New Office Furniture, Compared Honestly With the Alternatives

If you are pricing new office furniture, you are probably weighing more than the sticker. You are balancing a move-in date, a budget someone above you approved, how the space needs to look, and how long the furniture has to last. New is not always the best answer to that equation, and pre-owned is not always the cheaper one once you factor in time and fit.

This page lays out the three tiers side by side, using actual workstation pricing, so you can make the decision on facts instead of a catalog.

The three tiers at a glance

Every workstation project falls into one of three tiers, or a mix of them. The prices below are for a single 6'x6' workstation, furniture only.

All three prices exclude electrical, delivery and professional installation. Those costs apply regardless of tier, so they do not change the comparison much, but they do belong in your budget.

When new office furniture makes sense

New earns its premium in a handful of situations. Be honest about whether yours is one of them.

• You need a manufacturer warranty. Warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture. If your organization requires one, new is the clean path.
• You need exact finishes or configurations. If the design calls for a specific laminate, fabric or panel height across every station, new gives you full control.
• You have time. A 4-6 week lead time is fine when your lease starts in three months. It is a problem when it starts in three weeks.
• The space is a brand statement. Some lobbies and executive areas justify new because they are seen by every visitor.

When remanufactured is the smarter buy

Remanufactured sits in the middle for a reason. At $1,245 per station, it costs about 35% less than new while delivering a refreshed, uniform look. Lead times usually run 7-14 days, which fits most real-world move schedules.

It is a strong fit if you want the office to feel finished and consistent but do not need a transferable warranty or a custom finish. It works especially well in open-plan work areas where dozens of matching stations matter more than any single piece.

When liquidation-grade is the right call

Liquidation-grade at $615 per station is less than a third of the new price. When it is in stock, it can be ready in as little as 72 hours. That combination solves two of the most common problems in office projects: a budget that came in low and a deadline that came in early.

Pre-owned pieces are graded so you know what you are getting: A is like new, B is very good and C is good. Liquidation-grade makes the most sense for call centers, overflow space, training rooms, startups and any area where function matters more than a perfectly matched finish. You can browse options on the used cubicles page.

What the total project costs beyond furniture

Furniture price is only part of the bill. Build these line items into your budget before you compare quotes:

• Installation: $95 per workstation with a $495 minimum.
• Delivery: $195 for central Greater Phoenix, $295 for the wider Phoenix metro. Outside Greater Phoenix, freight is quoted per project nationwide.
• Electrical: Powered workstations need an electrician to connect building power. This is excluded from furniture pricing and should be quoted separately.
• Space planning: Free. A plan before you order prevents buying stations that do not fit the floor.

Workstation volume pricing takes 5% off at 20 or more stations, 8% at 50 or more and 12% at 100 or more.

Build a workstation quote

A checklist for choosing your tier

Work through these questions in order. The first one that gives you a firm answer usually decides the tier.

1. What is your move-in date? Under two weeks points to liquidation-grade in stock. Two to four weeks opens up remanufactured. Six weeks or more makes new realistic.
2. Is a manufacturer warranty required? If yes, choose new for those pieces.
3. Is a specific finish required? If yes, new or remanufactured is the safer route.
4. Which areas are client-facing? Consider a mixed approach, with higher tiers where visitors go and liquidation-grade elsewhere.
5. What is the budget per head? Divide your approved furniture budget by headcount and compare it with the three prices above.
6. Do you have existing furniture to remove? If so, its resale value can offset your new purchase.

Offset the cost with the furniture you already have

If you are replacing an existing office, your old furniture may be worth something. Office Station provides a written net offer: the resale value of your current furniture minus the cost to remove it. When that number is positive, you get paid, and that money can go straight toward your new, remanufactured or liquidation-grade purchase.

Walkthroughs typically happen within 48 hours in Greater Phoenix and within 2-3 business days in other service markets, with offers delivered within 5 business days. You can get a rough idea first with the liquidation estimator, or read about the full corporate relocation process if you are moving the whole office.

Estimate what your old furniture is worth

A note on brands and pre-owned

Office Station sells pre-owned designer furniture from manufacturers including Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth, Humanscale, Teknion, Allsteel, Kimball, AIS and Friant. Office Station is an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer for these brands. That means you get recognizable, well-built furniture at pre-owned prices, but you should not expect a manufacturer warranty to come with it.

If seating is part of your project, the pre-owned office chairs page covers chair options, and the pre-owned office furniture page covers desks, tables, filing and more. Questions about which tier fits your space can go to our contact page or hello@officestation.com.

Frequently asked questions

Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.