How Much Does an Office Fit Out Cost? (2026 Guide)
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Short answer: in 2026, an office fit out in the UK typically costs £75–£150 per square foot depending on specification. At Zentura, our rates are £75 for a standard fit-out, £100 for enhanced (mid-range) and £150 for premium — in line with the wider market, where fit-outs run from around £55 to £150+ per sq ft.
That covers the fit-out itself. Furniture, AV, professional fees and contingency sit on top — and if you're relocating, add rent, dilapidations and the move. Below is exactly what drives the number, plus a calculator that builds your estimate in one click.
Office fit out cost per square foot (2026)
Fit-out cost is driven by specification. These are Zentura's current 2026 rates and what each tier includes:
Fit-out spec | What you get | Zentura rate (per sq ft) |
Standard | Open-plan refresh, basic meeting rooms, simple tea point, LED lighting | £75 |
Enhanced (mid-range) | Upgraded finishes, more meeting rooms, branded design, better AV | £100 |
Premium (high-end) | High-spec finishes, bespoke joinery, advanced AV/IT, feature spaces | £150 |
These figures align with 2026 industry benchmarks published by Cushman & Wakefield. UK fit-out costs have stayed structurally higher since the 2022 reset, driven by labour, mechanical and electrical packages, and rising specification standards.
Cat A vs Cat B — what you're actually paying for
The single biggest reason two fit-out quotes look wildly different is which category they cover:
Category | What it covers | Typical market cost |
Cat A | Landlord's basic shell: raised floors, ceilings, basic M&E, lighting | £500–£1,500 per m² |
Cat B | Your fit-out on top: partitions, meeting rooms, branding, furniture | £1,500–£3,000+ per m² |
Cat A is the landlord's blank canvas. Cat B is the bit that turns it into your office — and it's what most businesses mean by a fit out. Always confirm which one a quote includes before you compare.
What's included in a fit out cost?
A complete fit-out budget is more than construction. Plan for:
Fit-out construction — partitions, finishes, M&E, lighting, kitchen and meeting rooms.
Furniture (FF&E) — typically £500–£900 per person, or £12–£35 per sq ft.
AV & IT infrastructure — screens, video conferencing, cabling, access control.
ESG & wellness features — sustainability upgrades, biophilia, air quality.
Professional fees & contingency — design, project management, and a 5–10% buffer.
How much space do you need?
A reliable planning rule is 150–175 sq ft per person, including circulation and shared space, with individual desks taking 55–70 sq ft depending on your setup. Get the size right first — it drives every other number. Our workplace predictor on the Zentura site sizes it for your headcount and working style in a couple of minutes.
Estimate your own fit out in two minutes. Your size, spec and location decide the real figure. Use the Zentura Office Budget Calculator for a tailored estimate, or download our Office Fit Out Cost Guide.
How long does an office fit out take?
For most offices, allow roughly 10–16 weeks on site for the fit-out itself — around 10 weeks at 5,000 sq ft, rising to 16–20 weeks for larger 20,000+ sq ft spaces. If you're relocating, factor in property search, legals and design too, which typically makes the whole journey four to nine months end to end. Because those phases overlap, the real programme is shorter than stacking them together.
How Zentura prices a fit out
We work to a fixed price agreed before work starts. What you see is what you pay — the contract price is final, with no hidden fees or withheld costs. While projects elsewhere spiral over budget, we stand by our quote.
That certainty rests on three values we hold to on every project: Accountability, Transparency and Peace of Mind — delivered on time, on brief and on budget, and backed by a 3-year post-contract care programme. See how we work on our office fit out service.
A real Zentura fit out: Casio
When global technology brand Casio needed a new UK headquarters, an unexpected landlord redevelopment turned a planned refurbishment of their North London HQ into a full relocation. We delivered a seamless move into a modern, hybrid-ready 12,000 sq ft HQ in Wembley Park — built with clarity and agility, and designed to enhance collaboration, wellbeing and day-to-day performance. See it alongside our other work in the Zentura project portfolio.
How to control your fit out budget
Lock the brief and size early — changes after design cost the most.
Get a fixed price, not a day-rate estimate, so scope creep is the contractor's risk.
Value-engineer finishes where they aren't seen or touched daily.
Phase non-essential extras (extra AV, feature joinery) for later.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an office fit out cost per square foot in 2026?
In 2026 a UK office fit out typically costs £75–£150 per square foot depending on specification — around £75 for a standard fit-out, £100 for mid-range, and £150 for premium, with furniture and AV on top.
What's the difference between a Cat A and Cat B fit out?
Cat A is the landlord's basic shell (raised floors, ceilings, basic services). Cat B is your fit-out on top — partitions, meeting rooms, branding and furniture — and it's what most businesses mean by a fit out.
Does the fit out cost include furniture?
Not usually. Furniture is typically quoted separately at around £500–£900 per person, or £12–£35 per square foot.
How much office space do I need per person?
A reliable rule is 150–175 sq ft per person including circulation and shared space, with desks taking 55–70 sq ft each depending on setup.
How long does an office fit out take?
The on-site fit out usually runs 10–16 weeks for most offices; a full relocation and fit out is typically four to nine months end to end.
Planning an office fit out? Talk to Zentura about a fixed-price fit out delivered on time and on budget — get in touch.
