The outlook for office fit-outs is broadly positive in 2025, as JLL Research shows optimism in corporate occupier sentiment for business growth, with associated increases in headcount, portfolio footprint and utilization. As organizations look to develop capital plans and portfolio strategies, benchmarking costs across countries and typologies can inform efficient and innovative projects focused on long-term value. While the current economic environment may prompt cautious decision-making, corporates focused on growth and expansion will continue to target investment in office fit-outs to support strategic goals, with long-term benefits from decisiveness over the next twelve months. Our Global Office Fit-Out Costs Guide 2025 provides insights into the average costs for fitting out offices in 68 cities and 40 countries globally.

As organizations look to develop capital plans and portfolio strategies, benchmarking costs across countries and typologies can inform efficient and innovative projects focused on long term value. Average costs of fitting out an office vary across geographies, with average costs in each region influenced by the variance of costs found within region.

While cost drivers will vary across geographies and local markets, there are common factors influencing costs across many regions. Rising costs of material and labor remain key drivers, and although inflation has stabilized across most countries, it remains higher than in the years leading up to the pandemic.

The global construction and fit-out industry is grappling with a complex array of cost pressures in 2025. With increased focus on the office, many organizations are seeking to invest in their workspaces to create high quality offices that will encourage employees back to the office and improve their utilization, experience and performance. Understanding the relative cost factors and potential associated outcomes can inform the design and delivery of office fit outs.

While cost profiles vary regionally, Builders Works (from partitions and flooring, to finishes and joinery) accounts for the largest component of fit-out costs in all regions except LATAM.

The second largest cost is M&E services, which is also where there is most variation between regions. M&E can account for between 20% to 45% of costs, due to in combination to climatic demands and local tenant obligations with a building, which vary extensively between countries.

Furniture costs range across regions from 13%-16% of total costs, comparing like for like specification from locally available products. Furniture costs can vary significantly depending on the availability of project specification products, with many organizations increasingly seeking to balance global design standards with greater focus on local sourcing and reducing embodied carbon footprints.

 AV & Technology form a larger component in APAC compared to other regions, reflecting the growing emphasis on technology to support greater efficiencies and hybrid working practices in the region.

Demand for sustainable fit-outs are on the rise, with where 60% of the markets surveyed reported that they had seen an increase in client enquiries for a more sustainable fit-out in the last 12 months. JLL’s Future of Work Survey also highlights investment in sustainability performance is lively to increase in the next five years globally.

Continued demand for Grade A office space, coupled with lack of supply, is also heightening focus on the opportunities of existing office buildings and the value that investing in fit-outs can have for landlords and building owners.

Upgrading M&E services can be an extensive part of a fit-out costs, while furniture costs for re-use and upcycling vary extensively by region, related to how accessible these approaches are.

However, one area that has had less attention, is the opportunities to consider whole-life sustainability and the impact of reinstatement on embodied carbon. With increasing costs for materials, furniture and finishes, forward looking organizations will be considering how alternative reinstatement models could create both cost and carbon savings. Central to the success of these will be collaborative partnerships between landlords and tenants, to identify opportunities for re-use and enhancement of existing fixtures and fittings.

Our Global Fit-Out Cost guide provides insights into costs associated with fitting out office space across 40 countries. Our methodology uses a standardized office layout and JLL design standards, which is costed by local experts in each market, to assess comparable costs across regions using a like-for-like project comparison.

The project uses a typical open office layout designed to accommodate hybrid working, with a range of individual and collaborative work settings. The specifications priced draw on JLL’s best-in-class offices around the globe and assume cost for a Central Business District location.

The report captures market-specific costs for a modern corporate standard of Fit-Out, in accordance with the respective suppliers in their markets. The figures within this report are reflective of analysis conducted in Q1 2025.