For a growing company, the right cubicle grade depends mostly on how fast you are hiring. Pre-owned (liquidation grade) cubicles in stock can be installed in as little as 72 hours, so they suit teams that need seats now. Remanufactured cubicles usually take 7 to 14 days and give you a chosen, consistent finish. New cubicles usually take 4 to 6 weeks and suit planned expansions that need a specific product line or a manufacturer warranty. Whatever you choose first, stay on one compatible system and record its spec, so the stations you add next year match the ones you buy today.
This guide is for founders, COOs and office managers at companies adding people faster than they add process. For a general comparison of the three grades, including what remanufacturing replaces, see used vs. remanufactured vs. new cubicles. This one is about buying for growth.
- Lead times decide most of it
- The three grades through a growth lens
- Buy in phases, plan for the whole lease
- Keeping later orders compatible
- Mixing grades on one floor
- How to choose: a quick decision guide
Lead times decide most of it
Growing companies rarely get to plan furniture months ahead. Offers are signed, start dates are set, and the seats need to exist. Count back from the first start date:
| Grade | Lead time | Finish choice | Manufacturer warranty | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-owned (liquidation grade) | In stock, installed in as little as 72 hours | What is in stock | Generally does not transfer | New hires start in days, not weeks |
| Remanufactured | Usually 7 to 14 days | Chosen fabric, laminate and paint | Generally does not transfer; ask about the remanufacturer's own terms | You want a consistent look and can wait two weeks |
| New | Usually 4 to 6 weeks | Full current catalog | Manufacturer warranty applies | The expansion has a fixed date a month or more out |
Delivery, installation and electrical are scheduled and quoted separately in every case, so book the electrician as soon as the layout is set.
The three grades through a growth lens
Pre-owned: speed and flexibility
Pre-owned systems furniture from the major manufacturers is built to be taken down, moved and reconfigured. That makes it a good fit for a company that may rearrange teams twice in a year. You give up finish choice, and quantities of one line in one finish depend on stock. See current types on used cubicles.
Remanufactured: consistency without the long wait
Remanufactured workstations are rebuilt from the frame, with fabrics, laminates and paint applied to order. For a company that is growing in steps, this is often the easiest way to keep every phase looking like one office, because each new order can be finished to the same spec.
New: the planned expansion
New makes sense when you need a current product line, a feature nobody has in stock, or the manufacturer's warranty. The 4 to 6 week lead time means it works for expansions you can see coming, such as a new floor with a known move-in date.
Buy in phases, plan for the whole lease
The mistake growing companies make is buying the whole floor for headcount they expect in three years. The opposite mistake is buying a few desks at a time with no plan, and ending up with five systems that do not fit together.
The better pattern:
- Plan the whole floor once. Draw the layout at full build-out for the lease term, including future rows, meeting rooms and the power path. Our space planning is free.
- Buy phase one. Furnish for the people arriving in the next six to twelve months.
- Rough in power for later rows. Running a feed to an empty area now is easier than opening walls and floors later.
- Use the empty area well. Temporary collaboration tables or a project room can hold the space until it is needed.
- Add rows as you hire. Each later order follows the same plan and the same spec.
Keeping later orders compatible
Systems furniture from different manufacturers, and sometimes different product lines from the same manufacturer, use different connectors, panel widths and power components. Mixing them in one run usually does not work. Record these at the first purchase:
- Manufacturer and product line
- Station size, such as 6 by 6 or 6 by 8
- Panel heights and any stackers
- Panel fabric, worksurface laminate and trim color
- Pedestal type and power configuration
Long-running lines from the major manufacturers are the easiest to add to over time, whether pre-owned, remanufactured or new. Our guides to used Steelcase cubicles and used Herman Miller cubicles cover common lines. Office Station is an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer of any manufacturer.
Mixing grades on one floor
You do not have to pick one grade for the whole office. Common mixes that work:
- Pre-owned open office, remanufactured for new phases. Get seats in fast now, then match the finish when you add.
- Pre-owned workstations, new private offices or conference furniture. Spend where clients and candidates look.
- Remanufactured workstations, pre-owned seating. Chairs from the major lines hold up well pre-owned. See pre-owned office chairs.
What matters is that mixed pieces share heights, colors and a plan, so the floor reads as one office.
How to choose: a quick decision guide
- First new hires start within two weeks: pre-owned, in stock.
- Start dates are two to four weeks out and you want a specific look: remanufactured.
- Expansion is more than six weeks out and you need a current line or warranty: new.
- Hiring in waves over a year: plan the whole floor, buy phase one, match later phases with remanufactured or the same pre-owned line.
- Not sure how many people you will have: pre-owned or benching that reconfigures easily, and a plan with room to add.
Send your floor plan, head count and start dates through the quote request, or browse the cubicle configurations first. Every project is quoted individually, space planning is free, and you can reach us at hello@officestation.com.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get cubicles?
Pre-owned liquidation-grade cubicles in stock can be installed in as little as 72 hours. Remanufactured cubicles usually take 7 to 14 days because panels and surfaces are refinished or reupholstered to your spec. New cubicles usually take 4 to 6 weeks. Electrical, delivery and installation are scheduled and quoted separately from the furniture.
Are used cubicles a good choice for a growing company?
Often, yes. They are the fastest option when hiring outpaces planning, and the major systems lines are built to be taken apart, reconfigured and added to. The trade-offs are finish choice, which is limited to what is in stock, and warranty, since manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture.
Can I add more cubicles later that match what I already have?
Usually, if you stay within the same manufacturer and product line and keep a record of panel heights, widths, fabrics and laminates. Matching is easiest with long-running systems lines and with remanufactured stations, where finishes are applied to order. Write the spec down at the first purchase so later orders can match it.
What is the difference between remanufactured and used cubicles?
Used, or pre-owned, cubicles are cleaned and inspected and sold in the condition and finish they came in. Remanufactured cubicles are taken down to their frames and rebuilt with new or refinished surfaces, fabrics and parts, in the finish you choose. Remanufactured takes longer, usually 7 to 14 days, but gives you a consistent look.
When should a growing company buy new cubicles?
New makes sense when you need a specific current product line, a finish or feature nobody has in stock, or a manufacturer warranty. With a 4 to 6 week lead time, it works best for planned expansions with a known date. Many companies combine new for visible areas with pre-owned or remanufactured for the open office.
Should we buy cubicles for future headcount now?
Buy for the people arriving in the next six to twelve months, and plan the floor for the full lease term. Leave space and power in the plan for future rows, but do not buy stations that will sit empty for years. Staying on one compatible system lets you add stations as you hire.
