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Office leasing hits record 86.4 million sq ft in 2025; Bengaluru leads with 28.7 million sq ft

07/01/2026 14:14:00

India’s office real estate market recorded gross leasing of 86.4 million sq ft (msf) in 2025, up 20% from 71.9 million sq ft in 2024, surpassing the previous peak, and rents grew between 1% and 16% year-on-year. Bengaluru retained its position as the country’s largest office market, with 28.7 million sq ft leased, of which 63% was occupied by Global Capability Centres (GCCs), according to a report by Knight Frank India.

The office leasing also represents a 43% rise over the pre-pandemic high recorded in 2019, highlighting the sustained expansion of occupier demand over the past four years, the report titled India Real Estate- Office and Residential Market (H2 2025) said.

Bengaluru retained its position as the largest office market, with 28.7 million sq ft, up 58.9% from 2024. Of this, 63% of space was taken up by Global Capability Centres (GCCs), highlighting the city’s role as the country’s technology and innovation hub.

Hyderabad (11.4 mn sq ft) and Pune (10.8 mn sq ft) followed, while Chennai (10.1 mn sq ft) also crossed the 10 mn sq ft mark. National Capital Region (11.3 mn sq ft) and Mumbai (9.8 mn sq ft) were among the cities that saw a dip in office transactions at 10.9% and 5.2% respectively, the report said.

Also Read: Housing sales in top eight cities hit 3.48 lakh units in 2025, down 1% YoY; NCR sees 19% price rise: Knight Frank

Rentals surge and supply growth

The report stated that rents increased across all markets in 2025, consistently higher since 2022, as Indian landlords have been able to negotiate better terms in a market where the strongest office markets have struggled globally.

“As supply remained muted compared to leasing volumes, rents firmed up further across all markets over the course of the year. This dynamic has strengthened landlords’ pricing power, driving rental growth,” it said. Rents grew between 1% and 16% YoY across all markets in H2 2025, with Kolkata growing at 16% YoY while NCR and Hyderabad grew at 10% YoY each, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru at 6% each.

The report also said that new office completions rose 9% YoY to 54.8 mn sq ft, with Bengaluru (16.2 mn sq ft) and Pune (14.2 mn sq ft) leading new supply additions. Despite this growth, leasing demand outpaced supply, keeping vacancy rates at 15.1% and driving rental appreciation across all major markets, it said.

Grade A office space remained the preferred choice for occupiers, accounting for 91% of total leasing in 2025. Larger deal sizes and long-term commitments reflect evolving occupier strategies prioritising operational efficiency, talent access, and scalable growth.

GCCs emerged as the largest occupier segment

GCCs emerged as the largest occupier segment, accounting for 38% of total absorption at 31.8 million square feet. Flex space accounted for 18.8 million square feet, representing a 22% share of total gross leasing in 2025. Third-party IT services took up 15.3 mn sq ft during the year, accounting for 20% of the transacted area, with its volumes growing 94% YoY, it said.

“The strong momentum continued in the second half of the year. Leasing activity during H2 2025 stood at 37.5 mn sq ft, second only to the exceptionally high absorption recorded in H1 2025 (January – June 2025), 48.9 mn sq ft,” the report said.

Also Read: Bengaluru leads the unsold homes surge with a 23% jump as housing inventory across seven cities rises 4% in 2025

Outlook 2026

The report said that the broad-based momentum positions the sector on a strong footing as it enters 2026, with sustained visibility and stability underpinning future growth.

“India’s office market delivered an exceptional performance in 2025, surpassing previous peaks and demonstrating the depth of occupier confidence. With five major markets recording record transactions, the expansion is geographically diversified, and Bengaluru continues to lead alongside Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and NCR,” Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Frank India, said.

by Hindustan Times