Office Fit-Out Cost in 2027: Furniture Prices and Budget Planning

What will your office fit-out cost? The answer depends on more than headcount or the furniture you choose. It also depends on the condition of the premises, how many meeting and break-out spaces you need, and which works are already included in the estimate.

For an initial office furniture budget, this article uses a range of roughly €400–3,500 per workstation, excluding VAT. Bespoke solutions can cost more. This guide figure covers workstation furniture plus a proportional share of furniture for shared areas, storage and selected acoustic solutions.

It is not a turnkey price for the whole office. Construction and finishing work, building services, lighting, IT equipment and the other services discussed below need to be assessed separately.

Below we explain how to structure a furniture budget, which costs are easy to overlook and how to compare quotes so that the approved amount covers the solutions you have planned.

The ranges below are for preliminary planning. “Cost per workstation” here means the total for the planned furniture and selected acoustic solutions, divided by the number of workstations being fitted out. It is not just the price of a desk and a chair.

These ranges are not a fixed quote or a confirmed price forecast for 2027. In this calculation model, design, delivery, installation, removal of old furniture and contingency must be added separately if a specific quote does not already include them.

The office layout also affects the cost per workstation. A 20-workstation office with several meeting rooms and quiet pods will need a different budget from a team of the same size that uses the building’s shared meeting spaces.

It is important to count the workstations being fitted out, not all of the company’s employees. In a hybrid office these numbers can differ, so base them on how many people work in the office at the same time.

In the first estimate, desks and chairs are usually clearly visible. Before approving the budget, however, it is worth checking the less obvious lines too.

• Cable management and power sockets. Have you planned cable trays, cable routing and desk power modules? Keep furniture accessories separate from the building’s electrical installation work.
• Acoustics. Do the chosen solutions match how the space will be used? Sound-absorbing panels help reduce reverberation, but on their own they do not ensure speech privacy.
• Shared spaces. Does the estimate include the meeting tables, chairs, lounge furniture and kitchen furniture you will need from day one?
• Delivery and installation. The price can change if there is no goods lift, access to the building is restricted, work has to be done at weekends or installation takes place in several stages.
• Moving existing furniture. Assess the need for dismantling, transport and reassembly. For furniture that is no longer suitable, plan for reuse or proper waste handling.
• Contingency. An initial plan can include a contingency of 10–15% of the total before contingency. Adjust it according to how many decisions are still open.

Add these costs only after checking that they are not already included in suppliers’ quotes. This is especially relevant for acoustics and shared-space furniture, which may already be part of the cost per workstation.

The furniture production lead time and the full office preparation period are not the same thing. Before ordering, you still need to agree on the layout, specification, materials and commercial terms. After delivery, the furniture has to be installed.

A preliminary schedule might look like this:

1. Needs assessment and measurements – 1–2 weeks.
2. Layout, visualisations if needed, and a commercial proposal – 1–3 weeks.
3. Approval of decisions and placing the order – 1–2 weeks.
4. Production and delivery – 5–8 weeks.
5. Installation – from a few days to 1–2 weeks.

If these stages run one after another, the total can reach roughly 8–17 weeks. Some work can run in parallel, but only rely on this with an agreed schedule. Construction, finishing and building services work are not included in these timelines.

It is worth starting to plan about 3–4 months ahead, and earlier for larger or more complex projects. Check with the supplier when the production lead time starts: from signing the contract, from receipt of the advance payment or from final approval of drawings and materials.

To make the comparison meaningful, give every supplier the same list of requirements. Then check not only the final price but also the scope of each quote.

• Do quantities and specifications match? Compare dimensions, materials, adjustment options, mechanisms and accessories.
• Is VAT presented the same way? Compare all amounts on the same basis – either including or excluding VAT.
• Are delivery and installation included? Also check additional conditions, such as carrying furniture upstairs or work outside normal hours.
• Who will provide warranty service? You need to know the responsible company, the service procedure and the availability of spare parts.
• What are the lead times and payment terms? The quote should fit your move-in schedule and planned payments.
• Can the furniture system be extended? Discuss which options would be offered if you later need more workstations.

A lower total may mean a better price, but it may also mean a smaller specification. It is worth clarifying the difference before making a decision.

If €1,200 excl. VAT per workstation is chosen for initial planning, €24,000 is allocated to furniture and to the shared-space and acoustic solutions included in this guide figure. Delivery and installation are not included in the price ranges above, so they need to be planned separately.

Suppose delivery, installation and other services not yet included require another €2,000. The subtotal would be €26,000. With a 10–15% contingency, the total planned budget would be €28,600–29,900 excl. VAT.

This is an illustrative example, not a commercial quote. It does not cover construction, finishing, building services, lighting or IT equipment.

How much does furniture for a 20-workstation office cost?

Using the standard-level guide figure in this article – €800–1,800 excl. VAT per workstation – the initial total would be €16,000–36,000 excl. VAT. It covers workstation furniture and the planned share of furniture for shared spaces, storage and acoustic solutions. Services not yet included and contingency are calculated separately.

Can an office be furnished in a month?

It may be possible if the premises are ready, the furniture is in stock, and the layout and specification are approved quickly. For made-to-order or bespoke furniture, the timeline needs to be agreed based on the specific scope and the suppliers’ capacity.

What changes an office furniture budget the most?

The number of workstations, furniture specification, materials, the amount of bespoke items and the scope of shared spaces. Extra costs can also arise from late design changes or complex delivery and installation logistics.

Is it worth choosing used office furniture?

Yes, if its condition, dimensions and functions meet your needs. Check the mechanisms, adjustment, wear, warranty terms and availability of parts. Also factor in transport, cleaning and possible repair costs. Used furniture is not automatically less ergonomic – what matters is the specific model and its condition.

How much contingency should a budget include?

An initial plan can allow 10–15% of the total before contingency. This is a planning guide, not a universal rule. The more decisions that are still open or works that are unclear, the more carefully the contingency should be assessed.