Office Fit-Out Cost Guide — Manchester
A straightforward breakdown of what an office fit-out costs in Manchester and the North West, what changes the price, and how to budget before you get a formal quote.
What does an office fit-out cost?
VP / GUIDE / OFFICE
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 levelA functional, budget-conscious fit-out costs significantly less than a branded, client-facing space with bespoke joinery and premium finishes.
- Building conditionA modern shell with good existing services is far cheaper to fit out than an older building needing power, heating and ventilation upgrades.
- Partitioning & meeting roomsGlass-fronted meeting rooms and acoustic partitioned offices add cost quickly compared with open-plan layouts.
- Furniture & technologyErgonomic furniture, meeting room AV and IT infrastructure are often budgeted separately from the core construction cost. Our networks & security team can design the network and CCTV alongside the fit-out.
- Cat A vs Cat BCat A (the 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 usually goes.
These are indicative estimates for budgeting, 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 project, and can vary from these ranges once a site visit and detailed design are complete.
Work out a rough budget
Pick the level of fit-out and drag to your floor area. It uses the per-sq-ft ranges above, so it's a starting point, not a quote.
Office fit-out costs, explained
Is this the price I'll actually pay?
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.
What's the difference between Cat A and Cat B?
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.
Does the price include furniture and IT/AV equipment?
No. Furniture and technology are usually budgeted separately from the core construction cost. We can include them in an all-in quote, itemised separately so you can see exactly where the budget is going.
What's not included in a typical fit-out quote?
Dilapidations at lease end, licence-to-alter legal fees, and specialist equipment specific to your business, unless specifically requested.
How can I keep costs down without cutting corners?
Working with the existing Cat A base rather than stripping it out where possible, choosing open-plan layouts over several partitioned meeting rooms, and agreeing the full specification before work starts all keep costs down.
More cost guides and tools
Want an accurate price for your office fit-out?
Book a free site visit and we'll give you a detailed, itemised written quote, delivered under our professional construction contracts service.
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