Office Furniture Budget Guide for Australian Businesses

Comprehensive cost planning for office furniture setups in Australia, from startups to enterprise-level investments. 

Quick Answer (TL;DR) 

Budget $1,500-$3,000 per employee for quality office furniture in Australia. Basic setups (desk, chair, storage) start at $800-$1,200, mid-range $1,500-$2,500, premium $3,000+. Factor in GST, delivery ($50-$200 Melbourne metro), and assembly. Bulk orders 10+ workstations typically receive 15-25% discounts. 

Understanding Office Furniture Costs 

Australian businesses often underestimate office furniture costs, focusing only on desk and chair prices while overlooking storage, accessories, delivery, and long-term replacement needs. Proper budgeting accounts for complete workstation setups, not individual pieces. 

This guide breaks down realistic per-employee costs across three quality tiers, helping businesses plan accurately whether furnishing 5 desks or 500. All prices include GST and reflect current Australian market rates (2024). 

Per-Employee Budget Tiers 

Basic Tier: $800-$1,200 Per Employee 

Suitable for: Startups, temporary offices, call centers, budget-conscious businesses 

Typical Setup: 

• • Desk (100-140cm): $200-$350 

• • Ergonomic chair (basic): $150-$250 

• • Storage (2-drawer pedestal): $100-$150 

• • Accessories (monitor arm, footrest): $80-$120 

• • Cable management: $30-$50 

• Total: $560-$920 + delivery/assembly 

Quality expectations: Functional but limited adjustability. Suitable for 4-6 hour daily use. 2-3 year expected lifespan. Chairs have basic lumbar support, desks are fixed height. Adequate for roles with varied tasks (not desk-intensive all day). 

Mid-Range Tier: $1,500-$2,500 Per Employee 

Suitable for: Established businesses, full-time office roles, professional services 

Typical Setup: 

• • Desk (120-150cm, possibly adjustable): $400-$700 

• • Ergonomic chair (mid-tier): $350-$500 

• • Storage (mobile pedestal + overhead): $200-$350 

• • Accessories (dual monitor arms, keyboard tray): $150-$250 

• • Cable management + mat: $80-$120 

• Total: $1,180-$1,920 + delivery/assembly 

Quality expectations: Fully adjustable components. Suitable for 8+ hour daily use. 5-7 year expected lifespan. This tier offers 80% of premium features at 60% cost—best value for most Australian businesses. Chairs include adjustable lumbar, armrests, and seat depth. Manual height-adjustable desks often available at this range. 

Premium Tier: $3,000-$5,000+ Per Employee 

Suitable for: Executive offices, creative studios, employees with health needs, long-term investments 

Typical Setup: 

• • Electric sit-stand desk (150-180cm): $800-$1,400 

• • Premium ergonomic chair: $600-$1,200 

• • Storage (full pedestal + overhead + lateral): $400-$700 

• • Accessories (monitor arms, task light, acoustic panel): $300-$500 

• • Cable management + anti-fatigue mat: $120-$200 

• Total: $2,220-$4,000 + delivery/assembly 

Quality expectations: Maximum adjustability and comfort. Suitable for 10+ hour intensive daily use. 10+ year expected lifespan with proper care. Electric desks with memory presets, chairs comparable to Herman Miller/Steelcase quality. Justifiable for roles requiring extended focus periods or employees with existing ergonomic needs. 

Additional Cost Considerations 

Delivery Costs 

Melbourne Metro: $66-$110 per delivery (often waived for orders 5+ workstations) 

Regional Victoria: $100-$200 per workstation 

Interstate: $150-$350 per workstation depending on location 

Most suppliers calculate delivery by total order weight/volume, not per item. A 10-workstation order might incur $200-$400 total delivery, not $500-$1000. Always request delivery quotes for bulk orders before purchasing. 

Assembly Requirements 

Self-assembly: Factor 30-90 minutes per workstation. Requires basic tools (usually included). Startups often use team assembly days—turning setup into social activity while saving costs. 

Professional assembly: $80-$150 per workstation for complex setups (adjustable desks, multiple storage units). Recommended for 10+ workstation orders or time-sensitive office moves. 

GST and Tax Considerations 

All prices in this guide include GST (10%). Australian businesses can claim GST back on furniture purchases. Office furniture qualifies as immediate tax deduction (under $20,000 per item as of 2024) rather than depreciation—consult your accountant for current rules. 

Tax deduction example: $2,000 workstation costs business effectively $1,300-$1,400 after GST credit and 25-30% company tax deduction. 

Replacement Cycles 

Budget for replacements based on quality tier: 

• Basic tier: Replace chairs 2-3 years, desks 4-5 years 

• Mid-range tier: Replace chairs 5-7 years, desks 8-10 years 

• Premium tier: Replace chairs 8-12 years, desks 10-15 years 

Chairs wear faster than desks due to moving parts and weight stress. Plan annual budgets including 10-15% furniture allocation for gradual upgrades/replacements. 

Bulk Discount Expectations 

5-9 Workstations 

Typical discount: 5-10% off retail prices 

Additional: Free or reduced delivery within Melbourne metro 

Often includes free cable management accessories or upgraded casters/feet 

10-24 Workstations 

Typical discount: 10-15% off retail prices 

Additional: Free delivery Australia-wide, professional assembly at cost 

May include space planning consultation and phased delivery options 

25+ Workstations 

Typical discount: 15-20% off retail prices 

Additional: Free delivery and professional assembly, extended warranties 

Often includes complete office design services, custom color matching, and dedicated account management. Phased delivery over months available. 

Sample Budget Scenarios 

Scenario 1: 5-Person Startup (Melbourne) 

Approach: Mid-range tier with 1-2 premium chairs for founders 

• • 3 mid-range setups: $1,600 × 3 = $4,800 

• • 2 premium chairs + mid desks: $1,900 × 2 = $3,800 

• • Delivery: $110 (waived with discount) 

• • Self-assembly: $0 

Total: $8,600 ($1,720 per employee) 

After 10% bulk discount + GST credit: Effective cost ~$7,000 

Scenario 2: 15-Person Small Business (Richmond) 

Approach: Mix of tiers based on roles 

• • 5 basic setups (reception, admin): $1,000 × 5 = $5,000 

• • 8 mid-range setups (main team): $1,800 × 8 = $14,400 

• • 2 premium setups (leadership): $3,500 × 2 = $7,000 

• • Delivery: Free (bulk order) 

• • Professional assembly: $100 × 15 = $1,500 

Total: $27,900 ($1,860 per employee) 

After 18% bulk discount + GST credit: Effective cost ~$19,000 

Scenario 3: 40-Person Growing Company (Melbourne) 

Approach: Primarily mid-range, selective premium 

• • 30 mid-range setups: $1,700 × 30 = $51,000 

• • 10 premium setups: $3,200 × 10 = $32,000 

• • Delivery: Free (enterprise order) 

• • Professional assembly: $90 × 40 = $3,600 

• • Space planning consultation: Included 

Total: $86,600 ($2,165 per employee) 

After 25% bulk discount + GST credit: Effective cost ~$55,000 

Budget Optimization Strategies 

Phased Approach 

Instead of furnishing entire office upfront, many Australian businesses phase purchases: 

• Phase 1: Essential workstations (first 3-6 months) 

• Phase 2: Meeting room and collaborative spaces (6-12 months) 

• Phase 3: Upgrades and replacements (ongoing) 

This spreads costs across financial periods and allows learning which furniture works before bulk purchasing. 

Invest in Chairs First 

If budget is tight, prioritize ergonomic chairs over premium desks. Employees spend 8-10 hours in chairs; poor seating causes immediate health issues. Adequate desks ($250-$400) with excellent chairs ($400-$600) outperform excellent desks with poor chairs. 

Standard vs. Custom 

Custom colours, logo etching, or non-standard sizes add 20-40% premiums. Standard options in neutral colors offer identical functionality at lower cost. Reserve customization for client-facing areas only. 

Lease vs. Purchase 

Some Australian suppliers offer furniture leasing ($50-$150 per workstation monthly). Makes sense for: 

• Uncertain business growth trajectory 

• Temporary offices (under 3-year commitment) 

• Cashflow-constrained startups 

However, leasing costs 30-50% more over 5+ years versus purchasing. Buy if planning to occupy space 3+ years. 

Common Budgeting Mistakes 

Forgetting Storage 

Budgeting only desks and chairs ignores critical storage needs. Even paperless offices need secure filing for contracts, tech equipment, and personal items. Add $150-$400 per employee for adequate storage. 

Underestimating Delivery Timeline 

Standard furniture ships 1-2 weeks; custom orders take 4-8 weeks. Rushing orders incurs express fees (typically 25-40% extra). Plan furniture purchases 6-8 weeks before office move-in dates. 

Ignoring Shared Spaces 

Per-employee costs cover individual workstations but forget meeting rooms, break areas, and reception. Budget additional 15-25% of total furniture costs for shared spaces. 

Buying Too Cheaply 

Sub-$100 chairs and sub-$150 desks rarely last beyond 18 months in daily office use. The upfront savings get wiped out by 6-12 month replacement cycles and employee complaints. Mid-range investment pays off in 2-3 year timeframe. 

Richmond’s Recommendation 

For most Australian businesses, budgeting $1,500-$2,000 per employee provides quality furniture that lasts 5-7 years with proper care. This mid-range tier delivers excellent ergonomics without premium pricing. 

Startups should aim for $1,200-$1,500 per employee initially, upgrading chairs first when cash flow permits. Established businesses benefit from 70-80% mid-range setups with 20-30% premium allocation for roles requiring extended desk hours. 

Remember to factor delivery, assembly, and storage into total costs—per-employee budgets should be comprehensive, not furniture-only calculations. Request bulk pricing quotes for 5+ workstations; most Melbourne suppliers offer significant discounts not advertised on retail sites.