Office Fit Out Costs
Are you preparing a budget for your company's upcoming office relocation? Perhaps you have decided to take on another floor in your current building to facilitate growth? If either of these situations sounds like you, then you'll be asking "What will my office fit out cost?".
Indicative Office Fit Out Costs per Sq/ft
Specification | Low | Medium | High |
Fit Out | £45 | £70 | £112 |
Furniture | £20 | £30 | £48 |
Total | £65 | £100 | £160 |
Every week, we speak to companies planning an office fit out. Nearly always, cost is the first question they ask. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. It depends on many factors, from the size and location of your space to the final specification.
In this article, we'll explain what your office fit out might cost, and the 5 different factors that will affect that. By the end, you'll have a rough understanding of what your project might cost, and you'll know about the different factors that will affect the cost of your office fit out.
To learn more about the cost of your fit out, download your Office Fit Out Cost Guide 2024. There, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the cost of your office fit out. This includes office fit out cost ranges, the factors that affect your office fit out costs, and how to establish what you need.
What Affects the Cost of an Office Fit Out?
Office fit outs are complex projects, and there are hundreds of things that can drive the cost up or down. The 5 most important factors that will control the cost of your fit out project are size, specification, services, state, and setting. Here, we’ll break down each of these factors and how they can affect the cost of your project.
Size
Size is the most important factor affecting your fit out costs. Larger projects require proportionally more material and labour to fit out. There is much more to a fit out than meets the eye. Works such as ducting & wiring are not visible but are very time-consuming. More materials and labour may be required than you think.
So what size space do you need? That depends on your industry, working model, and communication structure. It can range from 100 to 400 sq/ft per person, though a good benchmark is 120 sq/ft per person. For help calculating your office space requirements, read How Much Office Space Do I Need?
Specification
The specification is equally as important as size when it comes to your office fit out costs. A high-specification workspace can cost more than twice as much per sq/ft as a basic design. However, a higher quality specification will last longer and provide a better experience for your staff.
Your office space will impact your culture, so you need to send the right message. The specification of your space will also impact the productivity and job engagement of your people. This means that you need to carefully consider what is the best specification level for you.
State
The existing condition of your building will also impact the cost of your office fit out. Older buildings with solid walls and floors are much more complex to alter. As a result, they are more expensive to fit out. More modern buildings with features such as raised access flooring and easy access are much simpler to work in, so the costs will decrease.
Buildings in poor condition are at a much higher risk of discovering problems with the building during the project. These will be outside of scope, and you will incur extra costs. Regardless of whether they are the responsibility of you or your landlord, these will be time-consuming and frustrating.
Services
Much like the structural state of your new workspace, the condition of the services can add unexpected costs to your office fit out quote. The power& data, lighting, fire safety, air conditioning, and plumbing systems are all invisible. If they are in poor condition, they may require extensive remedial work before you can begin build out. Systems such as HVAC and sprinklers are particularly expensive to adapt. This is because the entire system has to be shut down for the alterations.
However, a modern building will not always mean reduced system costs. Many of the newest buildings have complex building management systems. These systems need specialist contractors, which drives up the cost. Some system adaption cost is unavoidable. Involving a fit out company to assess the space before you sign the lease will enable them to check the systems and give you an accurate budget.
Setting
The final major element that will have an impact on the cost of your office is the location. While this will vary less than the actual cost of your lease, elements such as local labour costs and demand can increase the cost of your office fit out. In urban areas, especially London, labour costs are much higher than in some other parts of the country. Access can also play a part in the cost. This means fit out companies will have to allow for this in their quote.
Office Fit Out Costs per Sq/ft
Based on office fit out projects we’ve completed recently and market research data, most office fit outs will range from £65 to £160 per square foot. This means that for a 5,000 Sq/ft space, a basic fit out would cost around £325,000, and a mid-spec about £500,000. A cutting-edge space of the same size could cost £825,000 or more. A 25,000 sq/ft space would cost for a low-specification design, for a medium specification and or more for a high specification. Of course, these are just indicative costs, and you may have non-standard requirements that will alter your project costs.
Indicative Office Fit Out Costs per Sq/ft
Specification | Low | Medium | High |
Fit Out | £45 | £70 | £112 |
Furniture | £20 | £30 | £48 |
Total | £65 | £100 | £160 |
Budgeting for Your Office Fit Out
Now you know roughly what your office fit out might cost, you're able to set an initial project budget. Of course, you have to balance your ideal budget with what is available. While office an office fit out is a big outlay, it's important to look at it as an investment in the productivity, collaboration, and performance of your staff.
To learn more about the cost of your fit out, download your Office Fit Out Cost Guide 2024. There, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the cost of your office fit out. This includes office fit out cost ranges, the factors that affect your office fit out costs, and how to establish what you need. To speak to our team for a bespoke estimate and design assistance, reach out here.
