How Much Does an Office Fit Out Cost in the UK?

The biggest factors are the condition of the space you’re starting from (Cat A vs a full strip-out refurbishment), the specification level (standard finishes vs bespoke joinery and premium materials), and the amount of M&E work required. Two spaces of identical size can differ in cost by a significant margin purely based on these three things.

As a rough guide, a straightforward Cat B fit out on a landlord-delivered Cat A space tends to sit at the lower end of the market range. A full refurbishment involving mechanical and electrical upgrades, new ceilings and significant reconfiguration costs considerably more. A high-specification fit out with bespoke joinery, premium finishes and advanced AV sits higher again. Get a specific quote for your space rather than relying on general benchmarks — condition and location both move the number.

M&E works, particularly anything involving upgrading heating, ventilation or air conditioning, is the most common source of budget surprises, because problems often aren’t visible until a contractor opens up the ceiling void. Dilapidations obligations on your old space, and IT/AV infrastructure, are the next two most commonly underestimated items.

The most reliable way to get an accurate figure is a site visit and a proper brief, not a generic per-sq-ft rate applied to your floor area. If you want a rough starting estimate before that conversation, our fit out calculator gives a reasonable ballpark based on size and specification level.