Most people searching for fitout costs online find the same vague answer: “it depends.” Thats not very helpful when you’re trying to work out a budget.
So here’s what we’ll do instead. We’ll give you actual price ranges — the same numbers we use when quoting real Melbourne fitouts — and explain what you actually get at each level.
Progressive Office has been fitting out Melbourne offices since 1989. From small suburban offices to multi-floor corporate headquarters, we’ve seen what things genuinely cost. This guide is based on that experience, not guesswork.
What Exactly Is an Office Fitout?
An office fitout is the process of transforming a commercial space — whether it’s a bare shell or an older tenancy — into a working, functional office. Depending on what you need, a fitout can cover:
- Workstations, desks and storage
- Reception counters and waiting areas
- Meeting rooms and boardrooms
- Partitions, glass walls and private offices
- Kitchen and breakout areas
- Lighting, air-conditioning and fire service modifications
- Flooring, ceilings and finishes
At Progressive Office, we offer full turnkey fitouts. That means we handle design, manufacturing, delivery and installation. You get one point of contact from start to finish.
2026 Office Fitout Costs Per Square Metre — Melbourne
Here are the real per square metre prices for different fitout types in Melbourne. These figures come from actual jobs completed in the Melbourne market, not industry averages.
| Fitout Type | Cost Per m² (+ GST) | Best Suited To |
| Open Plan (Budget) | $550 – $600 | Startups, tight budgets, fast setup |
| Open Plan + Private Offices | $750 – $850 | Growing teams needing some privacy |
| Mid Range | $1,200 – $1,400 | Most businesses — our most popular fitout |
| Executive / Premium | $2,800 – $3,000 | Corporate HQs, prestige environments |
All prices are plus GST. What you pay depends heavily on your specific layout, the condition of your existing space, and the finishes you choose. We’ll walk through each level below.
Budget Open Plan Fitout: $550 – $600 per m²
This is the entry level option — and for a lot of businesses, its the right one.
An open plan fitout avoids many of the hidden costs that come with traditional office layouts. There are no built walls dividing the space, which means you skip things like authority approvals, fire service modifications, air-conditioning rezoning and painting of new partitions. That saves a significant amount of money.
Quiet areas are handled using huddle pods, acoustic booths or low-rise storage cabinets rather than constructed walls. Its a modern approach that works well for teams of 10 to 50 people.
Another advantage is flexibility. If your team grows or changes, you can reconfigure the layout without any construction work.
Whats included at this level:
- Open plan workstation layout
- Budget or quality refurbished workstations
- Screens and dividers for some privacy
- Acoustic booths or huddle areas
- Faster installation time than built fitouts
- Easy to reconfigure as your business changes
- Good natural light across the full space
Note: This level usually doesn’t include a formal reception area. If clients visit your office regularly, consider the next level up.
Open Plan With Private Offices: $750 – $850 per m²
This option gives you most of the cost savings of open plan, but adds some enclosed private spaces for management or confidential work.
You’ll get a small reception area, one or two private offices, and a dedicated meeting room. Furniture is off-the-shelf modular — nothing bespoke, but professional and hardwearing.
This is a popular choice for professional services firms, accounting practices and small to medium businesses that need to present professionally to visiting clients.
Whats included at this level:
- Open plan workstation area
- Modular workstations with screens
- Two to three private offices
- Small dedicated meeting room
- Entry level reception desk or counter
- Budget breakout or kitchen area
Mid Range Office Fitout: $1,200 – $1,400 per m²
This is the level most Melbourne businesses land on. It delivers a proper, polished office environment without unnecessary expense.
At this price point, the reception area becomes a real feature of the space — custom designed counters, quality flooring and a ceiling treatment that lifts the whole first impression. Meeting rooms are well-finished, and the boardroom includes audio visual equipment.
The rest of the floor plan typically mixes open plan work areas with private offices using glass and plasterboard partitions. Lighting, air-conditioning and fire services are all reconfigured to match the new layout.
Furniture at this level is quality laminate finish throughout, with timber veneers used in the boardroom and reception.
Whats included at this level:
- Welcoming reception and waiting area
- Multiple meeting rooms
- Mix of open plan and private offices
- Workstations with partitions
- Staff kitchen and breakout zone
- Laminate furniture throughout
- Boardroom with audio visual capability
- Glass and plasterboard partitions
- Carpet tile flooring
- Staff shower and change room facilities
Executive and Premium Fitout: $2,800 – $3,000 per m²
Executive fitouts are typically for companies consolidating multiple sites, taking on a new headquarters or relocating to a prestige tenancy. The design needs to do more than just look good — it needs to function well across multiple departments and stand the test of time.
At this level, the reception and entry foyer are genuine statement spaces. Finishes include stone benchtops, quality carpet and stone flooring, extensive glazing and timber veneers used throughout.
Staff facilities are high standard too. Breakout areas include barista-style coffee machines, group seating, lounge zones and stone bench kitchen surfaces. These kinds of environments genuinely help with staff attraction and retention.
Everything in an executive fitout is either custom designed or specified at the top of the range. Nothing is off-the-shelf.
Whats included at this level:
- Prestige reception and foyer with lounge seating
- Bespoke reception counter
- Custom ceilings and ambient lighting design
- High end meeting rooms with full AV
- Large-format boardroom with quality timber table
- Top quality carpet and stone flooring
- Private offices for executives
- Stone benchtop kitchen with coffee machines
- Multiple breakout and lounge zones
- Branding integrated into glass and partition walls
- High standard bathroom and shower facilities
What Pushes the Cost Up or Down?
The price per square metre gives you a starting point, but several other factors affect your final quote.
Size of the space
Bigger projects often cost less per square metre — not more. Fixed costs like design, project management and freight get spread over more floor area, which brings the rate down.
Condition of the existing space
A space that’s already partially fitted out will cost less than a bare shell. If the previous tenant left partitions, carpet and a working kitchen in good condition, there may be plenty you can reuse.
Custom vs off-the-shelf furniture
Stock furniture is cheaper upfront. But custom office furniture — designed to fit your specific space — often works out better value over the longer term. Because we manufacture our own furniture in Melbourne, we can offer custom solutions at prices that would surprise most people.
Number of private offices
Open plan layouts cost less per person than spaces with lots of private offices. Each enclosed office needs partitions, a door, separate lighting zones and often its own air-conditioning outlet.
Specialty areas
Reception desks, boardrooms, server rooms and staff kitchens are the most expensive areas per square metre. They involve custom joinery and more trades work than standard office space.
Location and building access
CBD buildings often have stricter access rules for trades, limited hours and higher parking costs. Properties in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and industrial areas are typically easier and less expensive to work in.
Your timeline
If you need your office ready in two weeks instead of six, expect to pay more. After-hours work, expedited manufacturing and priority scheduling all add cost. If you can plan ahead, you’ll save money.
Practical Ways to Keep Fitout Costs Down
You dont have to spend the maximum to get a great result. These are real strategies that save money without hurting quality:
- Start with a free design consultation — locking in your layout before any work starts avoids expensive changes mid-project
- Buy direct from the manufacturer — you avoid the markup that comes from furniture resellers
- Use modular furniture — easier to reconfigure if your team grows or changes
- Spend more on high visibility areas — reception and meeting rooms, less on back office and storage
- Reuse what’s already there — chairs, storage and desks in good condition can often stay
- Plan ahead — last minute fitouts cost significantly more than those planned 8 to 12 weeks out
- Ask about staged fitouts — some businesses fit out core areas first, then complete the rest in a second phase
How Long Does an Office Fitout Take in Melbourne?
Timeline and cost are connected. Rushed jobs cost more. Here’s a general guide based on project size:
| Office Size | Typical Timeline |
| Small (under 50m²) | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Medium (50 – 200m²) | 3 – 6 weeks |
| Large or complex (200m²+) | 6 – 16 weeks |
These timelines cover the physical construction and installation phase. Add two to four weeks before that for design, approvals and manufacturing. At Progressive Office we give every client a clear project timeline before any work begins.
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Fitout Quote
Not all fitout companies operate the same way. Before you commit, its worth asking:
- Does the quote include everything — labour, furniture, installation, delivery?
- Do you manufacture your own furniture, or are you a reseller?
- Can I see examples of similar projects you’ve completed in Melbourne?
- What is the payment schedule?
- Do you manage installation or do I organise trades separately?
- What happens if something doesn’t fit correctly on installation day?
- What warranty applies to the furniture and the workmanship?
Why Melbourne Businesses Work With Progressive Office
We’ve been designing and building Melbourne office fitouts since 1989. In that time we’ve worked with local businesses across every industry — and with national organisations including Telstra, Kia Motors, RMIT University and Victoria Police.
Here’s what makes us different from most fitout companies:
- We manufacture our own furniture — better control over quality, and no middleman price markup
- We hold stock locally in Melbourne — no waiting months for product to ship from overseas
- Free design and layout consultation with no obligation
- Full turnkey service — design, manufacture, supply, delivery and installation all under one roof
- Based in Knoxfield — easy access from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, CBD and South East corridor
- Over 35 years experience in the Melbourne commercial market
Ready to get a real price for your fitout? Call us on 03 7018 0761 or email sales@progressiveoffice.com.au. Free design consultation, no pressure.
