Quick answer: IGBC Green Interiors is the Indian Green Building Council’s rating for tenant fit-outs such as offices, retail, hotels and restaurants. New interiors need every mandatory requirement plus 50 points for Certified, up to 80 or more for Platinum. For a 10,000 sq ft office, IGBC’s own fees come to about ₹2.5 lakh including GST.
Most Grade-A office buildings in India already carry a green certificate. Colliers and CREDAI reported that two-thirds of Grade A office stock in the top six cities was green certified at the end of 2024, and that about 75% of leases that year were signed in green-certified buildings. But that certificate usually covers the landlord’s core and shell. The floor you build inside it, with its partitions, paints, lighting, furniture and air distribution, is not covered.
That is the gap IGBC Green Interiors fills. This guide explains what the rating covers, what it costs in rupees, how it fits into a 6 to 8 week fit-out, how it compares with LEED for interiors, and the mistakes that cost Indian tenants points.
What is IGBC Green Interiors certification?
IGBC Green Interiors is a points-based rating that certifies the interior of a space, not the whole building. It is run by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), which is part of the Confederation of Indian Industry and based at the CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad.
According to IGBC’s Green Interiors page, the programme is designed for tenant-occupied commercial spaces. Owner-occupied spaces can also use it, provided they have not already covered the same ground in the main building’s rating. IGBC says it suits office fit-outs, malls, retail spaces, hotels, restaurants, resorts, IT spaces and banks.
The rating addresses six categories:
- Eco design approach: how the interior is planned, including space efficiency and access.
- Water conservation: mainly the fixtures you install in pantries and washrooms.
- Energy efficiency: lighting, controls, the AC equipment within your scope and the refrigerants it uses.
- Interior materials: boards, laminates, furniture, flooring, paints and adhesives, and where they come from.
- Indoor environment: fresh air, daylight, views, emissions from materials, acoustics and comfort.
- Innovation in interior design: points for measures that go beyond the listed credits.
Every project must first meet a set of mandatory requirements, which IGBC describes as non-negotiable. Points are then earned through optional credits, and the total decides the level. The current version is Version 2. IGBC states that projects registered under Version 1 were considered until 31 December 2025, and that submissions after that date are evaluated under Version 2.
What levels can an office interior achieve?
IGBC publishes separate thresholds for new and existing interiors. A new fit-out on a bare-shell or warm-shell floor is assessed as a new interior.
| Certification level | Points for new interiors | IGBC’s recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Certified | 50 to 59 | Best Practices |
| Silver | 60 to 69 | Outstanding Performance |
| Gold | 70 to 79 | National Excellence |
| Platinum | 80 to 100 | Global Leadership |
IGBC recognises certified projects with a formal letter of certification and a mountable plaque. For most corporate tenants, Silver or Gold is a realistic target on a standard fit-out budget, because many of the points come from choices you make anyway: efficient LED lighting, water-saving fixtures, sensible fresh air and better materials. Platinum usually needs measures that reach into the base building, which a tenant may not control.
How much does IGBC Green Interiors certification cost in India?
There are two separate costs: IGBC’s fees, which are published and fixed, and the cost of building to the green specification, which depends on your design.
IGBC’s registration and certification fees
IGBC charges a one-time registration fee and a certification fee, both based on the project’s built-up area and both exclusive of GST. For projects between 501 and 30,000 sq m, non-members pay ₹30,000 to register and ₹1,75,000 plus ₹15 for every sq m above 500 sq m to certify. IGBC members get lower rates. Projects below 500 sq m pay a flat fee and an extra ₹20,000 if they want the plaque. Here is what that works out to for common office sizes:
| Built-up area | Registration (non-member) | Certification (non-member) | Total incl. 18% GST, non-member | Total incl. 18% GST, annual member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000 sq ft (about 372 sq m) | ₹5,000 | ₹1,10,100 + ₹20,000 plaque | ₹1,59,418 | ₹1,47,500 |
| 10,000 sq ft (about 929 sq m) | ₹30,000 | ₹1,81,435 | ₹2,49,493 | ₹2,31,793 |
| 25,000 sq ft (about 2,323 sq m) | ₹30,000 | ₹2,02,345 | ₹2,74,167 | ₹2,56,467 |
| 50,000 sq ft (about 4,645 sq m) | ₹30,000 | ₹2,37,175 | ₹3,15,266 | ₹2,97,566 |
Recertification costs 50% of the current fee plus GST. Registration and certification fees are non-refundable, so register once your target and scope are settled.
The cost of building green
The larger cost is in the fit-out itself. A green interior uses the same trades as any other fit-out, but specifies them differently: low-VOC paints and adhesives instead of standard ones, certified boards and furniture, efficient lighting with controls, low-flow taps and better fresh-air design. Some of these cost more than the basic option; others, like LED lighting and water-saving fixtures, are already standard in a good Indian fit-out.
There is no single published premium for IGBC interiors in India, and anyone who quotes you a fixed percentage without seeing your floor is guessing. The honest approach is to price the green specification line by line in your BOQ (bill of quantities). Our guide to office interior cost per sq ft in India sets out the base benchmarks, and our guide to reading an interior BOQ shows how to check that a specification is really written into each line.
IGBC itself says sustainable interior design can deliver a 30 to 40% reduction in energy cost and a 20 to 30% reduction in water requirement. Treat those as IGBC’s figures for well-designed projects, not a guarantee for yours, because your savings depend on how much of the building’s systems sit within your scope.
How does IGBC Green Interiors fit into a fit-out programme?
Certification works best when it is planned from the first drawing, not added at handover. On a typical office fit-out the work runs alongside the four stages of a design-and-build programme:
1. Brief and design: set the target
Choose the level you want and check what the base building allows. Ask the landlord what the core and shell already provide (AC plant, fresh-air supply, refrigerants, water metering) and what their fit-out manual lets you change. Register the project with IGBC, then write the green requirements into the drawings and the BOQ so every bidder prices the same thing.
2. Procurement: buy to the specification
This is where most points are won or lost. Every paint, adhesive, board, laminate, carpet and furniture item needs a data sheet or test report that proves it meets the credit. Collect these as you place orders, not after delivery.
3. Execution: build and record
Protect materials and ductwork from dust and moisture on site, photograph installed features, and record any change against the target. A substitution made to save a week, such as a standard adhesive instead of a low-VOC one, can quietly cost a credit.
4. Handover: submit and verify
Submit the final documentation. IGBC’s process includes an assessment of the design and construction documents and a site visit to verify that the green features were actually installed. Credits counted at the preliminary stage are only anticipated until the final documents are accepted.
Quick Furnish hands over most office fit-outs in 6 to 8 weeks. Certification does not have to extend that programme, provided the target is fixed at the design stage and the documents are collected as the work happens. The certificate itself is issued after IGBC completes its review, which can follow handover.
What else applies besides IGBC?
IGBC Green Interiors is voluntary. It sits on top of the rules every Indian fit-out must follow, not in place of them:
- National Building Code 2016: the BIS code sets the structural, electrical, plumbing and fire and life-safety requirements, and its Part 11, Approach to Sustainability gives guidance on energy-efficient, environmentally compatible buildings.
- Fire NOC and landlord approvals: partitions, ceilings and sprinkler changes still need the building’s fire approvals and the landlord’s sign-off. Our guide to the fire NOC for office interiors explains what changes when you fit out a floor.
- The building’s own rating: if your tower holds a LEED or IGBC core-and-shell certificate, the landlord may have green fit-out guidelines in the manual. Following them early saves rework and often supports your own credits.
- Your company’s ESG reporting: many listed companies and multinationals now track energy, water and materials across their offices. A certified interior gives that reporting a documented basis.
IGBC Green Interiors or LEED for interiors: which is right for you?
The main alternative for an Indian office fit-out is LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID+C), run by the US Green Building Council. Both rate the interior rather than the building, and both use points and four levels. The choice usually comes down to who asked for the certificate.
| IGBC Green Interiors | LEED ID+C | Green specification, no certificate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | Indian Green Building Council (CII), Hyderabad | US Green Building Council; reviewed by GBCI | Your design team and contractor |
| Levels | Certified 50+, Silver 60+, Gold 70+, Platinum 80+ (new interiors) | Certified 40+, Silver 50+, Gold 60+, Platinum 80+ | None |
| Fees | Published in rupees on igbc.in, exclusive of GST | Published on usgbc.org | None, but you still pay for the specification |
| Written for | Indian context and national priorities, as IGBC states | Global use, for complete interior fit-outs with no scope over the shell | Your own targets |
| Best for | Indian companies and tenants who want a recognised Indian credential | Multinationals whose global policy names LEED | Small offices, tight budgets, or a first step before certifying |
| Proof for ESG reports | Third-party certificate and plaque | Third-party certificate | Internal records only |
If your parent company’s real estate policy already names LEED, follow it, because a different certificate may not count in its reporting. If no policy applies, IGBC Green Interiors is designed for Indian conditions, is priced in rupees and is reviewed in India. If you don’t need a certificate at all, you can still write the same green specification into your BOQ and get most of the benefits without the fees.
Seven mistakes that cost Indian tenants IGBC points
1. Deciding to certify after the BOQ is signed
By then the materials are specified and priced. Changing them means variations, delays and arguments about who pays. Fix the target before you tender.
2. Assuming the building’s certificate covers your floor
A LEED or IGBC plaque in the lobby usually covers the core and shell. Your interior is a separate project and needs its own rating if you want one.
3. Not asking the landlord what you control
Fresh air, chillers, refrigerants and water meters often belong to the base building. Ask for the landlord’s data early, or you may chase credits you cannot document.
4. Missing data sheets for materials
A low-VOC paint without its test report earns nothing. Make product data and test reports a condition of every purchase order.
5. Allowing silent substitutions on site
When a material is short, a site team may swap in what is available. Require written approval for any change to a green-specified item.
6. Getting the area wrong in the fee calculation
IGBC fees are based on built-up area. If you only know the carpet area, IGBC asks you to add 30%. Parking is excluded.
7. Treating certification as the goal
The plaque is useful, but the reason to do it is a healthier, cheaper-to-run office. Choose credits that your team will actually notice, like daylight, fresh air and low-emission materials, before chasing easy points.
How Quick Furnish approaches green office interiors
Quick Furnish’s own standard is to use low-VOC finishes, certified boards, efficient LED lighting and HVAC, and materials chosen to reduce embodied carbon wherever this can be verified, and to design to IGBC or WELL targets when a client asks. Because we run design and build under one contract, the green specification is written into the same itemised BOQ you approve before work starts, and the same team buys and installs it.
For Smytten, we designed and built a 7,500 sq ft head office in Ahmedabad on a design and build basis, with a 6 to 8 week timeline. The brief was a single brand with a different visual theme for each of the marketing, operations, tech and creative teams. That project was not presented as an IGBC-certified interior. We mention it because it shows how one programme can carry a detailed, zone-by-zone specification from design through to handover, which is exactly what a green interior needs.
We work across 35+ Indian cities from our Ahmedabad head office and hubs in Mumbai and Gurgaon. In Bengaluru, which Colliers found had the largest share of India’s green-certified office stock, our commercial interior team in Bengaluru can plan an IGBC target around your landlord’s fit-out manual.
Planning a green fit-out? Get a free test fit and quote with your sustainability target priced in, or call +91 70437 04333.
Key takeaways
- IGBC Green Interiors rates your fit-out, not the building. A green-certified tower does not make your floor certified.
- New interiors need all mandatory requirements plus 50 points for Certified, 60 for Silver, 70 for Gold and 80 for Platinum.
- IGBC’s fees for a 10,000 sq ft office come to about ₹2.5 lakh including GST for a non-member; the bigger cost is the specification itself.
- Set the target before you tender, write it into the BOQ, and collect product data as you buy.
- Ask the landlord early what the base building provides and what you are allowed to change.
- Choose LEED ID+C if your global policy requires it; otherwise IGBC is designed for Indian conditions and priced in rupees.
Frequently asked questions about IGBC Green Interiors
What is IGBC Green Interiors?
It is the Indian Green Building Council’s rating for interior projects, mainly tenant-occupied commercial spaces such as offices, retail, hotels, restaurants, IT spaces and banks. It certifies the fit-out, not the whole building, across six categories: eco design, water, energy, interior materials, indoor environment and innovation.
How many points do we need for IGBC Green Interiors certification?
For new interiors, IGBC sets Certified at 50 to 59 points, Silver at 60 to 69, Gold at 70 to 79 and Platinum at 80 to 100. You must also meet every mandatory requirement, whatever level you aim for. Existing interiors have lower thresholds on a smaller scale.
How much does IGBC Green Interiors certification cost?
IGBC’s fees depend on built-up area. For a non-member project of 501 to 30,000 sq m, registration is ₹30,000 and certification is ₹1,75,000 plus ₹15 per sq m above 500, both plus GST. A 10,000 sq ft office comes to about ₹2,49,493 including GST. The specification itself is a separate cost.
Our building is already LEED Gold. Is our office certified too?
Usually not. A building certificate normally covers the landlord’s core and shell. Your partitions, finishes, furniture, lighting and air distribution are a separate interior project. If you want your space recognised, it needs its own rating, such as IGBC Green Interiors or LEED ID+C.
Can a small office of under 5,000 sq ft get IGBC certified?
Yes. IGBC has a separate fee band for projects below 500 sq m (about 5,380 sq ft): ₹5,000 to register and a flat certification fee of ₹1,10,100 for non-members, plus ₹20,000 if you want the plaque, all plus GST. The same mandatory requirements and point thresholds apply.
Does IGBC certification delay the fit-out?
It doesn’t have to. If the target is fixed during design and documents are collected during procurement and execution, the site programme stays the same. Quick Furnish hands over most office fit-outs in 6 to 8 weeks. IGBC’s review and site visit can happen after you move in.
Which version of IGBC Green Interiors applies now?
Version 2. IGBC states that projects registered under Version 1 were considered for certification until 31 December 2025, and that submissions after that date are evaluated under Version 2. Download the current reference guide from IGBC before you set your target.
Should we choose IGBC or LEED for our office interiors?
Follow your company’s global policy if it names a system. If not, IGBC Green Interiors is designed for Indian conditions, reviewed in India and priced in rupees, which suits most Indian companies and tenants. LEED ID+C suits multinationals that report across many countries on one system.
Get your green fit-out priced before you commit
Share your floor area, headcount and move-in date, and within 48 hours we will send you a test fit and a realistic budget per sq ft. Tell us the IGBC level you are aiming for and we will show you which items in the BOQ carry it, so you can decide with real numbers.
Prefer to talk? Call +91 70437 04333 or email info@quickfurnish.co.
Fees and thresholds in this guide are as published by IGBC and USGBC when checked in November 2026. Rating systems are updated from time to time, so confirm the current version and fees with IGBC before you register.