How Many Workstations Do I Need? Space Planning Basics for Australian Offices
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The most common mistake in office fitouts is buying for current headcount without thinking about how the space actually needs to work. Here's how to get the number right.
The Australian standard: 10–15 sqm per person
The Property Council of Australia uses 10–12 sqm per workpoint as a general benchmark for modern open-plan offices. This includes the desk, chair, walkways, and a proportional share of shared spaces (meeting rooms, kitchen, reception).
Pure desk space per workstation is typically 4–6 sqm. The rest is circulation and shared amenity.
Activity-based working changes the calculation
If your team isn't at their desk 100% of the time — client visits, field work, remote days — you don't need one desk per person. A desk-sharing ratio of 0.7:1 (7 desks for 10 people) is common in professional services and technology companies.
If your team is desk-bound all day (data entry, customer service, finance), you need 1:1 or close to it.
Minimum walkway widths (NCC compliance)
- Primary circulation (main aisles): 1,200mm minimum
- Secondary circulation (between desks): 900mm minimum
- Emergency egress routes: 1,000mm minimum clear width
These aren't guidelines — they're compliance requirements under the National Construction Code. Your fitout needs to pass a building inspection.
Standard workstation dimensions
- Individual desk: 1,500W × 750D (minimum for comfortable use)
- Back-to-back clusters: Allow 1,500mm between the rear of facing desks
- Sit-stand desks: Allow 30mm additional depth for the mechanism overhang
- Corner workstations: Typically 1,800 × 1,800mm footprint
Meeting rooms: the ratio that works
A rough guide: 1 meeting room per 8–10 workstations. A 20-person office typically needs 2–3 meeting rooms of varying sizes (4-person, 8-person, and a larger boardroom or flexible space).
The question to answer before buying anything
Draw a rough floor plan (or get us to do it) and mark where natural light comes from, where the emergency exits are, and where power and data points are located. Everything else flows from those fixed constraints.
We offer free on-site space planning consultations for Newcastle and Hunter Valley businesses. We'll measure the space, design a layout, and quote it — no obligation.