Indicative cost per square foot by location and tier
Every figure on this page is an indicative UK market range from the published sources listed at the foot of the page, not a quotation. Your own price depends on floor area, service mix, hours of cover and asset condition.
| Property | Indicative range (per sq ft per year) | What sits behind it |
|---|---|---|
| UK commercial property, all tiers | £8 – £18[1] | Varies with service scope and building tier |
| Prime central London | £18 – £32[1] | Heritage fabric, longer hours, front-of-house expectations |
| Regional UK, comparable service level | £12 – £22[1] | Lower labour and travel costs than central London |
| Tier 1 offices (largest service-charge budgets) | £15.71 median[1] | Against £6.00 psf for smaller Tier 4 buildings |
| Total operating expenditure, commercial office | £10 – £25[2] | Includes utilities, janitorial, management fee and security |
Soft services versus hard services
Most budgets split into soft services (cleaning, waste, security, front of house) and hard services (mechanical, electrical, fabric and statutory maintenance). The two behave differently: soft FM is labour-led and moves with wage settlements, while hard FM is asset-led and sits on longer contract terms.
| Service group | Indicative range (per sq ft per year) | Cost behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Soft services | £8 – £15[1] | Labour-led; tracks the National Living Wage |
| Hard services | £6 – £11[1] | Asset-led; longer terms, capital replacement risk |
£12 – £18 psf
Prime central London office FM, against £8–£11 per square foot in outer boroughs.[3]
How to use a per-square-foot benchmark properly
- Compare like for like: confirm whether utilities and business rates are inside or outside the quoted rate.
- Check the measurement basis — net internal area and gross internal area can move a rate by 10% or more.
- Separate the management fee from delivery cost so you can see what you are paying for coordination.
- Ask which statutory inspections are included; an apparently cheap rate often excludes them.
- Price the hours of cover, not just the scope: out-of-hours and 24/7 cover changes the labour model entirely.
Frequently asked questions
How much does facilities management cost per square foot in the UK?
Indicatively £8–£18 per square foot a year for commercial property, rising to £18–£32 in prime central London and £12–£22 regionally for comparable service levels (Priority First, 2026).
Is facilities management cheaper per square foot in a larger building?
Usually yes on a rate basis. Published service-charge benchmarking shows Tier 1 offices at a £15.71 psf median against £6.00 psf in the smallest Tier 4 buildings, but the larger figure reflects a far higher specification rather than poor value.
Does the rate include utilities?
Sometimes. Total operating expenditure benchmarks of £10–£25 psf include utilities, janitorial, management fee and security; a pure FM service rate normally excludes energy. Always confirm before comparing two quotes.
Sources
- [1] Priority First, 2026. Facilities management cost per square foot UK
- [2] Priority First, 2026. Facilities management costs UK guide
- [3] Priority First, 2026. Facilities management central London