What it means
Space utilization rate is the core metric for workplace efficiency. It answers a simple question: how much of your office space is actually being used? A rate of 40% means that on average, 60% of your desks, rooms, or parking spots sit empty during working hours. Many organisations find their utilization is lower than expected.
The metric is calculated by dividing the total occupied time by the total available time across all bookable resources. Occupancy sensors, badge data, and booking system records are common data sources. Tracking utilization over weeks reveals patterns -- Tuesdays might hit 80% while Fridays drop to 25%.
Understanding your space utilization rate is essential for capacity planning, lease negotiations, and deciding whether to expand or consolidate office space. It is the starting point for any data-driven workspace strategy.