How to choose professional office furniture for your company

Q: "How do you choose professional office furniture?"

"Choosing professional office furniture relies on four criteria: ergonomics (compliance with EN 1335), modularity (adaptability to evolving uses), durability (minimum 5-year warranty) and overall budget including delivery and assembly."

Q: "What budget should you plan for a professional office?"

"Count between 800 and 2,500 euros excluding tax per complete workstation (desk, ergonomic chair, storage). Executive workstations range between 3,000 and 8,000 euros excluding tax. Collaborative spaces require an additional budget of 500 to 1,500 euros per person."

Q: "Which standards apply to office furniture?"

"The main standards are EN 527 for work tables, EN 1335 for office chairs, EN 14073 for storage furniture and Directive 90/270/EEC for the ergonomics of workstations with screens."

Choosing professional office furniture directly impacts team productivity, well-being and the company’s brand image. Between ergonomics, aesthetics and budget, decision criteria are numerous.

Key points

Professional furniture is selected on four criteria: ergonomics, modularity, durability and total budget.
EN 527 and EN 1335 standards define minimum technical requirements.
Budget per complete workstation ranges from 800 to 2,500 euros excl. tax.
Modularity becomes a strategic criterion as work modes evolve (remote work, flex office).

Essential selection criteria

Ergonomics is the primary criterion. A chair adjustable in height and depth, a height-adjustable desk and suitable lighting reduce musculoskeletal disorders by 35 % according to the French INRS.

Modularity allows the space to adapt to organizational changes. Bench desks, movable acoustic partitions and rolling storage make reconfigurations easier.

Furniture range comparison

Range	Average price per workstation	Target audience	Warranty
Entry-level	800 to 1,200 euros excl. tax	SMEs, secondary offices	2 to 3 years
Mid-range	1,200 to 2,000 euros excl. tax	Mid-caps, regional HQ	5 years
High-end	2,000 to 3,500 euros excl. tax	Management, HQ	10 years
Custom	On quote	Architectural projects	Variable

For further reading, see our guide to collaborative spaces and our comparison of business management software to align the layout with work tools.

FAQ

How do you choose professional office furniture?

Choosing professional office furniture relies on four criteria: ergonomics (EN 1335 compliance), modularity (adaptability), durability (minimum 5-year warranty) and total budget including delivery and assembly.

What budget should you plan for a professional office?

Count between 800 and 2,500 euros excl. tax per complete workstation (desk, ergonomic chair, storage). Executive workstations range from 3,000 to 8,000 euros excl. tax.

Which standards apply to office furniture?

The main standards are EN 527 for work tables, EN 1335 for office chairs, EN 14073 for storage furniture and Directive 90/270/EEC for screen-based workstations.