India has retained its position as the world’s most mature flexible office market, with its flexible workspace inventory projected to reach approximately 160 million sq. ft. by 2030, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Trends in Flexible Office 2026 report.
The country scored 100% on the consultancy’s Flexible Office Market Maturity Index, which evaluates markets on parameters including inventory, leasing activity, operator presence, landlord participation, managed office adoption and tenant demand.
India’s flexible office inventory stood at 88.7 million sq. ft. in the first half of 2026 (H1 2026), accounting for 10.5% of the country’s total office stock. The market is expected to cross 100 million sq. ft. in 2026, driven by growing demand from enterprises seeking scalable and adaptable workplace solutions.
The country’s growing prominence is also reflected in flexible workspace usage. An analysis by Upflex of nearly 23,000 on-demand bookings found that India’s share of global bookings rose from 2.2% in H1 2025 to 10.2% in H1 2026, making it the second-most active market after the United States.
Flexible offices gain a larger share of leasing
Flexible workspace operators leased 8.5 million sq. ft. across India’s top eight cities in H1 2026, marking their strongest first-half performance, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Flexible offices now account for around 20% of overall office leasing in the country.
Between 2023 and 2025, operators leased 44.1 million sq. ft. of space, representing more than 720,000 seats. Demand for flexible workspaces has also increased significantly over the past six years, with seat demand rising from approximately 38,000 in 2020 to an estimated 300,000 in 2026.
Managed office requirements have become larger, with typical requirements ranging from 350 to 500 seats, reflecting growing adoption among enterprises seeking dedicated, fully managed workplaces.
The growth is extending beyond the country’s largest office markets. In H1 2026, flexible office operators accounted for 35% of overall office leasing in Pune, 33% in Ahmedabad and 26% in Hyderabad. Tier II cities are also emerging as potential growth markets as businesses expand their operations beyond established commercial centres.
Indian operators expand overseas
Indian flexible workspace providers are increasingly looking at international markets, while regional and global operators continue to strengthen their presence in India.
Smartworks has expanded into Singapore, while Table Space has proposed entering the Philippines through a strategic stake in KMC Solutions. International operators, including JustCo and providers from the Middle East, are also expanding their presence in the Indian market.
The cross-border expansion reflects the growing reach of India’s flexible office sector, as operators seek new markets and businesses look for workplace solutions that can support operations across multiple geographies.
Managed offices and AI-led demand shape growth
As the sector expands, operators are focusing on premium office assets, upgrading existing properties and broadening their offerings beyond conventional coworking spaces. Managed offices, fit-out services and integrated workplace solutions are gaining importance as occupiers seek greater control over their work environments without taking on the responsibilities of managing office infrastructure themselves.
Global capability centres (GCCs) and multinational companies are also increasingly turning to flexible offices to establish new operations and scale teams. Artificial intelligence (AI) businesses represent another potential source of demand, given their need for scalable, ready-to-use workplaces that can accommodate changing space requirements.
Institutional investment is supporting the sector’s expansion and consolidation. Four flexible workspace operators are publicly listed, with another initial public offering (IPO) in the pipeline, according to the report.
Ramita Arora, Executive Managing Director, Bengaluru, and Head of Flex, India, at Cushman & Wakefield, said flexible offices had become an integral part of India’s office market, supporting businesses at different stages of their real estate requirements, from market entry to team expansion and longer-term portfolio management.
She added that growing institutional participation, improving workspace quality and demand from emerging sectors such as AI were creating a stronger foundation for sustained growth.
With inventory projected to reach 160 million sq. ft. by 2030, India’s flexible office sector is expected to expand beyond traditional coworking, with managed workplaces, enterprise demand and international expansion shaping its next phase.
