Office strip out
$40–$80
per m²
Master Strip Outs, Sydney market price guide, 2025
Office Strip Out: Process, Timeline and Cost
An office strip out removes your fit-out back to a bare shell. Here is the real process, what drives the price, and typical cost per square metre.
An office strip out is the demolition and removal stage of a make good: stripping partitions, ceilings, flooring and fixtures out of a tenancy, usually back towards base building or Cat A shell condition. It is the physically disruptive part of the project, and the part most tenants underestimate on both time and cost.
Typical strip out cost per square metre
By project size, small office strip outs typically run $2,000 to $8,000 total, medium commercial spaces $10,000 to $30,000, and large building strip outs can exceed $100,000. These figures are Sydney market rates; the cost benchmarks page compares how new fit-out pricing (a related cost driver) differs across other capital cities.
Ceiling removal
$15–$35
per m²
Master Strip Outs, Sydney market price guide, 2025
Partition removal
$30–$60
per lineal metre
Master Strip Outs, Sydney market price guide, 2025
Floor covering removal
$10–$30
per m²
Master Strip Outs, Sydney market price guide, 2025
What actually drives the price
- Building size, height, and how easy the site is to access (lift access adds cost versus ground floor).
- Whether asbestos is present, which requires licensed removal before any strip out work starts.
- Disposal fees and how much waste the job generates.
- Timeline: a compressed handback deadline usually costs more than a flexible one.
- Salvage opportunities: some fixtures and furniture can offset costs if resold or donated.
A realistic timeline
A simple open-plan office with no asbestos can often be stripped out in a week or two. Heavily partitioned spaces, older buildings needing asbestos clearance certificates, or sites with restricted after-hours access can take considerably longer. Build in buffer time before your lease handback date rather than booking a strip out for the final week.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an office strip out cost per square metre?
In the Sydney market, commercial office strip outs typically run $40 to $80 per square metre, though retail spaces and jobs with asbestos or difficult access can cost more.
How long does an office strip out take?
A small, simple office can be stripped in about a week. Larger or more complex spaces, especially those needing licensed asbestos removal, typically take two to four weeks or more.
What is not included in a strip out quote?
Reinstatement (patching, plastering, repainting) is usually a separate line item from demolition and removal. Ask for an itemised quote that separates strip out from reinstatement so you can compare providers on a like-for-like basis.
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Tell us about your make good, defit or strip out and we will pass your details to a provider covering your area.
Sources: Master Strip Outs, Strip Out Cost Sydney Price Guide 2025 , Airtasker, Demolition Cost Guide