How Many Square Meters of Office Space Does Your Business Need in Malta?

Searching for office space for rent in Malta often begins with location and monthly rent. However, before comparing offices in Sliema, St Julian’s, Gżira, Mrieħel or Valletta, your business needs to answer a more fundamental question: How many square meters of office space do we actually need?

The right office size depends on more than your total number of employees. You also need to consider daily attendance, hybrid working, meeting rooms, private offices, customer-facing areas, storage, technical infrastructure and future growth.

Office Size in Malta by Number of Employees

As an initial planning benchmark, businesses can begin with approximately 10 square metres per employee, before allowing for meeting rooms, kitchens, circulation space, private offices and other dedicated areas. OfficeMarket.mt’s Office Size Calculator follows a similar approach by considering employee numbers, layout and shared facilities. This is a planning estimate rather than a statutory minimum.

These ranges should be used to begin your office search rather than as fixed rules. A hybrid company with shared desks may require less space, while a business with private offices, several departments or extensive client facilities may require considerably more.

A Simple Way to Estimate The Square Meters of Office Space Needed For Your Team

Start with this basic calculation: Number of desks needed at peak attendance × approximately 10 sqm

Then add space for:

• Meeting and conference rooms
• Management or executive offices
• Reception and waiting areas
• Kitchen and staff facilities
• Phone booths or quiet rooms
• Server, IT or technical rooms
• Storage and filing
• Training or presentation areas
• Future recruitment

For example, a company with 40 employees may not necessarily need 40 permanent desks. If only 30 employees are normally present on the busiest office day, the company can begin its calculation using 30 workstations.

However, reducing the number of desks does not always reduce the total space proportionately. Hybrid teams often need more meeting rooms, collaborative areas and quiet spaces to support different types of work.

Planning an Office Size for 5–10 Employees

A small business may initially look for approximately 70 to 100 sqm, depending on how the office will be used. At this stage, a serviced or plug-and-play office can be particularly practical. Furniture, internet, reception services and meeting-room access may already be included, allowing the company to move in without managing a complete fit-out.

Smaller, client-facing teams often prioritise Sliema, St Julian’s, Gżira or Ta’ Xbiex because of their professional image, amenities and proximity to other businesses. Companies focused more heavily on cost and commuting may also consider Birkirkara, Swatar, San Ġwann or central Malta.

Planning an Office Size for 10–30 Employees

A growing team of between 10 and 30 employees will normally need a more structured workplace.

The office may require:

• A main open-plan working area
• One or two management offices
• At least one formal meeting room
• A smaller interview or video-call room
• Kitchen and breakout space
• Storage and IT facilities

Depending on the layout, businesses in this category can begin their search from approximately 150 sqm.

At this size, it is important to decide whether the company wants a ready-to-use office or a property it can customise. A furnished office can reduce the time and capital needed before moving in. A shell or semi-finished office offers greater control but may require investment in partitions, cabling, lighting, furniture and branding.

Planning an Office Size for 30–50 Employees

An office for 30 to 50 employees usually needs to accommodate several functions rather than one general working area.

For example, an iGaming, fintech, technology or payments company may need separate areas for:

• Operations
• Compliance and risk
• Finance
• Customer support
• Sales and account management
• Human resources
• Technology
• Senior management

Businesses of this size may begin looking for offices between approximately 350 and 700 sqm.

The efficiency of the floorplate becomes particularly important. A well-planned 450 sqm open-plan office may accommodate a team more effectively than a poorly divided 600 sqm property.

Check the number and position of structural columns, lifts, emergency exits, windows, toilets and existing partitions before assuming that every square metre is equally usable.

Planning an Office Size for 50–100+ Employees

Companies searching for a large corporate office or headquarters should begin their search well before the required move-in date.

OfficeMarket.mt recommends allowing approximately three to six months for offices below 500 sqm and six to twelve months for larger offices, where availability, negotiations, alterations and fit-out work can take longer.

For larger teams, the office search should consider:

• Whole-floor or multi-floor availability
• Expansion space within the same building
• Dedicated reception and visitor management
• Backup power and business continuity
• Fresh-air and air-conditioning systems
• High-capacity internet infrastructure
• 24-hour access and security
• Staff parking
• Public transport connections
• Multiple kitchens and washrooms
• Loading or delivery access
• Building management and maintenance

Mrieħel and Birkirkara are frequently considered by larger operational teams because they offer central access, larger floorplates and generally more practical parking options. Sliema and St Julian’s remain attractive for companies that place greater importance on employer branding, networking, hospitality and a premium client-facing location.

Do Not Compare Offices by Size Alone

Two offices advertised at 300 sqm may offer very different amounts of functional workspace. Before arranging a viewing, ask whether the advertised size includes:

• Internal common areas
• Shared corridors
• Terraces or balconies
• Thick structural walls
• Shared reception facilities
• External or communal washrooms
• Building common parts

You should also check the current layout. A heavily divided office may require significant alterations if your company wants an open-plan environment. An open floorplate may need additional investment if your business requires private rooms.

Compare the Total Cost, Not Only the Rent

Offices in Malta usually are advertised as a monthly rent. This makes it easier to compare properties, but the final price per month does not always represent the complete occupancy cost. Your budget should also consider:

• Common-area or maintenance fees
• Parking spaces
• Electricity and water
• Internet and telecommunications
• Cleaning
• Furniture
• Fit-out and reinstatement
• Security or access systems
• Insurance
• Professional and agency fees
• Applicable taxes

A slightly more expensive plug-and-play office may ultimately cost less than an unfinished property requiring extensive alterations.

Workplace Conditions and Employee Experience

An office should support the people working in it, not simply accommodate the required number of desks.

During viewings, pay attention to natural light, acoustics, temperature control, ventilation and the availability of quiet working areas. Malta’s workplace regulations require employers to provide appropriate health and safety conditions, while the Occupational Health and Safety Authority specifically identifies sufficient workplace ventilation as a legal consideration.

Daily convenience also matters. Consider where employees live, how they commute, whether parking is available and what amenities they can reach during the working day.

Find Office Space for Rent in Malta

The right office should accommodate your team today while supporting the direction in which your business is growing.

Start by calculating the space you need, identifying your non-negotiable requirements and setting a realistic total budget. You can then compare available offices by location, size, layout, building quality and lease conditions.

OfficeMarket.mt can help you shortlist office space for rent in Malta based on your team size, preferred location, budget, parking requirements and planned move-in date.

Tell us what your business needs, and we will help you identify office options that genuinely fit.