Teams outgrow desks fast when square footage is guesswork. A room that feels fine on day one can choke circulation, block doors, and slow collaboration three months later. This guide shows a simple way to match headcount to 100–1000 sq‑ft footprints and choose layouts that fit daily work. You get clear per‑person allowances, aisle widths, and meeting seat ratios, plus size‑band examples from 100 to 1,000 sq‑ft. Use it to tape out a plan, count desks with confidence, and move in without costly rework. Team sizing: 100–1000 sq‑ft headcount planning and layouts stay the focus end‑to‑end.

Planning assumptions to use

• Per‑desk allowance: plan 60–90 sq‑ft per person in efficient bench layouts; move to ~100 sq‑ft where equipment or storage grows.
• Circulation factor: add 25–35% of usable space for aisles and door swings; keep primary aisles near 1.2 m and secondary runs at 0.9–1.0 m.
• Meeting ratio: plan ~1 shared seat per 4 staff inside the suite or next door; add 1 phone/quiet spot per 6–8 staff.
• Growth buffer: hold back 10–20% of seats or floor area for hires within 6–12 months; avoid filling every corner on day one.

Quick calculator (3 steps)

• Step 1: team size × 70/80/90 sq‑ft per person (pick based on kit, focus work, and storage at the desk).
• Step 2: add shared seats at ~18–25 sq‑ft each when placed inside the suite (use 1 shared seat per 4 staff).
• Step 3: multiply the subtotal by 1.25–1.35 for circulation and door swings; round to the nearest size band you can view and tape out.

100–150 sq‑ft (1–2 people)

• Headcount: 1–2 at 120–140 × 60–70 cm desks; target 60–80 sq‑ft per person.
• Layout: two desks in L or parallel; one slim pedestal; wall‑mounted screen for shared reviews.
• Aisles and clearances: keep 1.0–1.2 m behind chairs; mark door swing and keep it clear.
• Notes: wall shelves replace floor cupboards; a fold‑down side table supports ad‑hoc calls without eating space.

150–250 sq‑ft (2–4 people)

• Headcount: 2–4 with an optional hot seat for peaks.
• Layout: two‑by‑two bench or opposing pairs; compact 2–3 seat nook for quick huddles along a wall.
• Aisles and clearances: primary aisle ~1.2 m; secondary 0.9–1.0 m; avoid chair‑to‑chair collisions by staggering seats.
• Notes: cable trays under benches; shared printer on a narrow shelf off the main path.

250–350 sq‑ft (4–6 people)

• Headcount: 4–6 plus one occasional hot desk.
• Layout: bank of 3 + bank of 3; slim project table 70–80 cm deep with 2–4 seats along an unglazed wall.
• Aisles and clearances: 1.2 m between bench rows; 0.9–1.0 m at desk ends and storage.
• Notes: one call chair in a corner; low desk screens reduce cross‑talk while keeping sight lines open.

350–500 sq‑ft (6–8 people)

• Headcount: 6–8 permanent seats; add 0–1 hot seat for visitors.
• Layout: two bench rows of 3–4; a 4‑seat project table or a wall banquette that doubles as touchdown space.
• Aisles and clearances: keep a continuous 1.2 m loop; relocate print/mail shelves outside the loop.
• Notes: mount a whiteboard near the project table; add coat hooks near entry to free chair backs and reduce clutter.

500–700 sq‑ft (8–12 people)

• Headcount: 8–12 with mixed roles and hybrid peaks.
• Layout: 8 desks in benches plus 2–4 hot desks; fit a 4–6 seat table if proportions allow without choking the 1.2 m aisle.
• Aisles and clearances: 1.2–1.4 m on main paths; 0.9–1.0 m at desk ends; preserve straight routes to doors for safe flow.
• Notes: add one phone pod or a screened call corner when call volume is high; keep it out of main routes.

700–1,000 sq‑ft (12–16 people)

• Headcount: 12–16 with hybrid days; hot desks absorb peaks.
• Layout: zones—focus bench (8–12 seats), hot desk row (2–4), a 6–8 seat table, and a print/mail wall set away from entries.
• Aisles and clearances: 1.2–1.4 m ring path; remove dead‑ends; maintain a straight run between entry and the main desk bank.
• Notes: a small pantry point (counter + bin) fits in a low‑traffic corner if it does not disrupt the ring path.

Furniture dimensions that keep flow

• Desks: 120–160 cm wide × 60–80 cm deep; 120 × 70 cm packs more seats without cramping depth; use 160 × 80 cm for multi‑monitor or design setups.
• Chairs and push‑back: allow ~75–80 cm behind each desk for chair movement; verify with a taped chair outline and a sit‑and‑swivel test.
• Collaboration tables: 70–80 cm deep; plan 60–70 cm per seated person along each edge so elbows clear.
• Storage: prefer wall shelves or slim credenzas; keep floor storage out of primary routes and door swings to protect the 1.2 m aisle.

Meeting and call seat ratios inside small suites

• Shared seats: plan roughly 1 meeting seat per 4 staff inside the suite or next door; do not oversize in tiny footprints.
• Call handling: add 1 phone or quiet spot per 6–8 staff; a soft chair with an acoustic panel can replace a full booth.
• Spillover: book larger rooms nearby for workshops and client sessions; keep the suite tuned for daily focus and quick huddles.

Circulation and safety minimums

• Main aisles: target ~1.2 m; never block door swings or emergency routes with furniture, boxes, or trolleys.
• Desk ends: keep 0.9–1.0 m so chairs pass cleanly and carts can move stock without snags.
• Screens and height: keep partitions low to mid to preserve light and supervision while reducing noise near collaboration points.

Growth staging without moving

• Add hot desks first: convert a 2‑seat project table to two hot seats when headcount rises.
• Flip zones: move a printer/mail shelf to open a temporary 2‑seat nook without changing desk banks or aisles.
• Modular benches: extend a bench by two identical desks and keep all aisle widths unchanged; sanity‑check with tape before ordering.

30‑second chooser (band → headcount → layout)

• 100–150 sq‑ft: 1–2 desks, wall screen, shelves; no internal meeting table; rely on phone headsets.
• 150–250 sq‑ft: 2–4 desks; tiny 2–3 seat nook; tidy cable routing; printer shelf off the main route.
• 250–350 sq‑ft: 4–6 desks; slim project table; one call chair; 1.2 m aisle between benches.
• 350–500 sq‑ft: 6–8 desks; 4‑seat table; whiteboard; coat hooks; print/mail outside the loop.
• 500–700 sq‑ft: 8–12 desks; 4–6 seat table; one phone pod; straight route to doors.
• 700–1,000 sq‑ft: 12–16 desks; hot desk row; 6–8-seat table; small pantry point; 1.2–1.4 m ring path.

Tape‑out checklist before you order

• Mark desk widths and chair push‑backs with tape; sit and swivel to confirm 75–80 cm behind chairs.
• Draw a 1.2 m main aisle and 0.9–1.0 m secondary runs; open and close doors to test swings and clearances.
• Place power along bench spines; test Wi‑Fi signal at every desk and at the meeting table spot.
• Mount whiteboards and screens only after clearances pass your tape‑out test, so nothing blocks routes.

Plan your headcount with confidence