
Financial aspects of an office fit out – FAQs
A look at the common cost and tax considerations associated with an office fit out
The average cost of an office fit out is measured by square foot and generally ranges from £12.50 to £52.75 per square foot depending on the specifications.
However, an office fit out is a big project with a lot of costs involved. By calculating how much your office fit out project is set to cost you, you can budget appropriately and avoid spending more than expected. Here are the average costs of the various elements of an office fit out.
Please note that these costs are estimations based on recent projects carried out by Dale Office Interiors, and costs vary between projects based on your individual needs.
Low spec | Mid spec | High spec |
£12.50 per square foot | £26.75 per square foot | £52.75 per square foot |
The table below details costs paid for a number of recent fit out projects carried out by Dale Office Interiors. These costs provide a guideline – every project is unique and individual costings and quotations for your project can be provided upon request.
Learn more about the costs associated with an office fit-out with our free Office Fit-Out Costs Guide.
Construction, Barnsley | Food in Blackburn | Insurance, Nottingham | Construction, Nottingham | |
Structural alterations | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Power and data | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
New walls | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
New ceilings | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Bespoke joinery | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Kitchen/teapoint | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Flooring | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Furniture fittings and equipment (FF &E) | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Cost per square foot | £8 | £10 | £15 | £17 |
Services, Doncaster | Insurance, Nottingham | IT/tech, Sheffield | Services, Leeds | |
Structural alterations | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Power and data | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
New walls | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
New ceilings | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Bespoke joinery | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Kitchen/teapoint | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Flooring | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Furniture fittings and equipment (FF &E) | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Cost per square foot | £21 | £27 | £28 | £31 |
IT/tech, Shropshire | Manufacturer, Leeds | Logistics, Sheffield | Construction, Preston | |
Structural alterations | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Power and data | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
New walls | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
New ceilings | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Bespoke joinery | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Kitchen/ teapoint | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Flooring | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Furniture fittings and equipment (FF &E) | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Cost per square foot | £39 | £53 | £58 | £65 |
At Dale, when it’s clear that investing in a design service will give the client the best outcome, our fees are typically around 2% to 4% of the total estimated project value. This, of course, depends on the type, scale and complexity of the project. By comparison, architects’ fees are commonly quoted at between 8% and 12%.
So, for example, if the fit out project was estimated to be £250,000 we could charge between £5,000 and £10,000 for design, which is carried out in full collaboration with the client, who could expect outline or concept design, detailed design for estimating and construction phase detail drawings for the project delivery.
It is difficult to give precise values for this until the design has been nailed down because it depends on the starting condition of the space to be fitted out.
But to give a typical example, for a £250,000 fit out project that includes the following elements:
Approximately £160,000 of this amount would be allocated to the preparation and building work.
Of course, this is just one scenario and costs will vary according to the individual client and project.
You can typically expect to pay upwards of £500 to £600 per head or user for furniture of a reasonable standard. Typically, this would include a desk, chair, some personal storage and a shared desk screen/divider. In addition, allowances should be calculated for:
So, be prepared to factor those things into your budget separately.
Although the need to move staff during the fit out process depends on the scale of the project and nature of the space, we aim to avoid it where possible by carrying out work in phases and by working in zones on site to minimise disruption.
But if the smartest option is to relocate staff temporarily, we plan this with you in advance and work in partnership with a specialist temporary modular office and facilities provider.
A typical cost for hiring temporary cabins on site for 40 people over a 12-week period would be £19,500.
As you can see, there are a lot of different costs to consider when planning an office fit-out. To learn more about the specific costs involved and how you can budget for it, download our free guide below.
A look at the common cost and tax considerations associated with an office fit out
See how the experts at Dale Office worked with four different companies to transform their office space.
Weighing up the pros and cons of various finance options for a fit out
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