Are you in the market for a new office but unsure how much space you'll need? Determining the right office size is crucial for accommodating your current staff and anticipating future growth. 

It's not just about fitting everyone in; it's about creating a productive space that is functional and safe. From design and layout to health and safety regulations, there are many factors to consider and it can get quite confusing. This article aims to simplify the process, answering all your questions and providing the essential information to help you decide on the perfect office space.

Factors that determine office capacity

Office Layout & Design

Deciding on office layout & design should be one of the first steps in your search. There are a number of options to consider, including: Cubicle, open plan, private, hybrid and many others. It's important that you take the needs of your business into consideration, for example - if you have a lot of in-person client meetings, you may want to include a conference room or meeting space into your office layout or design. At Field & Sons, we have many different office spaces for let and for sale, perfect no matter what your business needs are. 

Building Codes and Regulations

When hunting for a new office space, you'll need to keep a few building codes and regulations in mind. The big one to watch out for is the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Put simply, It's all about making sure your office is up to scratch. Think good ventilation, comfy temperatures, plenty of light, enough room to move around, clean spaces, and enough toilets. These are all key things to consider to ensure your new office is a great place to work, and they’re equally important for ensuring employee satisfaction and productivity. 

Alongside this, you should also consider the office space you’re hiring meets fire safety and health & safety regulations. 

Calculating Office Space Per Person

Generally, guidelines for calculating office space per person say there should be 5 square meters as a minimum per employee. However, this space depends on how much other equipment and furniture you have. Ideally, there should be enough space for all employees to travel between workstations with ease. Field & Sons have both small and large office spaces in central and south London.

Practical Considerations

It’s important to consider things such as allowing space for common areas, including break rooms, kitchens and meeting rooms. At Field & Sons, we have a wide range of spaces that cater for all your needs. 

Other considerations may include having sufficient car parking (especially if your existing office already includes this) or ensuring that the location you move your office to is within commutable distance for your team.

To summarise, there are multiple factors when answering ‘how many people can you have in an office’. These include your office design needs, building codes & regulations, health & safety, allowing space for employee comfort, location and cost requirements. You can roughly calculate how much space you need by multiplying the number of employees by 5 square meters, this however is a guide. Try not to solely think about how many people you can fit in your office space, you should ensure that your employees are comfortable and have all the equipment and amenities they need. 

If you need any further assistance in choosing the right office space for your business please contact us today.