Guide
How many sqm per person to allow in hybrid offices
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In hybrid mode, area per person sits between 8 and 12 sqm, against 12 to 15 sqm at full attendance. But that ratio is a consequence, not a starting point: it depends on actual attendance, the number of meeting rooms and the share of shared desks. Sizing on headcount rather than real attendance is the most common and most expensive mistake.
Observed ratios by profession
Consulting and business services: 9 to 12 sqm per person. Technology and software: 8 to 11 sqm. Law firms and regulated professions: 12 to 16 sqm, because of files and confidentiality. Public bodies and institutions: 10 to 14 sqm.
Start from attendance, not headcount
With two to three days in the office per week, allowing one desk per person means paying for 40 percent of unused furniture. Count peak simultaneous attendance, then add shared spaces.
What the ratio does not say
Two floors of identical area can offer very different working conditions. In hybrid mode, quality turns on the number of meeting rooms, phone booths and quiet zones, not on area per person.
Mistakes that cost
Sizing on headcount, underestimating meeting rooms, neglecting acoustics in open areas, and fixing partitions. We recommend demountable partitions and technical reserves sized from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
- How many sqm per person in a hybrid office?
- 8 to 12 sqm per person depending on profession and attendance, against 12 to 15 sqm at full attendance. Law firms go up to 12-16 sqm.
- Do you need one desk per person?
- No, in most cases. With two to three days of attendance per week, one desk for two people is common. Size on peak simultaneous attendance.
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