How many square metres per employee do you need [2025 guide]
How many square metres of office space do you need per employee? Get an overview of space requirements, rules of thumb and simple calculation examples.
Homni Teamet
![How many square metres per employee do you need [2025 guide]](/assets/blog/kvadratmeter.avif)
When a company moves into a new office, the same question always comes up:
How many square metres of office space do we need per employee?
Choose too little and you risk a poor work environment and limited flexibility. Choose too much and you pay for space that doesn't get used. This guide gives you industry standards, how to calculate space needs, and what's actually common in Norway in 2025.
How many square metres per employee is typical?
There's no single answer, but there are guidelines and rules of thumb commonly used in Norway:
- Open plan: approx. 8–12 m² per employee
- Combination layout (open + meeting rooms): approx. 12–20 m² per employee
- Private cell offices: approx. 20–30 m² per employee
- Coworking / flex office: typically 5–8 m² per employee (because much is shared)
For most Norwegian companies, 12–15 m² per employee is a realistic starting point.
Minimum requirements in Norway
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority recommends that each workstation has at least 6 m² of free floor area. This is a minimum requirement for health and safety — but in practice most companies choose more space to ensure comfort and flexibility.
Factors that affect space needs
When you calculate office space, take these into account:
- Work pattern — Are employees in the office daily, or do you work hybrid?
- Meeting and quiet rooms — More rooms means more space per employee.
- Common areas — Canteen, kitchen, changing rooms and social zones.
- Future growth — Are you planning to hire more next year? Build in a buffer.
- Industry — Creative fields (design, architecture) often need more space than IT or consulting.
How to calculate office space
A simple formula for space needs:
Example
- 20 employees × 12 m² = 240 m²
- Common areas (canteen, meeting rooms, reception) = approx. 60 m²
- Total need = 300 m²
How much office space do different companies need?
| Number of employees | Open plan | Combination | Cell office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 employees | 100–150 m² | 120–200 m² | 200–300 m² |
| 20 employees | 200–250 m² | 250–350 m² | 400–600 m² |
| 50 employees | 500–700 m² | 600–800 m² | 1000–1500 m² |
The tables give an estimate. Actual needs will vary with work pattern and common areas.
Hybrid office = less space
Many Norwegian companies are introducing hybrid models. That can reduce space needs by 20–40%, since not everyone is in the office at the same time.
Example:
- 50 employees, but only 30 in the office daily → need approx. 400–500 m² instead of 700 m².
FAQ — common questions
What is the minimum number of m² per employee?
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority recommends at least 6 m² of net free floor area per workstation.
What is typical space per employee in Norway?
Most companies plan for 12–15 m² per employee, plus common areas.
What is the difference between net and gross area?
- Net area (NTA): the workstation itself
- Gross area (BTA): includes hallways, technical rooms, walls etc.
Conclusion
How many square metres of office space you need per employee depends on work pattern, industry and future growth. As a rule of thumb, most Norwegian companies can plan for 12–15 m² per employee, plus space for meeting rooms and common areas.