Key Takeaway
The right office size depends on more than your total number of employees. You also need to consider how many people are in the office at the same time, whether your team works hybrid, how often you hold meetings and whether you expect to grow.
A serviced office can make this easier because meeting rooms, kitchens, reception areas and shared facilities do not all need to be included within your private office.
If you’re asking “what size office do I need?”, start with how your team actually works rather than simply counting desks.
What Size Office Do I Need for My Team?
There is no single formula that works for every business.
Two companies with six employees could have very different office requirements. One may have all six people working on-site every day, while another may usually have only three or four people in the office because of hybrid working.
The type of work matters too. A desk-based team will have different requirements from a business where employees regularly attend meetings, visit clients or spend part of the week working remotely.
For smaller businesses, it can be helpful to think about office size in broad team ranges.
Office Space for 1–2 People
A compact private office can work well for a sole professional, startup or two-person business.
The priority is enough room for comfortable workstations, any equipment you use regularly and space to move around easily.
Office Space for 2–5 People
As the team grows, layout becomes more important.
It is not simply about whether four or five desks will physically fit into the room. Staff also need enough space to work comfortably, move around and use any storage or equipment required during the day.
Office Space for 5–10 People
For a larger team, consider how many people will actually be present at the same time and whether everyone needs a permanent workstation.
If your business is growing, some spare capacity can be useful, but taking considerably more space than you need can increase costs unnecessarily.
Sky Business Centres offers serviced offices in Dublin for individuals, small businesses and growing teams across three Dublin locations.
Are There Rules About Office Space in Ireland?
Irish workplace regulations do not give businesses a simple office-size calculation based only on employee numbers.
Under Regulation 17 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, workrooms must have sufficient surface area, height and air space, while employees must also have enough freedom of movement at their workstations.
In practical terms, this means office size should take account of more than the number of desks.
Furniture, equipment, storage, space to move around and the way employees actually use the room all need to be considered.
Does Hybrid Working Change the Size of Office You Need?
For many businesses, yes.
A company with eight employees may not need eight permanent desks if only four or five people are normally in the office at the same time.
The Central Bank of Ireland’s analysis of the Dublin office market also identifies working-from-home patterns and changes in office space per employee as factors affecting office demand.
For a small business, the main question is straightforward: how many people are likely to be in the office on your busiest normal day?
If most of the team attends on the same two or three days each week, the office still needs to work comfortably on those days.
Do You Need Your Own Meeting Room?
Not necessarily.
If you rent a traditional standalone office, you may need additional space for meeting rooms, reception areas, kitchens and other facilities.
With a serviced office, many of these areas are already provided within the business centre.
At Sky Business Centres, clients can book professional meeting rooms in Dublin when required.
If your business only needs a meeting room occasionally, it can make more sense to use one when needed rather than pay every month for a larger private office containing a meeting area that is often empty.
What About Storage and Equipment?
Desk numbers are only part of the calculation.
A largely paperless business using laptops and cloud storage may need very little physical storage. Another company may require filing cabinets, product samples, printers or specialist equipment.
Anything that needs to remain in the office should be considered before choosing the space.
It is much easier to plan around these requirements from the beginning than to add storage and equipment after every available area has already been filled with desks.
Should You Take a Bigger Office for Future Growth?
Some room for growth can be sensible, particularly if you expect to recruit in the next six or twelve months.
However, taking an office for ten people when you currently employ four because the business might grow significantly in the future can mean paying for unused space for a long time.
A flexible serviced office allows you to choose a space that suits your current team and, subject to availability, move to a larger office when you genuinely need it.
This can be particularly useful for startups and SMEs where future headcount can be difficult to predict.
Why Can a Serviced Office Make Choosing the Right Size Easier?
With a serviced office, your private room is only part of the workspace available to your business.
Sky Business Centres serviced offices include furnished workspace, high-speed fibre broadband and Wi-Fi, utilities, cleaning, reception support and shared facilities.
Clients also have access to kitchens, reception areas and meeting facilities outside their private office.
This means you do not necessarily need to rent a much larger office simply to accommodate facilities that are only used occasionally.
You can find out more about the facilities and current options on our offices to rent in Dublin page.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing an Office?
Before viewing office space, think about:
- How many people will normally be present at the same time?
- Does everyone need a permanent desk?
- How much storage or equipment do you need?
- How often do you use meeting rooms?
- Are you likely to recruit within the next 6–12 months?
These questions will usually give you a much clearer idea of the space you need than simply using your total employee number.
Find the Right Office for Your Team in Dublin
The best office is not necessarily the largest one you can afford.
It should give your team enough space to work comfortably, provide access to the facilities you actually need and allow reasonable flexibility for future growth.
Sky Business Centres provides flexible offices to rent in Dublin across Clontarf, Clonshaugh and Damastown, with offices suitable for individuals, small businesses and growing teams.
If you’re unsure what size office would suit your business, our team can help you choose a space based on the way your team actually works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what size office my team needs?
Start with the number of people normally in the office at the same time, then consider desks, storage, equipment, meeting requirements and expected short-term growth.
Does a hybrid team need less office space?
Often, yes. If only part of the team is normally present at once, a smaller office may work well. However, it should still comfortably accommodate your busiest normal office days.
Should I take extra office space for future growth?
Some spare capacity can be useful if recruitment is planned soon. Taking substantially more space than you currently need can mean paying for unused space unnecessarily.
Do I need a meeting room inside my private office?
Not necessarily. In a serviced office, shared meeting rooms can be booked when needed, allowing your private office to focus on the space your team uses every day.
