When calculating how much office space you need, there are several important factors which will have an extensive impact on the productivity of your employees and your business. Too much space will have residual effects on your profitability; too little space can limit performance, demoralise staff and restrict your abilities to grow as a business.
Enlisting an office designer or space planner will help you establish a spatially efficient strategy that maximises productivity and functionality. Firstly, there are several staffing aspects to evaluate:
- What is the current office headcount?
- Does the number of staff distinctively fluctuate over the year?
- Do you want to employ new working models (such as agile working)?
- Will there be desk sharing or does everyone need a workstation?
- Do you expect to expand the business over the next 2 years?
- What types of tasks will the staff be undertaking (executive, sales or admin)?
The general rule of office space is 150 – 300 sq ft per person (inclusive of kitchenettes, breakout spaces and conference rooms) dependent on your industry. As leases usually last between 2 to 5 years, add 10% to 20% to account for future growth.
For a more precise calculation, you will need to define the types of space required for your new space. Our prepopulated office space calculator can help you take stock of your current and future layout – ensuring that each possible layout accurately reflects your requirements.
Supplement your results with our budget calculator tool and timescale calculator tool; a great way to start thinking about your imminent office relocation or refurbishment.