Setting up an office can be an exciting part of growing a business — but it can also become surprisingly expensive.
Desks, office chairs, storage, meeting furniture and breakout areas can quickly add up, particularly when everything is purchased brand new.
But how much should you actually budget for office furniture?
The answer depends on the size of your business, the type of workspace you're creating and, importantly, the quality of furniture you choose.
Rather than simply asking "How little can I spend?", it's worth asking a better question:
"How much value can I get for my budget?"
For many businesses, buying high-quality commercial grade second-hand furniture can make a significant difference to the overall cost of an office fit-out.
What Determines the Cost of Office Furniture?
There isn't one standard price for furnishing an office. Several factors can influence the overall cost.
The number of employees
A one-person home office obviously requires considerably less furniture than a 20 or 50-person workplace.
The type of furniture
A basic workstation will cost significantly less than a premium ergonomic chair or a large meeting room setup.
The quality and brand
Commercial-grade furniture from established manufacturers can cost considerably more than basic domestic furniture — but it is also designed for regular workplace use.
New vs second-hand
This is one of the biggest factors affecting your budget.
Buying used commercial furniture can allow you to access higher-quality products without paying the original retail price.
How Much Does Office Furniture Cost?
To give you a realistic starting point, here are some typical prices you might expect when buying quality second-hand commercial office furniture.
These are guide prices rather than fixed costs, as availability, brand, specification and condition can all affect the price.
Office Desks
Smaller clearance desks measuring approximately 120cm × 80cm can start from around £65, making them particularly suitable for smaller offices and start-ups.
Larger or standard office desks are available from around £120 upwards.
For businesses furnishing multiple workstations, this difference can make a significant impact on the overall budget.
Bench Desks
Bench desks are a popular choice for businesses looking to maximise space and accommodate multiple employees within an efficient layout.
Second-hand bench desk systems can start from around £650, depending on the configuration and number of workstations.
While the initial price is higher than an individual desk, a bench system can be a highly efficient way of furnishing a larger workspace.
Office Chairs
Office seating is one area where we would recommend thinking carefully about your budget.
Clearance adjustable office chairs can start from around £60 each, while premium ergonomic seating can range from approximately £90 to £300, depending on the user's requirements, brand and specification.
For example, a business may choose a straightforward adjustable task chair for some workstations while investing more heavily in premium ergonomic chairs for employees who spend particularly long periods at their desks.
The important thing is to match the chair to the user rather than assuming every employee needs exactly the same specification.
Pedestals
Mobile pedestals are a simple way to add useful storage without taking up too much space.
Second-hand pedestals can start from around £35.
Storage Cupboards
Office storage cupboards can start from approximately £90 upwards, depending on size, style and condition.
Filing Cabinets
For businesses that still require physical document storage, second-hand filing cabinets can start from around £90 upwards.
Meeting Furniture
Meeting room furniture can vary considerably depending on the number of people the room needs to accommodate and the brands involved.
As a guide, a four-person meeting table and chair setup can start at around £800, while larger or more premium meeting room setups can be £1,500+.
Individual meeting chairs can also be available from around £35–£80 each, although these are often supplied as part of a complete meeting furniture setup.
Reception Furniture
Reception areas can vary enormously.
A small reception area might simply require a couple of comfortable lounge chairs, while a larger business may want sofas, coffee tables and additional seating.
Individual reception or lounge seating can start from around £85 per seat, with larger reception projects costing considerably more.
Breakout Furniture
Breakout areas have become increasingly popular in modern offices, providing employees with an alternative space for informal meetings, conversations or taking a break.
Pricing varies considerably depending on the type of furniture, but breakout seating can start from around £90 upwards.
What Could a Realistic Office Furniture Budget Look Like?
Rather than giving you one arbitrary figure, it can be more useful to look at some realistic examples.
A One-Person or Home Office: Around £450
A small home office doesn't need to cost thousands.
A sensible second-hand setup could include:
- Office desk
- Adjustable office chair
- Pedestal or small storage solution
With careful purchasing, a budget of around £500 can provide a professional and comfortable workspace without the expense of buying premium furniture new.
This is particularly useful for new business owners who are working from home while getting their company established.
A Five-Person Office: Around £3,000
For a five-person office, a budget of approximately £3,000 can provide a good starting point for a second-hand commercial furniture fit-out.
The budget could cover:
- Five desks
- Five office chairs
- Pedestals or storage
- Basic meeting or visitor seating
The exact specification will obviously affect the final cost, but buying second-hand allows businesses to allocate more of their budget towards quality rather than simply buying the cheapest furniture available.
A Ten-Person Office: Around £7,000
For a ten-person workspace, a budget of around £7,000 can provide considerably more flexibility.
This could allow for:
- Ten workstations
- Ten office chairs
- Storage
- Meeting furniture
- Additional visitor or breakout seating
A larger budget also allows businesses to start considering different levels of specification across the office.
For example, you might invest more in ergonomic seating while choosing straightforward commercial desks and storage.
A Twenty-Person Office: £10,000+
Once you're furnishing an office for around 20 people, the requirements become more varied.
A budget of £10,000+ provides a starting point for a larger second-hand commercial office fit-out, but the final cost can vary considerably.
Factors such as:
- Desk configuration
- Chair specification
- Brand
- Meeting room requirements
- Reception furniture
- Storage
- Breakout areas
- Delivery and installation
can all have a substantial impact on the final figure.
For larger projects, it can be more useful to work with an office furniture supplier to determine exactly what you need rather than setting an arbitrary budget per employee.
How Much Can You Save by Buying Second-Hand?
This is where buying used commercial office furniture can become particularly interesting.
For example, a comparable commercial-grade office desk that might cost around £280 when purchased new could be available for approximately £140 second-hand.
That's a saving of 50%.
On one desk, that represents a £140 saving.
But imagine you're furnishing 20 workstations.
At £280 per desk new:
20 × £280 = £5,600
At £140 per desk second-hand:
20 × £140 = £2,800
That's a potential £2,800 saving on the desks alone.
And once you start applying the same principle across chairs, storage, meeting furniture and other office essentials, the overall difference can become substantial.
Should You Spend More on Some Office Furniture?
Absolutely.
One of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is treating every item of office furniture as having the same importance.
Your budget should reflect how the furniture is going to be used.
Where it can be worth spending more
Office chairs
Employees may spend most of their working day sitting in their chairs, so ergonomic features, adjustability and overall quality can be worth prioritising.
High-use workstations
If desks are going to be used every day for years, investing in durable commercial-grade furniture can provide better long-term value.
Meeting rooms
Your meeting room may be used by employees, clients and visitors, so quality furniture can contribute to the overall impression of your business.
Reception and breakout areas
These areas can have a significant impact on how employees, customers and visitors perceive your workplace.
Where Can You Save Money?
Not every piece of furniture needs to be premium.
You may be able to save money on:
- Basic storage
- Pedestals
- Standard desks
- Visitor chairs
- Simple meeting furniture
The key is understanding where quality matters most.
A new business might not need a £300 chair for every employee, for example. But choosing a good-quality commercial adjustable chair for £60–£100 could provide much better value than buying a cheap domestic chair simply because it's brand new.
Why Buying Second-Hand Can Make Your Budget Go Further
When you're starting or growing a business, there are plenty of things competing for your budget.
Technology, rent, staffing, marketing, insurance and equipment can all require significant investment.
Office furniture doesn't have to consume a huge proportion of your available funds.
Buying second-hand commercial office furniture allows businesses to consider furniture based on its quality and suitability rather than simply its original retail price.
A used commercial desk isn't suddenly a poor-quality desk because somebody else has used it.
In many cases, you're buying furniture that was specifically designed for professional environments and built to withstand years of everyday use.
The difference is that you're not paying the original price.
Don't Confuse Cheap with Good Value
There's an important distinction between cheap furniture and good-value furniture.
A £50 desk that needs replacing in a couple of years isn't necessarily better value than a £140 commercial desk that remains functional for many years.
Likewise, a £40 office chair that offers little adjustment or support may not be a better investment than a £100 premium commercial chair bought second-hand.
The aim should be to find the best combination of:
Price + Quality + Durability + Functionality
That's where second-hand commercial furniture can offer a real advantage.
Final Thoughts: Focus on Value, Not Just Price
So, how much should you really spend on office furniture?
The honest answer is: it depends.
A one-person home office might be comfortably furnished for around £500, while a five-person office could require around £2,500 and a ten-person office around £5,000. Larger 20-person offices can start from around £10,000 and increase considerably depending on the specification.
But your budget shouldn't simply be about finding the lowest possible price.
Instead, ask:
"How much value can I get for my budget?"
Choosing high-quality second-hand commercial office furniture can allow businesses to access better desks, chairs, storage and meeting furniture while spending considerably less than they would on equivalent new products.
For businesses that want a professional workspace without unnecessarily stretching their budget, buying used could be one of the smartest decisions you make during your office fit-out.