Cost Guide

Office Fit-Out Cost Guide — Manchester

A straightforward breakdown of what an office fit-out actually costs in Manchester and the North West, what changes the price, and how to budget before you get a formal quote.

Typical Costs

What does an office fit-out cost?

Basic / Cat A Fit-Out

Functional finish — standard flooring, basic partitioning, essential power

£45–£80

per sq ft

Mid-Range / Cat B Fit-Out

Full tenant fit-out — partitioned offices, meeting rooms, quality furniture

£85–£145

per sq ft

What changes the price

  • Specification level A functional, budget-conscious fit-out costs significantly less than a branded, client-facing space with bespoke joinery and premium finishes.
  • Building condition A modern shell with good existing services (M&E) is far cheaper to fit out than an older building needing power, heating and ventilation upgrades.
  • Partitioning & meeting rooms Glass-fronted meeting rooms and acoustic partitioned offices add cost quickly compared to open-plan layouts.
  • Furniture & technology Ergonomic furniture, AV equipment for meeting rooms, and IT infrastructure are often budgeted separately from the core construction cost.
  • Cat A vs Cat B Cat A (landlord's base build — ceilings, floors, basic services) is sometimes already in place; Cat B (your layout, finishes and branding) is where most of the budget typically goes.

These are indicative estimates for budgeting purposes, not a fixed quote, and exclude furniture, AV/IT technology and VAT unless stated. Final pricing depends on the drawings and full scope of works agreed for your specific project, and can vary from these ranges once a site visit and detailed design are complete — get in touch for a detailed, itemised quote.

Common Questions

Office fit-out costs, explained

No — these are indicative ranges to help you budget before speaking to us. Your actual price depends on the building's existing condition, the specification you want, and the size of the space, and we always provide a detailed, itemised written quote after a site visit, not a generic estimate.

Cat A is the landlord's base build — ceilings, raised floors, basic lighting and services, but no interior layout or furniture. Cat B is the tenant's full fit-out on top of that: partitioned offices, meeting rooms, branding, finishes and furniture. Most of a fit-out budget goes into Cat B.

No — furniture and technology are typically budgeted separately from the core construction cost. We can include these as part of an all-in quote, but they're itemised separately so you can see exactly where the budget is going.

Dilapidations at lease end, licence to alter legal fees, or specialist equipment specific to your business, unless specifically requested.

Working with the existing Cat A base rather than stripping it out where possible reduces cost, choosing open-plan layouts over multiple partitioned meeting rooms reduces partitioning spend, and agreeing the full specification before work starts avoids costly changes mid-project.

Get Started

Want an accurate price for your office fit-out?

Book a free site visit and we'll give you a detailed, itemised written quote — not a rough estimate. Delivered under our Professional Construction Contracts service.

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Service Area

Areas We Cover

Based in Manchester, working across the wider North West on design & build, windows & doors, and networks & security projects.

  • Manchester
  • Salford
  • Stockport
  • Trafford
  • Bolton
  • Bury
  • Oldham
  • Rochdale
  • Warrington
  • Cheshire