The Cost of Outfitting an Office in Australia: A Per-Seat Budget Breakdown

Introduction

One of the first questions every business owner, office manager, or procurement lead asks when planning a new office is: "How much is this going to cost per person?"

It's the right question and one that's surprisingly hard to find a straight answer to. Most fitout guides focus on process and decisions, not actual dollar benchmarks. This article fills that gap.

Below you'll find a realistic, category-by-category per-seat cost breakdown for Australian office fitouts in 2026, across three tiers: Budget, Mid-Range, and Premium. All prices are in AUD and reflect typical commercial furniture pricing (excluding GST unless stated).

What "Per Seat" Actually Means

A "seat" in office fitout planning refers to one workstation - the furniture, storage, and accessories allocated to a single employee. It does not include shared assets like boardroom tables, reception desks, or breakout furniture, which are typically costed separately and amortised across headcount.

For this breakdown, we'll cover both individual workstation cost and shared space cost per person so you can build a complete picture.

Per-Seat Workstation Cost: Category Breakdown

1. Desk

The desk is typically the single largest line item per seat. Your choice between a fixed-height desk and a sit-stand model is the biggest cost variable at this stage.

L-shaped and corner configurations add 30-50% to desk costs but significantly improve usable surface area, often worth it for roles requiring dual monitors or large documents.

2. Office Chair

Chair quality has a direct impact on staff comfort, absenteeism, and WHS compliance. It's the one category where under-spending has measurable downstream costs.

For roles involving 6+ hours of seated work per day, the mid-range tier is the minimum recommended under Safe Work Australia ergonomic guidelines.

3. Monitor Arm

Monitor arms are increasingly standard in commercial fitouts. They free up desk surface, improve posture, and are especially important at sit-stand workstations where screen height needs to track the desk position.

4. Under-Desk / Personal Storage

Mobile pedestals and under-desk drawers provide per-person document and personal item storage. In hotdesking environments, personal lockers replace pedestals.

5. Desktop Accessories

Cable management, monitor risers, desk organisers, and document trays are often overlooked in budgets but collectively add $50-$200 per seat depending on role requirements.

Per-Seat Workstation Summary

Shared Space Costs: Amortised Per Person

Beyond individual workstations, every office has shared zones - meeting rooms, reception, breakout areas, and storage walls. These costs should be divided across your total headcount to get a true per-person fitout cost.

Meeting & Boardroom

A mid-range 8-person meeting table and 8 chairs typically costs $2,000-$5,000 fully furnished. For a 20-person office with one meeting room, that's $100-$250 per person.

Reception Area

A reception desk plus 2-3 visitor/lounge chairs runs $1,500-$6,000 depending on specification. Amortised across 20 staff: $75-$300 per person.

Breakout / Lounge Zone

A small breakout zone with lounge seating and a coffee table adds $1,000-$4,000 to the fit-out, or $50-$200 per person in a 20-seat office.

Filing & Centralised Storage

Lateral filing cabinets, shelving units, and storage walls for a 20-person office typically cost $2,000-$6,000, or $100-$300 per person.

Shared Space Summary (20-Person Office)

Total All-In Cost Per Person: 2026 Benchmarks

As a rule of thumb: budget $1,000-$1,500 per person for a functional but no-frills fitout, $2,000-$3,000 for a well-specified mid-range fitout, and $3,500-$5,500+ for a premium commercial-grade result.

What Drives Cost Up and Down

Cost Drivers (Higher)

• Electric sit-stand desks at every workstation
• Full ergonomic chair specification for all staff
• Executive or specialty finishes (glass, solid timber, premium fabrics)
• Acoustic pods or phone booths for open-plan offices
• High headcount in shared zones (larger meeting tables, more reception seating)

Cost Reducers (Lower)

• Fixed-height desks for low-usage or part-time seats
• Hotdesking ratios below 1:1 (e.g., 15 desks for 20 staff)
• Buying furniture as a bundle or bulk order (volume pricing)
• Timing your purchase for EOFY or sale periods
• Prioritising ergonomics for high-use roles and standard chairs for occasional seats

Planning Your Budget: A Quick Checklist

1. Count your seats (current headcount + 12-month growth buffer)
2. Decide on sit-stand vs fixed-height (this is your biggest variable)
3. Allocate your chair budget based on role type and daily hours seated
4. List shared zones and estimate furniture requirements per zone
5. Get itemised quotes and compare per-unit pricing across tiers
6. Check EOFY timing for potential instant asset write-off eligibility
7. Build in a 10-15% contingency for accessories, delivery, and installation

Ready to Get a Quote?

EasyMart supplies commercial-grade office furniture across Australia with fast delivery and competitive volume pricing. Whether you're fitting out 5 seats or 500, browse our full range:

• Office Desks
• Office Chairs
• Sit-Stand Desks
• Filing Cabinets
• Storage Solutions
• Workplace Lockers
• Monitor Arms
• Meeting & Boardroom Tables