The formats
| Format | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Rendered animation, 60–90 sec | ₹25,000–60,000 | A fixed path; polished, non-interactive |
| Rendered animation, 2–3 min, full flat | ₹55,000–95,000 | Every room, cinematic |
| 360° panorama set | ₹8,000–16,000 per room | Look around from fixed points |
| Real-time interactive, game engine | ₹85,000–2,50,000 | Walk anywhere, change materials live |
| VR headset session | ₹40,000–1,20,000 | True sense of scale; the most convincing |
What it tells you that a still cannot
Sequence and scale. A 3D render shows a composed corner; a walkthrough shows what you see when you open the front door, what the passage feels like, whether the sightline from the sofa to the kitchen works. Ceiling height, in particular, is almost impossible to judge from a still and immediately obvious in VR — which is why clients who have stood inside a model in a headset rarely argue about a false ceiling drop afterwards.
When it is worth the money
- Large homes and villas where the sequence of spaces is part of the design.
- Commercial fit-outs needing sign-off from a committee that will not read drawings.
- Any project where a client is abroad and cannot visit the site.
- Developer show-flat marketing, where the animation has a commercial life of its own.
- Not, usually, a 2BHK flat — the money is better spent on a physical sample of the actual materials.
Camera speed decides whether it is watchable. A path moving faster than a slow walk, or turning sharply at doorways, makes viewers queasy and hides the detail they are meant to assess. Ask for a walking pace, pauses at each threshold, and eye height at 1,600 mm rather than a drone sweep.
The honest limitation
A walkthrough is only as good as the model, and the model is built from the working drawings. If the drawings are incomplete, the animation quietly invents details — a skirting profile, a light fitting, a handle — that nobody has specified or priced. Treat it as a communication tool, not a specification. See our process and luxury interior design.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 3D walkthrough cost?+
₹25,000–95,000 for a rendered animation of a flat, and ₹85,000 upwards for a real-time interactive version. A 360° panorama set at ₹8,000–16,000 per room delivers most of the benefit for a fraction of the cost.
Is a walkthrough better than renders?+
For judging scale, sequence and ceiling height, yes. For judging materials and composition, renders are just as good and far cheaper. Most residential projects are better served by good renders and physical samples.
How long does a walkthrough take to produce?+
Two to four weeks after the model is complete, most of it in rendering time. That lead time matters: a walkthrough commissioned late can delay site start, which is rarely worth it.
Do I need VR equipment to view one?+
Not for a rendered animation or a 360° panorama — both play on a phone or laptop. Only a true VR session needs a headset, and most studios that offer it host the session at their own office.