The cost of building a modern office in the United States and Canada has been structurally reset, with average fit-out costs now reaching $295 per square foot for a medium-quality space, according to JLL’s U.S. and Canada Office Fit-Out Costs Guide 2026, which sampled 50 cities across the two markets.
The report said costs in the United States and Canada are outpacing the global benchmark for medium-quality fit-outs of $205 per square foot, driven by persistent structural pressures and limited supply, while competition for talent is making investment in high-quality, tech-enabled space a business imperative.
Demand for higher-quality space is intensifying just as the supply of premium office space is shrinking. Office availability has now fallen for seven consecutive quarters in the United States, while the construction pipeline remains at historic lows. As a result, occupiers are competing for a limited pool of high-quality existing space, making strategic re
