The space you need per person in an office will often depend on your functions. That said, experts usually recommend between 75 and 150 square feet per person, although a maximum of 325 square feet is reasonable. The average office size in North America is currently 150 to 175 square feet per employee. Open office spaces for technology companies often use even less, 125 to 175 square feet per person.
International offices become even more efficient with around 100 square feet per person. During the pandemic, JLL reported that the average amount of space per employee was 196 square feet. Today, workplace design studies have concluded that the average office space per employee is 150 to 175 square feet. This includes dedicated desk space and surrounding space, and you should also consider the amount of space in meeting rooms and common areas. Answering these types of questions will help you determine the size of the office and how much office space you need per employee.
Employees who have to travel a lot to get to work but find it difficult to concentrate at home may prefer to work in a coworking space or a nearby satellite office. For example, some interior office areas may be unusable or the building may offer amenities that compensate for reduced space. In companies with private offices, employees with private offices will get a higher proportion of the total space than employees who are in cubes or workstations. While there are some recommendations to follow, the decision on how much office space to allocate is based on the demands of the company and the needs of its staff.
We'll provide you with tips for accurately estimating and determining the office space you need, to ensure a smooth and efficient workplace. Denser offices often have large collaboration spaces for employees to work together, exchange ideas and relax. Before COVID-19, vendors and consultants traveled more frequently, so they needed less office space. In this section, we'll explain how much space you should plan to dedicate to common areas and conference rooms, and we'll provide estimates of how much square footage you'll need for each element of the office.
If you don't plan for future growth, you could run out of space after hiring new employees, and moving offices can be expensive. While there are some guidelines you can follow, deciding how much office space to allocate depends on your company and the needs of your workforce. After selecting more buildings and offices, a space planner or interior architect can help you design the perfect layout for your business.
