India’s Flexible Office Space Stock Projected to Reach 180 Million Sq Ft by 2030, Says Colliers-CII Report

Flexible office space stock across India’s top seven office markets is projected to nearly double, reaching 170 to 180 million square feet by 2030. This compares to an estimated 90 million square feet in 2026, according to a recent report published by Colliers and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The growth is expected to be supported by rising enterprise demand and the continued expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) across the country. According to the report, flexible workspaces could account for nearly one-third of overall Grade A office leasing by 2030, increasing from an estimated 20 to 25 percent currently. Additionally, their share of total Grade A office stock is expected to rise from around 10 percent to 14 to 15 percent over the next few years.

The findings highlight a structural change in how companies utilize flexible offices. Large enterprises are increasingly relying on managed workspaces to manage expansion, adapt to shifting workforce requirements, and establish operations across multiple cities. Ashwinder R Singh, Chairman of the CII Committee on Real Estate (NR) and Vice Chairman of BCD Group, noted that the sector is shifting from an alternative office format to an essential component of enterprise real estate strategy.

Enterprise clients currently represent 75 to 85 percent of overall demand for flexible workspaces. Annual enterprise seat uptake has expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 33 percent over the past five to six years, climbing from approximately 55,000 seats in 2021 to an estimated 2.3 lakh in 2026. The report anticipates that annual enterprise demand will further increase by 40 to 50 percent, reaching 3 to 3.5 lakh seats over the next three to four years.

Global Capability Centres have accounted for 45 to 50 percent of enterprise demand in recent years. Key demand drivers also include technology, banking and financial services, engineering and manufacturing, consulting, and healthcare sectors.

Geographical expansion is playing a role in this trajectory. Flexible office stock in emerging Tier II and Tier III cities is estimated at 8 to 12 million square feet in 2026 and could expand to 20 to 25 million square feet by 2030. Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director of Office Services for India at Colliers, stated that enterprise clients and GCCs will likely remain the primary demand drivers amid a rising preference for larger managed spaces.

The report also noted increased investor participation in the sector. Flexible workspace operators have collectively raised more than ₹50 billion through initial public offerings since 2024, providing capital to support their ongoing expansion plans.

"The projection that flexible office space stock could double by 2030 reflects a fundamental shift in corporate real estate strategies across India. With enterprises and Global Capability Centres increasingly opting for managed workspaces, flexible office operators are seeing steady, long-term demand rather than temporary uptake. Furthermore, the expansion into Tier II and Tier III cities opens up new avenues for commercial real estate growth. For entrepreneurs and businesses, this trend indicates that scalability and operational flexibility will remain central to workplace planning in the coming years." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes