In short. Plan on about 80 to 130 square feet of gross area per person. That is roughly 800 to 1,300 sf for 10 people and 3,200 to 5,200 sf for 40.
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Hong Kong offices are measured in square feet, and landlords usually quote gross area. That figure includes your share of corridors, lift lobbies and other common parts, so the space you can actually use is smaller. Gross and net area are explained here. Sizing an office starts with knowing which number you are looking at.
A rule of thumb
For planning, we use a range of about 80 to 130 square feet of gross area per person.
- Around 80 sf per person is a dense, mostly desk-based team with few meeting rooms.
- Around 130 sf per person gives room for meeting rooms, a pantry, a reception and some private offices.
| Team size | Gross area needed (80 to 130 sf per person) |
|---|---|
| 10 people | 800 to 1,300 sf |
| 20 people | 1,600 to 2,600 sf |
| 30 people | 2,400 to 3,900 sf |
| 40 people | 3,200 to 5,200 sf |
This is a planning guide, not a rule. A good layout on the right floor plate matters more than the raw number.
What pushes the number up
- Private offices. Each one takes the space of several desks.
- Meeting rooms and a boardroom. Client-facing teams need more of them.
- Storage and print areas. Legal, finance and design teams often need more than they expect.
- Growth. If you will add five people in the next two years, size for that now. Moving again is expensive.
What pulls it down
- Hybrid working. If people are in the office three days a week, you may not need a desk for everyone.
- Shared meeting space. Some buildings offer shared rooms.
Check it against a real layout
The easiest test is to look at a fitted office with a floor plan and count what fits. Every space on Ready Office shows its size and the number of people it suits, and many include an indicative layout.
Browse fitted spaces, or tell us your team size on any listing and we will suggest the best fits.
