Average office occupancy worldwide is around 34 percent, but these figures don’t tell the whole story. A new benchmark from Spacewell, based on sensor data from 80,807 devices in 236 buildings globally, shows that companies are primarily struggling with poor space allocation, peak loads, and invisible overcapacity.
The discussion about office space has revolved around the same contradictions for years: employees complain about a lack of space, desks sit empty, and meeting rooms are used as private workspaces. Spacewell analyzed anonymous sensor data from 55 organizations across 20 countries, with a focus on European offices.
The results make it clear that companies must rethink their office strategy. Not only occupancy rates, but also the distribution of spaces and the booking behavior of employees play a crucial role. Those who stick to old standards risk inefficiency and dissatisfied employees as a result.
The myth of the ideal occupancy rate
Many facility managers still strive for occupancy rates of 60 percent or more, a standard dating back to the pre-hybrid era. The reality looks different: median occupancy worldwide is 34 percent, with a typical range between 27 and 42 percent. Only exceptional buildings exceed 55 percent, often because they serve specific functions.
These figures apply to standard office hours, excluding weekends and public holidays. Scoring between 30 and 45 percent is therefore within the normal range. The problem lies not in the absolute figures, but in perception. Many organizations view lower occupancy rates as a sign of failure, while they actually reflect the new reality.
The challenge lies not in increasing occupancy, but in better aligning space with actual needs.
Sector differences and weekly peaks
Occupancy rates vary significantly by sector. Energy companies and IT services score the highest, with more variation due to diverse work models. Financial institutions and government services are on the lower end, with more consistent figures thanks to standardized workstations.
Logistics and transport are an exception: no company in this sector scores below 30 percent, but none reach more than 45 percent either.
The weekly distribution shows a clear pattern. Tuesday through Thursday are the busiest days, with occupancy peaks rarely exceeding 63 percent. Monday and Friday consistently lag behind. These peaks explain why employees often complain about a lack of space, even though average occupancy seems low.
Better distribution throughout the week could reduce pressure during peak times, but this requires a change in employee behavior.
Space utilization and hidden inefficiencies
More flexible workplace strategies score the highest in occupancy, averaging 41 percent. Individual workstations stall at 33 percent, while concentration rooms only reach 30 percent.
These figures show that employees prefer collaborative environments, but there is a significant catch: nearly a third of meeting rooms are used by just one person.