How Much Office Space Do You Actually Need?

A Simple Guide for Startups, Scaleups, and Growing Teams

Renting your first office — or upsizing your current one — can feel like a guessing game. Too small, and your team will feel cramped by month three. Too big, and you're paying for square meters no one is using.

So how much space do you actually need? The answer depends on how you work — not just how many people are on payroll.

This guide breaks it down.

The Quick Rule of Thumb

Traditionally, the rule has been:
10–12 m² per person in a private office setting
6–8 m² per person in a coworking or hybrid setup

But those numbers are shifting. Why?

Because today, most teams are not in the office 5 days a week. Many employees come in 2–3 times per week — which means smart planning beats square footage.

Step 1: How Many People Are In-Office… and When?

Ask yourself:

• How many people need a desk every day?

• How many come in just a few days a week?

• How often do you host clients, events, or full-team meetings?

Example setup:

You have 12 employees
→ 4 work remotely full-time
→ 8 rotate in and out, 2–3 days a week
→ 2 founders want full-time desks

Suggested office size:
1 small meeting room
6–8 desks
Shared lounge or hot desk area

Required space: ~40–60 m² total
(Depending on whether you need closed rooms or open space)

Step 2: What Type of Work Happens Here?

• Is your office mainly a focus zone (you need quiet, privacy)?

• A collaboration hub (for meetings, creative sprints)?

• Or a social anchor (a home base that brings people together)?

Your answer affects how much space you actually need — and how it's laid out.

Don’t underestimate common areas:
Kitchens, call booths, lounges, whiteboard corners — these matter more than square meters of desk rows.

Step 3: Choose Space That Can Grow With You

Here’s the good news:
You don’t need to sign a long lease or overestimate your size.

With flexible workspace providers (like workaround.io), you can:

• Start small and scale up when needed

• Add meeting rooms only when you need them

• Share a floor with others instead of renting a full one

That means you save money and avoid the stress of moving every six months.

Bonus: A Quick Calculator

Here’s a basic space calculator to start with:

Note: These are averages — your ideal layout might be much more efficient.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a giant office to feel like a real company.
You need a smart one — a space that supports your workflow, fits your team culture, and doesn’t waste your budget.

At workaround.io, we help you find flexible office spaces that match how you actually work — not how real estate used to be done.

Not sure how much space you need?
Talk to us — we’ll help you figure it out →