Office Interior Fit-Out Cost in Lagos in 2026

How much should you budget for an office interior fit-out in Lagos in 2026? For early planning, allow approximately ₦150,000–₦300,000 per square metre for a light refurbishment, ₦300,000–₦550,000 for a standard office fit-out, and ₦550,000–₦900,000 or more for a specification-heavy project. A bare shell requiring extensive building services can exceed these allowances.

These are indicative budgeting estimates, not verified market averages or an Andrezini quotation. They assume different levels of work, explained below. Your actual cost depends on the premises, specification, procurement timing and what the contractor includes. Rent, tax, professional fees and major equipment should not be assumed to sit inside a square-metre rate.

Whether you are moving into a serviced building in Victoria Island or adapting an older property in Yaba, the most useful starting point is a measured survey and a written scope—not a photograph of an office you like.

1. What the different fit-out budgets cover

A fit-out makes a space ready for its intended use. It can include partitions, ceilings, flooring, electrical work, lighting, cooling alterations, joinery and furniture. However, Nigerian contractors do not all use the term to mean the same thing.

Light refurbishment: approximately ₦150,000–₦300,000/m²

This planning band suits an existing office where most services and finishes remain usable. It might cover repainting, selective flooring replacement, minor partition changes, lighting improvements and limited joinery. It assumes that working air-conditioning, toilets and much of the electrical installation can be retained. A complete new furniture package is not assumed.

Standard fit-out: approximately ₦300,000–₦550,000/m²

This allowance is a starting point for partitions, ceilings, practical commercial flooring, lighting, electrical and data distribution, modest reception joinery and basic locally sourced workstations. It assumes usable base-building services, with adaptations rather than wholesale replacement. Confirm the furniture quantities and cooling scope before relying on this range.

Higher-specification fit-out: approximately ₦550,000–₦900,000+/m²

Extensive glazing, acoustic treatments, bespoke joinery, upgraded seating, more meeting rooms and selected imported finishes can move a project into this band. Specialist audiovisual systems, major cooling installations or power infrastructure may still require separate allowances. A small executive suite can also have a high square-metre cost because expensive functions occupy much of its floor area.

Use the actual internal area being fitted out, not automatically the lettable area stated in a lease. Shared corridors and building amenities can otherwise distort the calculation.

2. The factors that change your Lagos quotation

The condition of the building comes first. A second-generation office with safe wiring and functioning cooling may need relatively little intervention. A shell, or an older converted house with roof leaks, uneven floors and inadequate circuits, needs a different budget. Investigate defects before covering them with attractive finishes.

Location affects logistics, but the neighbourhood alone does not determine cost. A managed tower in Ikoyi may impose restricted working hours, service-lift bookings and protective coverings. A mainland property may offer easier access but require more remedial work. Delivery routes, parking and storage matter in both cases.

• Layout: An open office generally needs fewer partitions and doors than a layout filled with private offices.
• Occupancy: More staff means more desks, sockets, data points, cooling demand and welfare provision.
• Meeting rooms: Enclosed rooms need deliberate ventilation, lighting and acoustic planning.
• Power: Confirm available supply, landlord backup arrangements and whether an inverter, batteries or additional distribution equipment is required.
• Procurement: Imported hardware, seating and fittings expose the budget to exchange-rate movements and shipping delays.

Lagos humidity and wind-driven rain also influence specifications. Investigate water ingress, protect board edges near wet areas and select appropriate corrosion-resistant fittings for exposed coastal conditions. Moisture-resistant board is not waterproof, and air-conditioning is not a substitute for fresh-air provision.

Commercial work also requires an understanding of customer-facing and operational spaces. You can explore Andrezini’s Primewater portfolio page and Torch Mark portfolio page as references when discussing your brief, rather than treating portfolio images as price guides.

3. A worked budget for a 150m² office

Consider a hypothetical 150m² office requiring a reception, open work area, meeting room, kitchenette and a few enclosed rooms. Assume that toilets and base-building services are usable, and that the scope matches the standard fit-out band above.

Multiplying 150m² by ₦300,000–₦550,000 gives an initial works allowance of ₦45 million–₦82.5 million. This is a calculation using the indicative range, not a quotation for a completed office.

Build the complete project budget in separate lines:

1. Defined fit-out works: Identify precisely which finishes, service alterations, joinery and furniture are included.
2. Professional services: Confirm survey, design, 3D visualisation, engineering input, documentation and supervision fees.
3. Owner-supplied items: Add computers, networking equipment, specialist audiovisual systems and other excluded purchases.
4. Building and statutory costs: Identify applicable approvals, access charges, deposits and taxes. Separate refundable deposits from expenditure.
5. Contingency: Hold a planning reserve, often around 10–15% of defined works, increasing it where existing conditions remain uncertain.

On this example, that contingency would be approximately ₦4.5 million–₦12.4 million, depending on the selected works allowance and percentage. It is not spare money for unnecessary upgrades; it protects against genuine unknowns. Do not add furniture or cooling twice if they already appear in the works price.

4. Costs that are easy to overlook

The reception desk is visible. The expense of getting the office safely operational is less obvious. Ask the project team to examine these items before you approve a budget:

• Strip-out and disposal: Removing old ceilings, partitions and flooring, including transport and lawful disposal.
• Electrical verification: Checking existing circuits, earthing and protective devices before connecting new loads.
• Cooling and ventilation: Allowing for occupied meeting rooms, equipment heat, fresh air and condensate drainage.
• Safety and accessibility: Reviewing escape routes, fire-safety interfaces and access requirements with qualified professionals and building management.
• IT infrastructure: Distinguishing passive data cabling from switches, wireless access points, racks and service subscriptions.
• Handover: Testing, cleaning, snag rectification, labelling, operating information and as-built records.

Renovating an occupied office adds another layer. Temporary partitions, phased moves, weekend labour and repeated cleaning can cost more than working in an empty space. Include business disruption in your decision even where it does not appear on the contractor’s invoice.

5. How to compare quotations and control spending

Issue the same drawings, specifications and quantity schedule to each bidder. Comparing three lump sums against three different interpretations of your brief does not reveal which contractor offers better value.

Request a breakdown covering preliminaries, partitions, ceilings, floors, decoration, joinery, services and furniture. Every quotation should state exclusions, product specifications, tax treatment, validity period, programme and payment terms. Ask how substitutions and variations will be authorised.

For example, “glass partition” is incomplete. Glass type, thickness, framing, door hardware and acoustic expectations all affect cost. Similarly, a workstation price needs dimensions, board specification, edge treatment, cable management and a clear statement about whether seating is included.

To reduce expenditure without undermining daily use:

• Retain safe, serviceable installations after inspection.
• Keep plumbing points near existing supply and drainage connections.
• Use standardised workstation and joinery dimensions.
• Choose locally available finishes with dependable replacement stock.
• Prioritise seating, lighting, cooling and acoustics over decorative excess.

Check samples and fabrication details before approving locally made furniture; local sourcing alone does not guarantee quality. Equally, reserve imported products for situations where their performance justifies the cost and lead time.

6. Plan the project before committing to a move-in date

Start with a site survey, staff requirements and a review of lease restrictions. Develop the layout, coordinate services and approve material samples before placing major orders. Three-dimensional visualisation can help resolve design choices, but it should accompany technical drawings rather than replace them.

A light refurbishment may take a few weeks, while a more involved fit-out can require several months from survey through handover. These are broad planning expectations: approvals, remedial work, procurement and restricted site access determine the actual programme. Ask for a schedule that identifies these dependencies.

The best budget is therefore not the lowest square-metre figure. It is a documented allowance for a workplace that supports your staff, can be maintained locally and is delivered with clear responsibilities.

Andrezini Projects provides interior design, fit-out and 3D visualisation services from 11 Raymond Street, Yaba, Lagos, serving clients across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. To discuss your premises and develop a scope-based budget, contact Andrezini Projects with your floor plan, intended occupancy, preferred move-in date and available budget.