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Typical category A (developer’s finish) benchmark costs
DescriptionHigher range (£/ft2)Lower range (£/ft2)
Wall finishes1.000.80
Raised floor3.503.00
Floor coverings3.002.50
Suspended ceilings4.504.00
Fittings and furnishings0.500.30
Mechanical installations12.0010.50
Electrical installations6.005.00
Builders’ work0.500.35
Subtotal31.0026.15
Main preliminaries2.482.00
Contingency @ 5%1.671.37
Total category A cost35.1529.52
Tenant’s fit-out (from shell and core)
The requirements of the office fit-out client differ in terms of cost and programme more than in other sectors in the construction industry. The diversity of business structures leads to wide ranges in construction costs, which has been reflected below.
Indicative fit-out costs by sector 
Business sector£/ft2
Banks75-140
Solicitors90-125
Corporate75-115
Indicative construction cost for space types 
Space type£/ft2
Open-plan offices30-60
Cellular offices40-100
Client dining130-190
Meeting rooms60-90
Training40-65
Reception120-185
Dealing75-95
Catering125-175
Information technology equipment rooms250-625
Conference65-115
Support, storage, maintenance and plant areas50-75
Typical office fit-out benchmark costs (120,000 ft2)
Description£
Strip out and alterationsexcluded
Shell and coreexcluded
Fit-out building works 
Floors and floor finishes 444,000
Ceiling and ceiling finishes300,000
Wall and wall finishes2,742,000
Doors642,000
Fixtures and fittings1,248,000
Catering546,000
Mechanical and electrical services 3,150,000
Sub-section total9,072,000
Contractor on-costs  
Contingency @ 5%453,600
Preliminaries @ 12%1,143,072
Overheads and profit @ 4%426,747
Sub-section total11,095,419
Client equipment (direct purchase)excluded
Total11,095,419