How to Measure Density for Better Space Utilization

Measuring density and space utilization in your workplace is essential for maintaining an efficient and productive work environment. Simply put, density refers to the number of people that can occupy a given area at one time. You can use this formula:

On average, it's recommended that each person should occupy around 100-150 square feet of space, depending on the type and size of the business. By understanding how much space you need per person, you can better plan for office design, organization, and personnel needs.

Monitoring space utilization is important as it can help you make the most of your workspace and ensure that it's being used effectively.

So, what can you do to optimize your office space? Take a look at our tips below:

• Design your office for productivity: Consider the benefits of open vs closed offices when it comes to employee productivity and which office layout would be best for your business.
• Balance space usage optimally: Consider allocating communal spaces, such as meeting rooms and break-out areas, so that employees have space to relax and socialize.
• Monitor your office space utilization: It's beneficial to use software to help you track and analyze the usage of the spaces in your office. You could discover the spaces are being used for the wrong purpose or they're not being used at all. This can help you pivot the space or get rid of it completely, thereby saving costs and providing a safe and comfortable workspace for your employees.
• Track your costs per employee: This includes basic equipment, desk space, chairs, office supplies, and other costs associated with operating your business.

■ Consider analyzing these key space utilization metrics too

Don't Be Dense About Space Utilization

Knowing how much space your employees need and understanding whether your current office setup meets this is key to optimizing your workspace efficiently. Not only will it help to keep your employees happy, but you can discover new areas to cut costs instead of spending money on a space that doesn't give you optimal value.

Software like POC's space management solution can streamline your space optimization process. This SaaS tool gives you real-time updates on your space usage, so you can easily monitor capacity, measurements of all work areas, total number of workstations and employees (plus their occupancy rate), and more from one customizable dashboard.

With all of this in place, you can effectively measure density and optimize space utilization to create a successful workplace.

■ Book a demo to try POC's solution for yourself