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How Much Should You Budget for Office Furniture?

One of the first questions businesses face when setting up or moving offices is how much to budget for furniture. The answer depends on headcount, specification, and which acquisition model you choose. This guide breaks down realistic cost expectations and explains how the budget changes depending on whether you buy or subscribe.

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How much does office furniture actually cost?

Office furniture costs vary enormously depending on specification, quantity, and how you acquire it. A chair from a consumer retailer costs £100-£200. A commercial-grade ergonomic chair costs £400-£1,200. A standing desk ranges from £300 to £1,500 or more. Multiply across 30, 50, or 100 workstations and the numbers become significant quickly.

But the purchase price of furniture is not the full budget. Installation, maintenance, disposal, and the cost of reconfiguring as your team grows all add to the real cost of office furniture over time. This guide gives you the numbers you need to plan and budget accurately.

Office furniture costs by specification

  • Entry-level commercial specification. Functional, durable, limited design choice. Desk: £200-£400. Chair: £150-£350. Per workstation total: £400-£800.
  • Mid-market specification. Better ergonomics, more design choice, higher durability. Desk: £400-£800. Chair: £350-£700. Per workstation total: £800-£1,500.
  • Premium specification. Recognised brands, high ergonomic performance, strong design quality. Desk: £800-£1,500+. Chair: £700-£1,500+. Per workstation total: £1,500-£3,000+.

A 30-person office at mid-market specification typically costs £24,000-£45,000 for workstations alone, before meeting furniture, storage, soft seating, or breakout areas are included. A full fitout budget including all zones typically runs to 1.5 to 2.5 times the workstation cost.

Office furniture budget guide showing mid-market specification with workstations meeting rooms and breakout zones

What else to include in your furniture budget

  • Meeting rooms. A six-person meeting table and chairs: £2,000-£5,000 at mid-market specification.
  • Breakout and social furniture. Sofas, low tables, informal seating: £5,000-£15,000 depending on specification.
  • Storage. Filing cabinets, lockers, and storage units: £200-£600 per unit.
  • Acoustic furniture. Screens, booths, and soft furnishing: £1,500-£5,000+.
  • Installation and delivery. Typically 10-15% of furniture cost.

How a subscription model changes the budget structure

A circular furniture subscription converts the entire furniture budget from a capital cost to an operating expense. Instead of a large upfront payment, you pay a monthly fee per square metre that covers furniture, design, delivery, installation, and ongoing flexibility. A circular subscription is the most direct route to zero upfront furniture spend.

Key Takeaways

  • Per workstation costs range from £400 to £3,000+ depending on specification. Mid-market is £800-£1,500 per workstation.
  • A full office budget is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the workstation cost when meeting furniture, soft seating, storage, and acoustics are included.
  • Installation, maintenance, and eventual disposal add 20-30% to the lifetime cost of bought furniture.
  • A circular subscription converts all these costs to a single monthly fee with no surprises and no end-of-life liability.

Want to understand what a subscription would cost for your space? Talk to NORNORM for a no-obligation quote.

FAQs

What should we include in our office furniture budget for a 30-person office?

For a 30-person office, a realistic furniture budget ranges from £25,000 to £60,000 if buying commercial-grade furniture outright, depending on the specification and quality level. The lower end covers functional but modest pieces; the upper end covers ergonomic task chairs, height-adjustable desks, and quality meeting room furniture. As a rule of thumb, budget £1,000 to £2,000 per person for a modest fitout, and £2,000 to £3,500 for a higher-specification setup that includes good chairs, desks, storage, and meeting room furniture. A circular subscription at NORNORM pricing would sit in the range of £800 to £1,500 per person per year, covering everything including design and installation.

What's a realistic cost per employee for office furniture for a scale-up?

For a scale-up, a realistic per-employee furniture budget is £1,500 to £3,000 per person if buying outright, inclusive of workstation, chair, and a proportional share of meeting room and breakout furniture. This figure covers commercial-grade ergonomic chairs, decent task desks, and functional meeting rooms - not top-of-the-range specification. For a circular subscription, the equivalent annual cost is typically lower when total cost of use is accounted for, and the upfront cash requirement is zero.

What's a reasonable budget for furnishing a new office for 25 people?

For 25 people in a new office, budget £25,000 to £50,000 for furniture if buying outright, depending on specification. This should cover: 25 workstations with task chairs (the largest single cost), a small meeting room with table and chairs, a breakout or social zone with soft seating, and storage. Do not forget to budget separately for IT infrastructure, lighting, and any building works - furniture is typically 30 to 50% of total office setup cost. A circular subscription at this scale would cost approximately £3,000 to £6,000 per month, covering furniture, design, delivery, and installation.

What's the total cost of setting up a new office beyond just the furniture?

Office furniture typically represents 30 to 50% of total office setup cost. The remaining costs include IT infrastructure (broadband, server setup, monitors, cables - often the single largest item), building works if the space needs partitioning or decorating, lighting upgrades, signage, plants and accessories, and moving costs. Founders often budget for furniture and forget these items, which is why office setups consistently come in over budget. Build a total office setup budget with separate line items for each category before committing to any individual spend.

What's the biggest cost driver in office furniture and where should we invest versus save?

The specification of the furniture is the primary cost driver. Ergonomic task chairs from commercial manufacturers (Herman Miller, Steelcase, Humanscale equivalents) cost £300 to £800 each. Height-adjustable desks cost £400 to £1,000 each. Budget, non-adjustable equivalents cost 40 to 60% less but carry a higher replacement frequency and lower resale value. For a growing startup, it is worth investing in good chairs - poor ergonomics lead to complaints and productivity loss - and being more flexible on desk specification until the team and layout are more settled.

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