Working out a realistic budget for an office fit-out is tricky when quotes vary so widely. This guide explains the typical cost per square metre across the South West, what pushes the figure up or down, and how to compare quotes fairly so you are not caught out halfway through.
Fit-out costs are usually quoted per square metre of usable floor space, and the spread is wide because no two offices are alike. As a rough guide for the South West in 2026, a light refresh of an existing space tends to land around 400 to 700 pounds per square metre, a standard mid-range fit-out around 700 to 1,200 pounds, and a high-specification job with bespoke joinery, feature ceilings and premium finishes anywhere from 1,200 to 1,800 pounds or more.
These figures cover the building work itself. They generally exclude loose furniture, IT hardware, professional fees and VAT, so always check what a quote includes before you compare two numbers side by side.
The single biggest variable is how much you are changing. Reconfiguring the layout with new metal stud partitions, acoustic insulation and fresh drylining costs far more than repainting and recarpeting an open space. Services are the other major factor, as moving or adding lighting, power, data, heating and ventilation can quietly account for a third of the total.
The condition of the building matters too. An older Tiverton unit with uneven floors, tired suspended ceilings or asbestos to survey will need more groundwork before the visible finishes go in. Specification then sets the ceiling on cost, from standard plasterboard and contract carpet through to glazed partitions, suspended timber ceilings and feature reception joinery.
As drylining specialists, this is the part of the budget we are asked about most. A straightforward metal stud partition, boarded both sides, insulated, taped and skimmed ready for decoration, typically works out around 55 to 110 pounds per square metre of wall, depending on height, acoustic rating and fire performance.
Glazed or demountable partitions sit much higher, often 250 to 500 pounds per square metre, but they let light through and can be moved later. Suspended ceilings, whether a standard grid system or a plasterboard MF ceiling, usually add 35 to 80 pounds per square metre of floor area covered.
Start with your usable floor area and a realistic per square metre figure for the standard you actually need, then add a contingency of around 10 to 15 per cent for the unknowns that older buildings tend to hide. Remember to budget separately for furniture, IT, dilapidations and any landlord requirements written into your lease.
When you compare quotes, make sure each one is priced against the same scope and specification. A cheaper headline figure often means something has been left out, so a detailed breakdown is worth far more than a single round number.
Usually not. Most fit-out quotes are shown excluding VAT, so add 20 per cent to get your true outlay, and check whether professional fees and furniture are included too.
A small refresh might take two to three weeks, while a full reconfiguration of a 500 square metre space commonly runs six to ten weeks. Lead times on glazed partitions and bespoke joinery can extend the programme, so order early.
Yes. Keeping the existing layout where it works, reusing serviceable ceilings and choosing standard partition systems over glazed ones all trim the budget while keeping quality where it matters most.
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