Updated 18 September 2026. Figures are indicative and exclude VAT.
Illustrative imageQuick answer
Refurbishing your current office is usually cheaper and quicker if the building still suits you and your lease has years left to run. Relocating makes sense when you have outgrown the space, the building cannot be brought up to standard, or your lease is ending anyway.
Cost
A move adds agent and legal fees, dilapidations on the old space, a full fit-out of the new one and moving costs. A refurbishment avoids most of these.
Disruption
Refurbishment happens around your team, so it needs phasing and out-of-hours work. A move concentrates disruption into a weekend but takes longer to plan.
Timescale
A refurbishment can often start within weeks. A relocation typically takes six to twelve months from search to move-in.
More guides
- How much does an office fit-out cost in the UK?
- Category A vs Category B fit-out: what is the difference?
- How long does an office fit-out take?
- Office dilapidations explained
- How soundproof are glass office partitions?
- Office fit-out checklist: 12 steps from brief to move-in
- How to choose an office fit-out contractor
- Designing an office fit-out for hybrid working
- Do office fit-outs need Building Regulations approval?