How Much Does It Cost to Furnish an Office: A Complete Breakdown

You walk into an office furniture store thinking you’ll spend a couple thousand dollars. Maybe three, tops. You walk out realizing that a single decent desk chair costs what you thought the entire office would cost. This moment of realization hits everyone eventually, and it’s rarely pleasant.

Here’s what you’ll find in this guide:

• Real numbers for different office sizes, from solo operations to larger teams
• Breakdown of each furniture category and where your money actually goes
• The hidden costs that somehow appear after you think you’re done
• Smart ways to save money furnishing an office without ending up with furniture that falls apart
• When spending more makes sense and when it doesn’t

Walking into this process blind means you’ll either overspend on things that don’t matter or underspend on things that do. You might blow your budget on a fancy conference table nobody uses while your team sits in chairs that hurt their backs. Or you’ll buy everything cheap, replace half of it within a year, and spend more in the long run than if you’d just bought decent stuff the first time. Understanding the real costs before you start helps you make choices you won’t regret six months later.

Let’s cut through the vague estimates and talk actual numbers. These ranges come from real purchases across different office sizes, and they account for buying new furniture that won’t embarrass you or fall apart.

For a small setup, you’re looking at $3,000 to $12,000 depending on your choices. That’s not a typo, and the range exists because quality varies wildly.

• Basic setup (functional but nothing fancy): $3,000 to $5,000
• Mid-range setup (comfortable and professional): $5,000 to $8,000
• High-end setup (ergonomic everything, built to last): $8,000 to $12,000
• Per person average: $1,000 to $4,000

Once you hit four or more people, the math changes. You’re looking at $12,000 to $50,000 for the full setup. The wider range here reflects the conference room factor and whether you’re outfitting a reception area.

• Basic setup: $12,000 to $20,000
• Mid-range setup: $20,000 to $35,000
• High-end setup: $35,000 to $50,000
• Per person average: $3,000 to $5,000
• Conference room adds: $2,000 to $8,000 on top of individual workstations

At this scale, you’re spending $50,000 to $200,000 or more. Bulk pricing kicks in for chairs and desks, but custom conference tables and executive furniture still cost what they cost.

• Basic setup: $50,000 to $80,000
• Mid-range setup: $80,000 to $130,000
• High-end setup: $130,000 to $200,000+
• Per person average: $4,000 to $7,000
• Bulk discounts typically save: 10% to 25% on standard items

When people ask how much does it cost to furnish an office, they usually want a simple per-person number. Here’s the truth: you can’t just multiply one desk setup by the number of employees. Shared spaces, storage, and common areas don’t scale linearly. A ten-person office doesn’t cost exactly ten times what a one-person office costs.

The real per-person cost drops as your office grows, but the total bill still climbs faster than most people expect.

Desks eat up more of your budget than anything else, partly because everyone needs one and partly because the price range is absurd. You can buy a desk for $150 or $1,500, and they’ll both hold your laptop. The difference shows up in everything else.

A basic office desk runs $200 to $500. That gets you something functional with drawers and enough surface area for a monitor and some papers.

• Budget desks (particle board, minimal features): $150 to $300
• Mid-range desks (solid construction, better materials): $300 to $700
• Premium desks (hardwood, cable management, expandable): $700 to $1,500

Size makes a bigger difference than most people realize. A 48-inch desk costs half what a 72-inch desk costs, even from the same manufacturer. Depth matters too. Standard 24-inch depth desks run cheaper than 30-inch deep models.

• Compact desks (48″ x 24″): Budget-friendly, fine for laptop work
• Standard desks (60″ x 30″): The sweet spot for most people
• Executive desks (72″ x 36″): When you need space or want to make a statement

Standing desks cost $400 to $2,000 depending on whether you want electric height adjustment or manual crank operation. Manual models start around $400. Electric models with memory presets and smooth adjustment start at $600 and climb from there.

If you sit at your desk more than six hours a day, a standing desk pays for itself in comfort and health benefits within a year.

If you’re mobile most of the day and use your desk mainly for quick tasks, save your money and buy a better chair instead.

If you’re outfitting multiple people, consider mixing standing and traditional desks based on who actually wants to stand while working.

Used desks sell for 30% to 50% of retail, sometimes less. You’ll find them through office liquidation sales, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and companies that specialize in refurbished office furniture. When people ask how much does it cost to furnish an office, buying used can cut your desk budget in half.

Quality used desks work great if you’re buying from a business that’s upgrading or closing. You get commercial-grade furniture at garage sale prices. Skip the used market if you see water damage, wobbly legs, or that particular smell that suggests the desk lived through some things.

The price gap between cheap and expensive desks comes down to three things: what it’s made of, how long it lasts, and what features it includes.

• Particle board with veneer: Light, affordable, falls apart if you move it
• Laminate over MDF: Better than particle board, handles daily use
• Solid wood or metal: Heavy, stable, lasts decades
• Built-in cable management: Costs $50 to $200 extra but keeps your setup clean
• Keyboard trays and monitor arms: Add $100 to $300 to the base price

A $300 desk that lasts three years costs more than a $700 desk that lasts ten years.

Your team will spend more time in their chairs than anywhere else in the office. A bad chair ruins productivity, creates back problems, and makes people resent coming to work. A good chair disappears into the background while supporting eight hours of sitting. The price difference between these two experiences is smaller than you’d think.

Budget office chairs start at $100 and give you basic adjustability. Mid-range chairs run $300 to $600 and include lumbar support, armrest adjustment, and better materials. Premium ergonomic chairs cost $800 to $1,500 and last ten years while preventing back pain.

• Budget chairs ($100 to $200): Fine for part-time use or short periods
• Mid-range chairs ($300 to $600): The minimum for full-time desk workers
• Premium ergonomic chairs ($800 to $1,200): Herman Miller, Steelcase, and similar brands
• Executive chairs ($600 to $2,000): Leather, high backs, more style than substance

When calculating how much does it cost to furnish an office, chairs often get underestimated. People budget $200 per chair and then discover their team can’t sit comfortably for more than two hours. Plan on $400 to $600 per person for chairs that actually work.

Real ergonomic chairs with adjustable lumbar support, seat depth control, and proper armrests cost $500 minimum. The cheaper “ergonomic” chairs at $150 have the word printed on the box but not much else. Your lower back knows the difference within a week.

The math works like this: a $600 ergonomic chair used daily for five years costs $120 per year. A $150 chair that hurts your back and needs replacing after two years costs $75 per year plus doctor visits, pain medication, and reduced work quality. The expensive chair is cheaper.

Quick tips for chair buying:

• Test sitting for at least 10 minutes if possible
• Adjustable lumbar support matters more than padding
• Mesh backs breathe better than leather in warm offices
• Armrests should adjust in height and width, not just up and down
• If your feet don’t touch the floor, the chair’s too tall

Guest chairs run $100 to $300 each. You don’t need ergonomic features here since people sit for shorter periods. Conference room chairs cost $150 to $400 depending on whether you want basic stackable chairs or something that matches your conference table.

Budget two to four guest chairs for a small office, more if clients visit regularly. Conference rooms need one chair per person at the table plus two extras. A six-person conference room works better with eight chairs.

Start with one task chair per employee. Add guest chairs based on how often people visit. Conference rooms need enough chairs for meetings plus a couple extra. Break rooms and common areas can use cheaper seating since people don’t spend all day there.

The biggest furniture mistake is skimping on the chairs people use every day while overspending on the chairs that sit empty most of the week.

Storage gets forgotten in the initial budget and then becomes a crisis three months later when papers pile up and supplies have nowhere to go. The good news: storage costs less than desks and chairs while making your office actually functional.

• Two-drawer filing cabinets: $80 to $200
• Four-drawer filing cabinets: $150 to $400
• Lateral filing cabinets: $200 to $600
• Bookcases and shelving units: $50 to $300
• Storage cabinets with doors: $150 to $500

Traditional metal filing cabinets still work, but most offices don’t need as many as they think. Digital files have replaced most paper storage, so one filing cabinet per three to four people handles what’s left. Metal cabinets outlast everything else and run $150 to $400 for a quality four-drawer unit.

Modern alternatives include credenzas with file drawers, rolling pedestals that fit under desks, and storage cubes that double as room dividers. These options cost about the same as traditional cabinets but look better and offer more flexibility.

• Under-desk pedestals: $100 to $250 per person
• Credenzas with storage: $300 to $800 each
• Mobile filing carts: $80 to $200
• Locking storage for sensitive documents: Add $50 to $100

Basic bookcases start at $50 for something that holds books without falling over. Spend $150 to $300 for units that look professional and handle heavy loads. Industrial metal shelving costs less and holds more weight but screams warehouse rather than office.

When people calculate how much does it cost to furnish an office, they often forget vertical storage saves floor space and money. A $200 bookcase holds what would cost $500 in filing cabinets and takes up half the room.

Give each person a filing drawer or cabinet for personal items. Share everything else. Individual storage costs $100 to $200 per person. Shared storage in a supply closet or central area costs less overall and keeps things organized.

Personal storage per employee works better when people handle confidential files or need quick access to reference materials. Shared storage makes sense for office supplies, archived files, and equipment nobody uses daily.

Going minimal on storage sounds appealing until you realize people need places to put things. A completely minimal office with no storage just moves the clutter to desks and floors. The right amount of storage keeps things clean without wasting money on empty cabinets.

Quick tips for storage planning:

• Start with less than you think you need, then add more
• Vertical storage costs less than horizontal storage per square foot
• Open shelving looks better but gets messy faster than cabinets with doors
• One central supply cabinet beats ten individual desk organizers
• Used filing cabinets work fine and cost 40% of new ones

Shared spaces cost more than expected because they need to work for everyone at once. A conference table for eight people costs more than eight desks, and you still need all those desks. Common areas add up fast, but they’re also where clients form their first impression and where your team actually wants to spend time.

Pro tips for shared spaces:

• Buy conference tables one size larger than your current team needs
• Invest in good lighting for video calls, skip fancy AV systems you won’t use
• Break room furniture takes more abuse than any other piece in your office
• One comfortable couch beats three cheap chairs every time

Conference tables run $400 to $3,000 depending on size, materials, and whether you need power and data ports built in. A basic six-person table costs $400 to $800. An eight to ten person table with cable management runs $1,000 to $2,000. Tables for twelve or more people start at $2,000 and climb based on finish quality and features.

• Small tables (4-6 people): $400 to $800
• Medium tables (8-10 people): $1,000 to $2,000
• Large tables (12+ people): $2,000 to $4,000
• Modular tables that reconfigure: Add 20% to 30% to base cost

A basic conference room needs a TV or projector, speakers, and video conferencing equipment. Budget $800 to $2,000 for a setup that actually works. Cheap equipment creates more problems than it solves when half your meetings are video calls.

Large screens (55″ to 75″) cost $500 to $1,500. Add a webcam and speakerphone for another $300 to $800. Professional installation runs $200 to $500 if you want cables hidden and everything mounted properly. When figuring out how much does it cost to furnish an office, people forget the tech setup until they’re sitting in an empty conference room with no way to join a Zoom call.

Lounge areas with couches and comfortable chairs cost $1,500 to $5,000 depending on how nice you want it to look. Small offices can skip this entirely. Medium to large offices benefit from a space where people can work away from their desks or have informal meetings.

A basic lounge setup includes a couch ($400 to $1,200), two accent chairs ($200 to $400 each), a coffee table ($150 to $400), and maybe some side tables ($50 to $150 each). Skip the lounge if you’re tight on space or budget. Add it later when you know people will actually use it.

Break rooms need tables, chairs, and storage for supplies. A table with four chairs runs $300 to $800. Add a microwave cart or storage cabinet for another $150 to $400. Refrigerators and coffee makers don’t count as furniture, but you’ll need somewhere to put them.

DO:

• Buy break room furniture that’s easy to clean
• Get chairs that stack or fold if space is tight
• Include a table big enough for actual lunch, not just coffee breaks
• Add cabinets or shelves for supplies and dishes

DON’T:

• Use your nicest furniture in the break room
• Forget that spills and stains happen daily
• Underestimate how much counter or prep space people need
• Skip seating because people will eat at their desks anyway

Buying all your furniture in one order sounds efficient, and sometimes it saves money. Other times you’re just committing to a huge expense before you know what your office actually needs. The bulk discount exists, but it’s not as big as furniture salespeople make it sound.

• Bulk discounts typically range from 10% to 25% on orders over $10,000
• Package deals from retailers save 15% to 30% compared to buying pieces separately
• Financing options spread payments but add 5% to 15% in interest
• Delivery and assembly can add 20% to 30% to your furniture cost

Retailers want big orders and will negotiate when you’re buying for multiple people. Order ten identical chairs and you’ll pay less per chair than buying them one at a time. The same applies to desks, filing cabinets, and conference room furniture.

The discount gets better as the order grows. Five desks might get you 10% off. Twenty desks could get you 25% off. The catch: you’re stuck with twenty identical desks. If half your team hates them, you can’t easily return furniture that’s been assembled and used.

Pro tips for bulk buying:

• Request samples or test models before committing to large quantities
• Negotiate delivery and assembly into the bulk price
• Ask about warranty coverage on large orders
• Order a few extra items for future expansion at the discounted rate
• Get everything in writing before you pay the deposit

Many retailers offer complete office packages with desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and conference tables bundled together. These packages cost $2,500 to $5,000 per person and include everything except tech equipment and décor. The furniture is usually mid-range quality and ships faster than custom orders.

Package deals work when you’re setting up quickly and don’t have strong preferences about specific pieces. They fall short if your team has different needs or you want higher-end furniture for some positions. When calculating how much does it cost to furnish an office, packages simplify the math but limit your choices.

The sticker price never tells the whole story. Sales tax adds 6% to 10% depending on your location. Extended warranties cost another 10% to 15% if you buy them. Rush shipping or specific delivery windows add fees. White glove delivery service that includes unpacking and debris removal costs more than basic delivery.

• Sales tax: 6% to 10% of total purchase
• Extended warranties: 10% to 15% of furniture cost
• Expedited shipping: $200 to $500 extra per large item
• Assembly service: $50 to $150 per piece
• Stairs or elevator fees: $50 to $200 per floor

Basic delivery runs $100 to $300 for small offices and $500 to $1,500 for larger orders. Assembly costs $50 to $150 per item unless you’re doing it yourself. A ten-person office with desks, chairs, and filing cabinets could add $2,000 to $4,000 in delivery and assembly fees on top of the furniture cost.

Some retailers include delivery in bulk orders, but assembly stays separate. Others charge for both. Read the fine print before you commit. That $20,000 furniture quote becomes $24,000 after delivery, assembly, tax, and the disposal fee for all those boxes.

You’ve budgeted for desks, chairs, and tables. You feel good about the numbers. Then you realize nobody has a trash can, there’s nowhere to hang coats, and the lighting makes everything look like a horror movie. These small items cost $50 to $200 each, which feels manageable until you multiply by everything you forgot.

Every desk needs the basics: trash cans, desk organizers, mouse pads, and cable management. Budget $100 to $300 per person for these items. Monitor stands or arms add another $50 to $200. Desk lamps run $30 to $150 depending on quality.

• Trash cans and recycling bins: $20 to $50 each
• Desk organizers and drawer dividers: $30 to $80 per desk
• Monitor stands or arms: $50 to $200
• Cable management boxes and clips: $20 to $50
• Desk pads or mouse pads: $15 to $40
• Personal desk lamps: $30 to $150

Office lighting makes a bigger difference than most people realize. Overhead lights cost $100 to $500 per fixture installed. Floor lamps run $50 to $200. Task lighting for individual desks adds $30 to $100 per person. When figuring out how much does it cost to furnish an office, lighting often gets lumped into building expenses, but portable lamps and task lighting come from your furniture budget.

• Overhead light fixtures: $100 to $500 per fixture
• Floor lamps for common areas: $50 to $200
• Desk task lamps: $30 to $100
• Installation for hardwired fixtures: $75 to $150 per fixture

Plants to brighten up an office space, especially a windowless office space, cost $20 to $100 each depending on size. Art and wall décor run $50 to $500 per piece. Decorative items like vases, sculptures, or books for shelves add up to $500 to $2,000 for a small office. You can skip most of this initially, but bare walls and empty corners make your office feel unfinished.

• Small desk plants: $20 to $50
• Large floor plants: $50 to $150
• Wall art and prints: $50 to $300 per piece
• Decorative objects and accessories: $30 to $100 each
• Area rugs for common spaces: $100 to $500

The forgotten items list includes coat racks ($50 to $200), umbrella stands ($30 to $80), welcome mats ($20 to $60), wall clocks ($25 to $100), whiteboards ($50 to $300), and bulletin boards ($30 to $100). Each item seems minor until you realize you need fifteen of them.

• Coat racks or hooks: $50 to $200
• Umbrella stands: $30 to $80
• Entry mats and rugs: $20 to $60
• Wall clocks: $25 to $100
• Whiteboards and bulletin boards: $50 to $300
• Waste baskets for common areas: $30 to $80
• First aid kits and fire extinguishers: $50 to $150
• Step stools or ladders: $40 to $100

Used furniture cuts your budget by 40% to 70% if you know what you’re doing. New furniture gives you warranties and the peace of mind that comes with unbroken things. Refurbished sits somewhere in between, offering commercial-grade quality at used prices. The right choice depends on your timeline, budget, and tolerance for imperfection.

Pro tips for choosing between new, used, and refurbished:

• Used makes sense when you’re on a tight budget and have time to hunt for deals
• Refurbished works when you want quality without the new furniture markup
• New is worth it for items you’ll use daily for years, like task chairs
• Mix all three categories to maximize value while maintaining quality where it matters

Used office furniture sells for 30% to 60% of retail through liquidation sales, online marketplaces, and specialty dealers. A $1,200 Herman Miller chair goes for $400 to $600 used. Conference tables that cost $2,000 new sell for $500 to $800. The savings are real, but so are the risks.

Look for commercial-grade furniture from recognizable brands. Check for structural damage, wobbly legs, broken adjustment mechanisms, and stains that won’t come out. Test chairs by sitting in them for several minutes. Examine desks for warping, water damage, and loose joints. Skip anything that smells like mildew or cigarettes because that smell never leaves.

Office liquidation sales offer the best combination of quality and price. Companies upgrading or closing sell everything at once, often including high-end furniture that’s barely been used. You’ll find these sales through commercial real estate agents, liquidation companies, and online auction sites.

Pete’s Panels specializes in quality used office furniture and can help you find commercial-grade pieces at prices that make sense. Check out their selection at petespanels.com for desks, chairs, panels, and conference room furniture that’s been inspected and ready to use.

Refurbished furniture has been cleaned, repaired, and often reupholstered or refinished. It costs 50% to 70% of new prices while offering similar quality. A refurbished executive desk runs $400 to $800 versus $800 to $1,500 new. Refurbished task chairs cost $300 to $500 compared to $600 to $1,000 for the same chair new.

Quality varies by refurbisher. Good ones replace worn parts, fix mechanisms, and make the furniture look nearly new. Bad ones just clean things and hope you don’t notice the problems. Ask about the refurbishment process, what parts get replaced, and whether there’s any warranty. Most reputable refurbishers offer 30 to 90 day warranties on their work.

When calculating how much does it cost to furnish an office, refurbished furniture lets you buy premium brands at mid-range prices. You get Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Haworth quality without the premium price tag.

Buy new for task chairs your team uses eight hours daily. Buy new when you need matching sets and can’t find enough used pieces. Buy new when the warranty matters, especially for mechanical items like height-adjustable desks. Buy new when your timeline won’t allow the hunting and waiting that comes with finding good used furniture.

New furniture makes sense for growing companies that will add more pieces over time. Buying a matching set new means you can order more of the same model when you hire. Used furniture rarely stays in stock long enough for future orders.

The smart approach combines all three: new task chairs because your team deserves comfort, refurbished desks because they’re sturdy and cheap, and used storage because filing cabinets all look the same anyway. This strategy cuts costs by 30% to 40% compared to buying everything new while maintaining quality where it matters.

Pro tips for mixing new, used, and refurbished:

• Buy new for anything with mechanical parts or daily ergonomic use
• Go refurbished for desks, tables, and credenzas from premium brands
• Use used furniture for storage, guest chairs, and pieces in low-traffic areas
• Keep common spaces consistent with matching furniture from one source
• Let individual workstations vary more since people personalize them anyway

Furnishing an office costs more than most people expect and less than the worst-case scenarios suggest. You’re looking at $3,000 to $12,000 for small offices, $12,000 to $50,000 for medium spaces, and $50,000 to $200,000+ for larger operations. These numbers include everything from desks to trash cans, assuming you buy quality furniture that lasts.

The ranges exist because choices matter:

• Buy cheap and replace everything in two years, or spend more upfront for furniture that lasts a decade
• Go all new and pay premium prices, or mix in used and refurbished pieces to cut costs by 40%
• Order everything at once for bulk discounts, or phase purchases to learn what you actually need
• Skip the extras and deal with an incomplete office, or budget an extra 20% for the small stuff

Small offices (1-3 people) run $1,000 to $4,000 per person depending on your quality choices. Medium offices (4-10 people) cost $3,000 to $5,000 per person once you factor in shared spaces. Large offices (10+ people) drop to $4,000 to $7,000 per person because of bulk discounts and shared conference rooms.

These numbers include desks, chairs, storage, conference tables, and the accessories that make an office functional. They don’t include computers, phones, or building improvements. When someone asks how much does it cost to furnish an office, these ranges give you a starting point that won’t shock you when the bills come in.

Spend money where people spend time. Task chairs and desks need to be good because your team uses them all day. Guest chairs and storage can be basic because nobody notices. Conference tables should look professional if clients see them, but break room furniture just needs to survive daily abuse.

The furniture that costs twice as much doesn’t always last twice as long, but the cheapest option rarely lasts half as long as mid-range choices. The sweet spot sits in the middle: quality construction, reasonable prices, and brands that stand behind their products. Skip the designer pieces unless appearances drive your business, but don’t cheap out on the basics that affect comfort and productivity.

Ready to move forward? Here’s what to do next:

• Measure your space and count how many workstations you need
• Set a realistic budget using the per-person numbers from this guide
• Decide which items need to be new and where used or refurbished works
• List your must-haves separately from nice-to-haves
• Add 15% to 20% to your budget for delivery, assembly, and forgotten items
• Test chairs and desks in person before committing to bulk orders
• Get quotes from at least three suppliers to compare prices

Pete’s Panels offers a wide selection of new, used, and refurbished office furniture to fit any budget. Whether you’re furnishing a small startup or a growing company, our team helps you find the right pieces without overspending. From ergonomic chairs and standing desks to conference tables and storage solutions, Pete’s Panels has what you need to create a functional, professional workspace. Browse our inventory and get expert guidance on furnishing your office the smart way.