Most office space planning ends with a pretty drawing and no quote. You approve the layout, then wait for a separate furniture quote, then discover the plan assumed furniture you cannot afford. Office Station works the other way around. The layout produces a station count, the station count becomes a written quote, and you can compare furniture tiers before you commit to anything.
The planning itself is free.
How free space planning works
- Send your space. A floor plan, a lease exhibit or a dimensioned sketch. Include column locations, windows, doors and known power or data points.
- Tell us how the team works. Headcount today and in a year, private offices, meeting rooms, collaboration areas, storage needs and anyone who needs a larger footprint.
- Get a layout. Workstations are arranged around circulation, egress and the fixed parts of the building.
- Get the station count quoted. The same layout can be quoted liquidation-grade, remanufactured and new.
- Adjust and decide. Swap tiers, trim stations or phase the buildout, then order and schedule installation.
From layout to quote
Say your plan fits 40 standard 6'x6' workstations. That count, along with station size and panel height, is what the quote is built on. From there, the main cost drivers are:
- Grade. Liquidation-grade costs the least, new costs the most, and remanufactured sits in between. Grade also sets lead time: as little as 72 hours for in-stock liquidation-grade, usually 7 to 14 days for remanufactured and 4 to 6 weeks for new.
- Quantity and matched inventory. Larger orders are quoted together, and your quantity is reflected in the written quote. Large matched sets of pre-owned stations are scarcer, so lock inventory early.
- Finishes and power. Specific fabrics, laminates and powered panels add to the furniture line.
- Installation and delivery. These depend on the station count, layout complexity, your address and building access, and they stay about the same whichever tier you choose.
Furniture, delivery and installation each appear as their own line on your written quote. Electrical work is not included and is handled by your electrician.
What shapes a good office layout
Circulation and egress
Aisles are not wasted space. They are how people get to their desks and how they leave in an emergency. Main aisles should lead clearly to exits, and accessible routes need enough clear width for wheelchairs. Your building and local code set the actual requirements, so treat them as fixed before counting stations.
The fixed building
Columns, window mullions, floor boxes and HVAC returns decide where panels can land. A layout that ignores a column line looks fine on paper and fails on install day.
Power and data
Powered workstations need a path to building power. The plan should show where base feeds connect so your electrician can price the work before furniture arrives.
Growth
If you expect to add people, plan the extra stations now even if you buy them later. Leaving a zone ready for expansion is cheaper than reworking a finished floor.
Footprint mix
A 6'x6' station is 36 square feet of furniture before aisles. Not everyone needs one. Call center or touchdown seats can be smaller, and managers may need more worksurface. Mixing footprints often gains seats without shrinking anyone's usable desk.
Using the plan to mix furniture tiers
Because every station on the plan is counted and placed, you can quote different zones in different tiers and put money where people will notice it. Common approaches:
- Liquidation-grade for open work areas where speed and budget matter most.
- Remanufactured for client-facing zones where finish quality is visible.
- New only where you need a specific finish or configuration that pre-owned stock cannot match.
Pre-owned furniture from brands like Steelcase, Herman Miller, Knoll and Haworth is sold by Office Station as an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer, and manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer. Condition is graded A like new, B very good or C good, so you know what you are placing in each zone. Browse current pre-owned office furniture and pre-owned office chairs to see what fits.
What to send for the fastest plan
- Floor plan (PDF or CAD) or a sketch with dimensions
- Current headcount and 12-month projection
- Number of private offices, conference rooms and break areas
- Photos of columns, windows and existing power or floor boxes
- Preferred workstation size, if you have one
- Target move-in date and budget range
- Any furniture you are keeping, and anything that needs to leave
If the old office has to be cleared first, Office Station can also help with corporate relocation and liquidating the furniture you are leaving behind.
After the plan is approved
Once you settle on tiers and counts, you get a written quote and schedule installation. Choose your install date based on lead time for the tier you picked, and book your electrician to follow the crew.
Questions before you send a floor plan? Email hello@officestation.com.
Frequently asked questions
What does office space planning cost?
Space planning is free with Office Station. The plan feeds directly into your furniture quote, so the goal is a layout you can actually buy and install. You are not obligated to purchase after receiving a plan.
What do I need to send to get a space plan?
A floor plan or a dimensioned sketch is the most useful starting point, along with your headcount, the number of private offices and meeting rooms you need, and your move-in date. Photos of columns, windows and power locations help too.
Can one plan be quoted in different furniture tiers?
Yes, and that is the point. Because the station count comes from the layout, the same plan can be quoted in liquidation-grade, remanufactured and new, or a mix of them, so you compare tiers on identical counts. Station size, panel height, finishes and quantity also shape each quote.
Does the plan account for building code and accessibility?
A good plan leaves clear aisles, egress paths and accessible routes, but your building and local code officials have the final word. If your project requires permits or stamped drawings, involve your architect or landlord early.
How long until I can move in after the plan is approved?
It depends on the tier. Liquidation-grade workstations can be ready in as little as 72 hours when in stock, remanufactured usually takes 7 to 14 days and new typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Installation is then scheduled around delivery.
