India has rapidly emerged as a leading and highly mature flexible office ecosystem globally, largely driven by robust international demand. According to Cushman & Wakefield's Global Trends in Flexible Office 2025 report, international firms were responsible for a significant 72 percent of flexible space absorption in 2024. The remaining 28 percent of demand came from startups, which are increasingly leveraging flexible offices to facilitate growth, manage operational costs, and attract top talent in a competitive market.

India's flexible office market achieved a perfect score of 100 on Cushman & Wakefield's maturity index, thereby surpassing well-established office markets worldwide. This includes the United Kingdom at 98 percent, France at 97 percent, the United States at 81 percent, and both Japan and Singapore at 77 percent. This high maturity score is derived from a comprehensive evaluation of crucial industry metrics. These include the percentage of flexible inventory within the total office space, the number of flexible providers active in the market, the level of leasing activity by these providers, and the prevalence of emerging flexible agreement structures, alongside other variables that collectively assess the sector's depth and development.

Ramita Arora, Managing Director Bengaluru & Head - Flex, India, Cushman & Wakefield, highlighted India's unique position, stating, "What sets it apart is the maturity, diversity of operators, and its ability to pivot with demand qualities that many Western markets are still developing." Since 2020, demand for flexible office spaces has increased nearly sixfold, primarily due to occupiers prioritizing shorter commitment periods, managed solutions, and rapid market entry strategies. In 2024 alone, flexible space accounted for 15 percent of total new office leasing, underscoring its widespread adoption.

The expansion of operators has also seen a sharp acceleration. Over the past three years, flexible workspace providers leased 33.5 million square feet (MSF), which is equivalent to approximately 500,000 seats. Annual operator take-up has tripled in just five years, escalating from 4.3 MSF in 2020 to 15.4 MSF in 2024. This trend firmly establishes flexible workspace as a core workplace solution rather than merely an alternative option.

Today, India holds the distinction of being the largest flexible office market in the Asia-Pacific (AC) region, boasting 79.7 million square feet of stock across its top eight cities as of Q2 2025. This stock is projected to reach 85 MSF by the end of the year and exceed 100 MSF by 2026. The managed office/enterprise model now predominates, accounting for 70-80 percent of demand post-COVID, significantly outpacing traditional coworking models. The majority of this flexible office stock is concentrated in the top eight cities, with Bengaluru leading the charge, holding 30 percent of the national flexible inventory, followed by Delhi NCR, Pune, and Hyderabad. Bengaluru also drives demand, contributing an average of one-third of annual enterprise transactions nationwide.

India's flexible office sector is also attracting strong institutional validation. Four operators have already gone public, and more initial public offerings (IPOs) are anticipated, signaling enhanced transparency, improved governance, and growing investor confidence. The report forecasts that the next 3-5 years will likely bring consolidation within the sector, with leading players solidifying their market share, while niche and regional operators will continue to cater to specialized requirements.