EaseMoving Get free quotes
Guides · Timeline

Office Move Timeline by Company Size

How far in advance to plan, from a small office to an enterprise-scale relocation — and why complexity matters more than headcount.

  • Every figure sourced to IOMI, FMCSA, IBISWorld & IFMA — never invented
  • Independent editorial — not a moving company, nothing to sell you
  • No fake reviews or fabricated testimonials, ever
  • Free to use, always — no cost, no obligation

Find office moving help

Tell us about the move — we'll help point you to vetted help.

1 2 3

Step 1 of 3 — Your route

Step 2 of 3 — Move details

Step 3 of 3 — Your info

No account, no spam list — just this request.

Request sent

We've received your request and will be in touch soon.

Short answer: Plan 4-6 weeks for a small office (under 20 people), 8-12 weeks for mid-size (20-100), and 3-6 months for enterprise-scale (100+) or complex moves. Building requirements don't scale down with headcount, so complexity — not just size — should set the real timeline.
Why company size changes the timeline, not just the budget

Coordination grows faster than headcount

A ten-person office and a 300-person company aren't simply different scales of the same plan. The coordination problem grows faster than headcount does, because more departments means more scheduling dependencies, more IT complexity, and more building-access coordination on both ends. The three scenarios below are rough estimates; actual timelines still depend on lease dates, building requirements, and how much IT and furniture work is involved.

Timeline by size
Small (<20 people)
4–6 weeks
Mid-size (20–100)
8–12 weeks
Enterprise (100+)
3–6 months+
Building rules
Same regardless of company size
Small office (under 20 people)

4–6 weeks

Four to six weeks is usually enough. It calls for a single site survey, a single moving-day schedule, and minimal department sequencing, since a small team is unlikely to need a phased move. IT relocation is typically limited to workstations and a small server closet rather than a dedicated data center. See our small business office move guide for a scaled-down version of the full planning process.

Mid-size company (20 to 100 people)

8–12 weeks

This is usually where a dedicated point of contact for the move, whether an internal employee or a hired project manager, starts paying for itself, since coordinating multiple departments, a real IT cutover, and building-access requirements at two locations is more than one person can track informally alongside their regular job.

Enterprise-scale (100+ people, or complex requirements regardless of headcount) Three to six months, sometimes longer for a multi-floor or multi-building relocation. This scale typically involves phased department moves, a formal IT cutover plan with a rollback strategy, dedicated project management, and coordination with building management at both locations well in advance. Skipping formal project management at this scale is one of the more common causes of a move running significantly over budget or schedule.
What doesn't scale with headcount

Building rules don't shrink with company size

Building-specific requirements such as freight elevator reservations, Certificate of Insurance lead time, and loading dock scheduling don't get easier just because a company is small. A 15-person company moving into a high-rise still needs the same COI and elevator coordination as a 150-person company in the same building, which is why complexity, not just headcount, should set the actual timeline.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a small office (under 20 people) plan for?
Four to six weeks — a single site survey, single moving-day schedule, and minimal department sequencing, since IT is typically limited to workstations and a small server closet.
How long for a mid-size company (20-100 people)?
Eight to twelve weeks — this is usually where a dedicated point of contact for the move starts paying for itself.
How long for enterprise-scale moves (100+ people)?
Three to six months, sometimes longer for multi-floor or multi-building relocations, typically involving phased department moves and a formal IT cutover plan.
Does company size affect building requirements?
No — freight elevator reservations, COI lead time, and loading dock scheduling apply the same way regardless of headcount. Complexity, not just size, should set the actual timeline.

Sources

Published 2026-09-06. Reviewed against sources current as of that date — see how we rate.