What do office partitions cost per m² in 2026?
Office partition prices are normally quoted per square metre of finished wall, supply and install, excluding VAT. The rate covers the partition system itself, fixings, head and floor tracks, sealing and the labour to install it. Doors, blinds, manifestation and changes to lighting, sprinklers or ventilation are usually priced separately, so always check what a rate includes before comparing quotes. The table below shows 2026 guide prices across the main system types. They are guides only: every figure is confirmed after a free site survey, once heights, access and the specification are known.
The spread inside each range reflects real differences between projects rather than padding. A straightforward run of glass on a ground floor with good access sits towards the lower figure, while tall ceilings, awkward deliveries, high acoustic targets or a premium hardware specification push towards the upper figure. Stud walls look inexpensive per m², but taping, jointing and decoration may be priced as extras, and a stud wall cannot be taken down and reused when your needs change.
| Partition system | Guide price per m² | Per linear metre at 2.7m |
|---|---|---|
| Metal stud partition | £55–£90 | £149–£243 |
| Acoustic stud partition | £80–£130 | £216–£351 |
| Fire rated stud partition | £75–£125 | £203–£338 |
| Demountable partition | £180–£320 | £486–£864 |
| Frameless single glazed | £280–£420 | £756–£1,134 |
| Double glazed | £420–£650 | £1,134–£1,755 |
| Timber framed glazed | £450–£750 | £1,215–£2,025 |
| Crittall-style black framed | £550–£900 | £1,485–£2,430 |
| Acoustic glass | £550–£850 | £1,485–£2,295 |
| Fire rated glazed | £850–£1,400 | £2,295–£3,780 |
| Curved glass | £900–£1,600 | £2,430–£4,320 |
| Switchable smart glass | £1,100–£1,700 | £2,970–£4,590 |
| Operable folding wall | £900–£1,600 | £2,430–£4,320 |
How do you convert a price per m² into a price per linear metre?
Many buyers think in metres of wall rather than square metres, so it helps to convert. Multiply the m² rate by the finished height of the partition. At a typical office ceiling height of 2.7m, a frameless single glazed system at £280–£420 per m² works out at roughly £756–£1,134 per linear metre, and a double glazed system at £420–£650 per m² comes to roughly £1,134–£1,755 per linear metre. Taller ceilings increase the linear metre figure in direct proportion, and very tall panes can add handling costs on top.
As a worked example, a 6m glass wall at 2.7m high is 16.2 m². In frameless single glazing at the guide rates above, that wall would be roughly £4,536–£6,804 before a door is added. A single frameless glass door at £850–£2,600 brings the total to roughly £5,400–£9,400, excluding VAT, manifestation and any services alterations. The free site survey replaces these working figures with a fixed written quotation based on the actual conditions.
What extra costs should you budget for?
The partition rate is only part of the budget. Doors, privacy treatments and alterations to building services often account for a significant share of the final figure, especially when several small rooms are created from open-plan space. Each enclosed room may need its own lighting control, fire detection, ventilation and sometimes sprinkler heads, and those changes are carried out by the relevant specialist trades. Asking for these items to be listed line by line makes quotations easier to compare and avoids surprises once work starts.
- Glass doors: £850–£2,600 each, depending on type and hardware
- Integral blinds: around £150–£250 per m² of glazing
- Manifestation bands: £15–£35 per linear metre
- Full privacy film: £45–£85 per m²
- Strip-out of existing partitions: £20–£45 per m²
- Out-of-hours working: typically adds 15–25%
- Electrical, ventilation and sprinkler alterations: priced by specialist trades
What makes office partitions more or less expensive?
Specification is the biggest driver. Moving from single to double glazing, adding an acoustic laminate or specifying a fire rated system changes the glass, the frame and the seals, and each step costs more because more material and more testing sit behind the product. Door count matters too, because a door costs far more than the same width of fixed glass. Junction details, such as glass meeting a window mullion or abutting an uneven column, add labour time that a simple straight run does not.
Site conditions come next. Ceiling heights above about 3m mean larger panes, heavier lifts and sometimes extra labour or lifting equipment. Upper floors without a goods lift, restricted loading bays, city-centre parking and building rules that limit noisy work to evenings all add cost. Small projects carry fixed costs for survey, design, delivery and mobilisation, so the rate per m² for a single meeting room is normally higher than for a full floor. Planning several rooms together lowers the average rate.
How much does a glass meeting room or a partition relocation cost?
A complete glass meeting room typically costs £6,500–£22,000, supply and install, excluding VAT. The lower end covers a small room with two new glass walls in frameless single glazing and one door, built against existing walls. The upper end covers a larger room with double glazing, integral blinds, an acoustic specification, a framed door with seals and possibly a stud back wall. Furniture, AV equipment, lighting changes and ventilation alterations are separate and should be budgeted alongside.
If you already own demountable partitions, relocating them is often worth pricing. Taking down, moving and reinstalling an existing system typically costs 35–60% of the price of new, depending on how much of the original material can be reused, whether new glass is needed to suit different ceiling heights and how far the system is travelling. A survey of the existing partitions, ideally before they are dismantled, confirms what can be reused.
How can you reduce the cost of office partitions?
The most effective savings come from design decisions made early, not from cutting quality later. Use glass where light and visibility matter, typically on corridor faces, and stud or solid demountable panels where they do not, such as back walls between rooms. Keep door types consistent, avoid curved glass unless it genuinely adds value, and match the acoustic specification to how each room will actually be used. A layout agreed before survey also prevents costly redesign.
- Use glass only on the faces that need light or visibility
- Choose frameless single glazing where acoustic needs are modest
- Use manifestation bands instead of full privacy film where possible
- Reuse or relocate existing demountable partitions
- Group rooms into one project to spread fixed costs
- Schedule daytime working where the building allows it
Frequently asked questions
Are office partition prices quoted including VAT?
No. Commercial partition prices are normally quoted excluding VAT, and the guide prices in this article are all supply and install, excluding VAT. VAT at the standard rate is added to the invoice. If your business is VAT registered and the work relates to your taxable activities, you can usually reclaim it, but check with your accountant.
Why is the price per m² higher for small jobs?
Small jobs carry the same fixed costs as large ones, including survey, drawings, delivery, mobilisation and site setup. Spread over a few square metres, those costs raise the rate noticeably. A single meeting room will normally have a higher rate per m² than a full floor of partitioning using the same system.
Is a stud wall always cheaper than glass?
Per m², yes: metal stud walls start at around £55–£90 per m² against £280–£420 for frameless single glazed glass. However, stud walls block daylight, may need decoration priced separately and cannot be reused when you move or reconfigure. For short leases or changing teams, the lifetime cost difference can narrow considerably.
Do I pay for the site survey?
No. The site survey is free and without obligation. A surveyor measures the space, checks ceiling, floor and wall conditions, notes services in the ceiling void and discusses your layout and specification. The guide prices are then confirmed as a fixed written quotation based on what was found on site.
Guide prices are supply and install, excluding VAT, and are confirmed by a fixed quote after a free site survey. Regulatory information is general guidance; your Building Control body, landlord or fire engineer has the final say on a specific project.