hardware brand, countertop |
| TV lounge with media wall | 16 × 20 ft | 350,000 – 800,000 | Media wall finish, ceiling design, lighting |
| Drawing room | 14 × 18 ft | 300,000 – 700,000 | Ceiling layers, wall panelling, blinds |
| Master bedroom | 14 × 16 ft | 300,000 – 650,000 | Wardrobe length and finish, headboard wall |
| Kids’ bedroom | 12 × 14 ft | 200,000 – 450,000 | Study table, storage beds, wardrobe |
| Dining area | 12 × 14 ft | 150,000 – 350,000 | Crockery unit, statement light |
| Bathroom (vanity and accessories) | 6 × 9 ft | 100,000 – 300,000 | Vanity, mirror cabinet, feature lighting |
Kitchen: The Most Expensive Room
The kitchen takes 20–30% of most interior budgets because it packs woodwork, stone and hardware into one small space. Hardware is the hidden lever: moving from local hinges to imported soft-close hinges and runners can add PKR 80,000–250,000 to a single kitchen. For layouts that work in tight spaces, see our small kitchen cabinet design ideas and completed kitchen design projects.
TV Lounge and Media Wall
A media wall is now standard in Lahore lounges. A laminate media wall with concealed wiring and LED strips usually costs PKR 120,000–250,000, while fluted veneer or stone-finish walls run PKR 250,000–450,000. See finished examples in our media wall design portfolio.
Bedrooms and Wardrobes
Wardrobes decide most of a bedroom’s cost. A 10-foot floor-to-ceiling wardrobe in MDF laminate typically costs PKR 45,000–70,000, and the same unit in acrylic or lacquer costs PKR 75,000–120,000. Browse our wardrobe design work for internal layouts that actually get used.
Bathrooms
On the interior side, a bathroom budget covers the vanity, mirror cabinet, storage and lighting. Tiles and sanitary fittings belong to finishing. Moisture-resistant materials are worth the extra cost in Lahore’s monsoon; our guide on reducing bathroom humidity explains why.
Item Rates: Ceilings, Woodwork and Wall Treatments (2026)
Use these item rates to check any line in an interior quote. All prices are Lahore market rates for October 2026, material plus labour. Basic paint, tiles and flooring are finishing items, so they’re not listed here.
| Item | Unit | Rate (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
| Gypsum ceiling, stepped or coffered | per sq ft | 180 – 250 |
| Gypsum ceiling with cove LED and profile | per sq ft | 220 – 350 |
| Texture or designer paint (feature walls) | per sq ft | 120 – 300 |
| Wallpaper, installed | per sq ft | 60 – 180 |
| Fluted or 3D wall panels, installed | per sq ft | 220 – 450 |
| Kitchen cabinets, laminate | per running ft | 5,000 – 8,000 |
| Kitchen cabinets, acrylic or lacquer | per running ft | 8,000 – 14,000 |
| Granite countertop | per sq ft | 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Quartz countertop | per sq ft | 2,500 – 4,500 |
| Wardrobe, MDF laminate | per running ft | 4,500 – 7,000 |
| Wardrobe, acrylic, lacquer or veneer | per running ft | 7,500 – 12,000 |
| Media wall, laminate with LED | per wall | 120,000 – 250,000 |
| Blinds | per sq ft | 250 – 600 |
For comparison, Finishes.pk’s Lahore ceiling guide puts stepped gypsum at about PKR 120–180 per sq ft and cove with LED at PKR 150–220. Our rates are higher because they include the profile lights, ceiling paint and electrical points a finished ceiling actually needs.
Feature walls work best when they fit the whole home’s palette; our guide on choosing a home color scheme shows how to plan one.
Running Foot vs Square Foot: How Carpenters Quote
Most confusion in woodwork quotes comes from mixing two units. A running foot measures length along the wall. A square foot measures the face area of the shutters.
For a standard 8-foot-high wardrobe, one running foot equals about 8 sq ft of face. So:
- PKR 6,000 per running ft ≈ PKR 750 per sq ft of face
- PKR 1,100 per sq ft of face ≈ PKR 8,800 per running ft
That second quote sounds lower but is almost 50% more expensive. Before comparing, convert every woodwork quote into one unit, and confirm whether lofts, internal drawers and hardware are included.
How Much Do Interior Designers Charge in Lahore?
Interior designers in Lahore charge in one of three ways in 2026: per sq ft for design only, a percentage of the project, or a fixed fee per room.
| Fee model | Typical 2026 rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Design only, per sq ft | From PKR 125 per sq ft | Owners who will hire their own carpenters |
| Percentage of project value | 8 – 12% | Full design with site supervision |
| Per room | PKR 30,000 – 150,000 | One or two rooms only |
| Turnkey (design + execution) | Included in the per sq ft tier rate | Overseas clients and busy families |
Dehleez Studio’s Lahore pricing guide reports a similar 8–15% band for percentage-based fees. With turnkey work, you get one contract, one price, and one team that’s accountable if the ceiling cracks or a shutter sags. Our guide on how to find an interior designer lists the questions to ask before you sign.
Hidden Costs Most Interior Quotes Leave Out
The quote you sign is rarely the amount you pay. Keep a 10–15% buffer for these items, which many quotes skip:
- Electrical changes: extra points for cove lights, media walls and bedside switches, typically PKR 2,500–4,500 per point
- AC drain and copper lines re-routed behind new ceilings or panels
- Curtain tracks and blinds, often quoted separately from the room
- Hardware upgrades: handles, hinges and runners can add 10–20% to woodwork
- Wastage: tiles, panels and wallpaper usually need 8–10% extra
- Ceiling access panels for AC units and wiring
- Final deep cleaning and polish after the work ends
Where to Spend and Where to Save
Not every rupee adds the same value. Ar. Haris Azmat’s rule of thumb: spend on what you touch daily, save on what you only see.
| Spend more on | Save on |
|---|---|
| Kitchen hardware and countertop | Guest bedroom ceilings |
| Wardrobe internals and hinges | Feature lights in rarely used rooms |
| Bathroom fittings and waterproofing | Imported décor items |
| Lighting plan in the lounge | Expensive paint in store rooms and stairs |
| Wiring and electrical points | Wallpaper on walls that furniture will cover |
Plan Your Interior at Grey-Structure Stage to Save Money
The cheapest interior decision is the one made before the plaster goes on. When the interior is planned during grey structure, conduits for cove lights, media walls and AC lines go in at the right place the first time. That avoids chiselling finished walls, which typically adds 5–10% to the interior bill.
This is where a turnkey firm saves real money. Because HA Design Studio handles design, construction and interiors under one roof, the ceiling heights, electrical layout and woodwork are planned together. If you’re building in Lake City, our house finishing cost in Lake City guide shows how finishing and interior budgets fit together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the interior design cost per sq ft in Pakistan in 2026?
In 2026, interior design in Pakistan typically costs PKR 700–4,000+ per sq ft of covered area for design and interior fit-out. That’s on top of finishing (tiles, sanitary, doors and wiring), which is usually priced separately. Lahore rates sit in the middle of the national range.
How much does a 10 marla house interior cost in Lahore?
A 10 marla house interior in Lahore typically costs PKR 41–75 lakh at the Standard tier, based on about 3,400 sq ft of covered area. An Essential fit-out brings it to roughly PKR 24–41 lakh, while a Premium one can reach PKR 1.36 crore.
Is an interior designer worth the fee in Lahore?
A designer usually pays for themselves on projects above PKR 25 lakh. They prevent costly mistakes such as wrong ceiling heights, wardrobes that block windows, or lights in the wrong place. A thekedar can execute well, but without drawings you carry the risk of every decision. Our comparison of thekedar vs contractor vs architect explains the trade-off in detail.
How long does a full house interior take in Lahore?
A 5 marla interior usually takes 8–12 weeks, a 10 marla house 12–16 weeks, and a 1 kanal house 4–6 months. Timelines stretch when designs change mid-way or imported materials arrive late. Locking the design before work starts is the single best way to stay on schedule.
Can overseas Pakistanis get their home interior done remotely?
Yes. Overseas clients can approve 3D designs online, receive weekly photo and video updates, and pay against completed milestones. A turnkey firm with one point of contact makes remote projects far less stressful than managing separate carpenters, painters and electricians from abroad.
Final Word: Budget With Clarity, Not Guesswork
The interior design cost in Lahore depends less on your plot size and more on the finish tier, the quality of hardware, and how early you plan. Three things to remember:
- Compare quotes in the same unit, and convert running feet to square feet before you decide.
- Keep a 10–15% buffer for electrical work, hardware and wastage.
- Plan interiors during grey structure to avoid paying twice.
Want a room-by-room estimate for your own home? Book a free consultation with Ar. Haris Azmat, or WhatsApp us your covered area for a quick quote. You can also explore our full interior design services in Lahore or meet our interior designer in Lake City Lahore.
