If your thinking about fitting out a new office in Melbourne, the first question most people ask is: how much is this going to cost?
The honest answer is — it depends. But we can give you real numbers.
Office fitouts in Melbourne typically cost between $550 and $3,000+ per square metre (plus GST), depending on the type of fitout you need. A basic open plan setup costs a lot less than a high end executive fitout with custom joinery, stone benchtops and a prestige reception area.
Progressive Office has been designing and building office fitouts in Melbourne since 1989. We’ve done everything from small budget setups to multi-million dollar head offices. In this guide we break down exactly what things cost and what you get at each level.
What Is an Office Fitout?
An office fitout is the process of turning an empty or existing commercial space into a fully working office. It covers everything from the furniture and workstations to the partitions, reception desk, meeting rooms, kitchen and everything in between.
There are two main types:
- Shell fitout — just the base build. No furniture, no partitions, just a bare space.
- Full turnkey fitout — design, furniture, partitions, installation, the whole lot. You hand over the keys and get back a finished office.
At Progressive Office, most of our clients go for a full turnkey fitout. It saves time and takes the stress off your plate.
Office Fitout Cost Per Square Metre in Melbourne (2026)
Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect to pay for different types of fitouts in Melbourne:
| Fitout Type | Cost Per m² (+ GST) | Best For |
| Open Plan (Budget) | $550 – $600 | Startups, tight budgets, fast setup |
| Open Plan with Offices | $750 – $850 | Growing teams needing some private space |
| Mid Range | $1,200 – $1,400 | Most businesses — popular choice |
| Executive / Premium | $2,800 – $3,000 | Corporate HQs, prestige environments |
These are real numbers from real Melbourne fitouts. Not estimates pulled from the internet.
Open Plan Office Fitout: $550 – $600 per m²
This is the budget option and it works really well for the right business. Open plan fitouts use budget or refurbished workstations, with dividers made from screens, low-rise cupboards or cabinets. Quiet areas are created using huddles or booths instead of built walls.
One of the big advantages of going open plan is that you avoid a lot of the extra costs that come with traditional offices — things like authority approvals, fire services, air-conditioning modifications, partitioning and painting.
Open plan offices are also much easier to change later. If your team grows or shrinks, you can reconfigure the layout at low cost.
What’s included at this level:
- Open plan work environment
- Budget workstations
- Huddles or booths for quiet areas
- Quicker installation time
- Flexible, easy to reconfigure layout
- Increased capacity for your space
- Natural light throughout
Note: Open plan fitouts usually dont have a formal reception area. If you need one, look at the next level up.
Open Plan with a Few Offices: $750 – $850 per m²
This option gives you most of the cost benefits of an open plan setup, but adds a few private offices, a meeting room and a small reception area. Its a great middle ground for businesses that need some private space but don’t want to blow the budget.
Furniture at this level uses modular workstation systems, partitions and desks — all off the shelf. Nothing custom, but still professional and functional.
What’s included at this level:
- Open plan work environment
- Workstations with partitions
- A few small private offices
- Off the shelf modular furniture
- A dedicated small meeting room
- Budget reception desk or counter
Mid Range Office Fitout: $1,200 – $1,400 per m²
This is our most popular fitout type. It gives you a proper, professional office that looks the part without going overboard on cost.
A mid range fitout includes a welcoming reception area as the central point of the space, along with a couple of high-end meeting rooms. Floor coverings are carpet tiles. The reception area has custom designed counters with special flooring and ceiling treatment.
The rest of the space is typically a mix of small open plan areas with glass and plasterboard partitions for private offices. Lighting, air-conditioning and fire services will all be modified to suit the layout.
Furniture at this level is good quality and finished in laminate, with timber veneers used in the boardroom and possibly reception.
What’s included at this level:
- Reception and waiting area
- Meeting rooms
- Small open plan work areas
- Workstations with partitions
- Various sized offices
- Kitchen and breakout area
- Laminate office furniture
- Boardroom with audio visual capabilities
- Glass and plaster walls and partitions
- Staff showers and changing room facilities
Executive Office Fitout: $2,800 – $3,000 per m²
This is the top of the range. Executive fitouts are usually for companies relocating, centralising or taking on multiple floors. The design needs to be flexible — areas can often be divided into sub-leasable tenancies to allow for growth or change down the track.
At this level, staff facilities are high standard. Breakout areas have stone bench-tops, coffee machines, group table seating and lounge zones. Receptions and foyers are large and luxurious. Finishes use top quality carpet and stone flooring, with extensive use of glass and timber veneers throughout.
These fitouts also attract and retain top staff — a high end office sends a message to new candidates about the kind of company they’re joining.
What’s included at this level:
- Large, prestigious reception area
- Bespoke reception counter
- Foyer waiting area with lounge seating
- Custom ceilings and ambient lighting
- High end meeting rooms
- Top quality carpet and stone flooring
- Workstations with partitions
- Large sized private offices
- Kitchen with stone bench tops and coffee machines
- Multiple breakout areas
- Quality finishes throughout
- High standard employee facilities
- State of the art audio visual boardroom
- Large boardroom table with quality timber finish
- Glass and plaster walls with branding
What Affects the Cost of an Office Fitout in Melbourne?
The per square metre price is a starting point, but plenty of things can push the cost up or down. Here are the main ones:
Size of the space
Bigger spaces don’t always cost more per square metre. Larger fitouts often get a better rate because fixed costs like design, project management and delivery get spread across more floor area.
Condition of the existing space
A bare shell space costs more to fitout than a space that already has partitions, carpet and a working kitchen. If your taking over a space thats already been fitted out, you can often reuse a lot of what’s there.
Type of furniture
Stock standard furniture costs less than custom made. But custom furniture often works out better value in the long run — it fits your space perfectly and lasts longer. We manufacture our own furniture which means we can offer custom solutions at much better prices than you’d expect.
Number of workstations
Open plan layouts with lots of workstations cost less per person than spaces broken up into lots of private offices. Private offices need partitions, doors and often separate air-con and lighting zones.
Specialty areas
Boardrooms, reception areas, server rooms, staff kitchens and breakout zones all add cost. These areas often need custom joinery, better finishes and more complex trades work.
Building access and location
CBD buildings can cost more to fitout due to stricter building management rules, limited access hours and higher parking costs for trades. Eastern suburbs and industrial locations are usually easier and cheaper to work in.
Timeline
Rush jobs cost more. If you need your fitout done in two weeks instead of six, expect to pay a premium for after-hours work and expedited manufacturing.
How to Reduce Your Office Fitout Costs Without Cutting Corners
You dont have to spend top dollar to get a great office. Here are some practical ways to keep costs down:
- Get a free design consultation first — knowing your layout before you commit saves expensive changes later
- Buy direct from the manufacturer — going direct cuts out the middleman markup
- Use modular furniture — it’s more affordable and easy to reconfigure as your business changes
- Prioritise high-traffic areas first — spend more on reception and meeting rooms, save on back office
- Reuse what you already have — chairs, storage and desks in good condition can often stay
- Plan ahead — last minute fitouts cost significantly more
- Ask about staged fitouts — doing it in phases spreads the cost over time
How Long Does an Office Fitout Take in Melbourne?
Cost and time are linked. The faster you need it done, the more it costs. Here’s a rough guide:
| Office Size | Typical Timeline |
| Small office (under 50m²) | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Medium office (50 – 200m²) | 3 – 6 weeks |
| Large or complex fitout (200m²+) | 6 – 16 weeks |
Keep in mind the design and approval phase adds time before any physical work starts. At Progressive Office, we give you a clear timeline before anything begins so there are no suprises.
Questions to Ask Before You Get a Quote
Not all fitout companies are the same. Before you sign anything, make sure you ask:
- What’s included in the quote — labour, furniture, installation?
- Do you manufacture your own furniture or are you reselling someone else’s?
- Can I see examples of similar projects you’ve completed?
- What’s the payment schedule?
- Do you handle installation or do I need to organise that separately?
- What happens if something doesn’t fit on the day?
- Is there a warranty on the furniture and workmanship?
Why Melbourne Businesses Choose Progressive Office
Progressive Office has been fitting out Melbourne offices since 1989. In that time we’ve worked with everyone from small local businesses to national corporates including Telstra, Kia Motors, RMIT and Victoria Police.
Here’s what makes us different:
- We manufacture our own furniture — better quality, better prices, no middleman
- We hold stock locally — no waiting months for product to arrive
- Free design and layout consultation — no obligation, no cost
- Full turnkey service — we design, supply, manufacture and install
- Based in Knoxfield — easy access from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, CBD and South East
- Over 35 years of experience in Melbourne commercial fitouts
Ready to Get a Quote for Your Melbourne Office Fitout?
Whether your fitting out a small office or a multi-floor corporate space, we can help. Our team provides a free design and layout review with no obligation.
Call us on (03) 8203 2606 or visit our showroom at 1 Forbes Close, Knoxfield, Melbourne. You can also fill out the form on our website and we’ll get back to you fast.
Progressive Office — Melbourne’s office fitout specialists since 1989.