How Many Access Points Does My Office Need? A Sizing Guide With Worked Maths
Calculate the number of access points two ways and use the larger answer. First by coverage: floor area divided by the area one access point serves. Then by capacity: active devices divided by the number one access point handles comfortably. As a planning figure, an open-plan office of 400 square metres with 40 staff needs about four access points. A site survey confirms the final count and positions.
What are the planning figures?
| Factor | Planning figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage, open plan | About 100 to 150 square metres per access point | Ceiling mounted, few walls |
| Coverage, many rooms | About 50 to 80 square metres per access point | Brick or concrete partitions, glass meeting rooms |
| Capacity | About 30 to 50 active devices per access point | Lower for heavy video calling |
| Devices per person | 2 to 3 | Laptop, phone, sometimes a tablet |
Source: SourceIT research team planning figures drawn from common vendor design guidance. Compiled 12 November 2026. These are starting estimates, not guarantees; building materials and neighbouring networks change the result.
How does the calculation work?
CALC, example office: 400 square metres, open plan, 40 staff, 2.5 devices each.
- Coverage: 400 / 120 = 3.3, round up to 4 access points.
- Capacity: 40 x 2.5 = 100 devices. 100 / 40 = 2.5, round up to 3 access points.
- Take the higher answer: 4 access points.
CALC, same floor area divided into many rooms: 400 / 65 = 6.2, round up to 7 access points. Walls, not people, set the count here.
CALC, a 150 square metre office with 60 hot-desking staff: coverage 150 / 120 = 1.3, so 2. Capacity 60 x 2.5 = 150 devices, 150 / 40 = 3.8, so 4. Capacity sets the count: 4 access points.
Small dense offices are sized by devices. Large quiet offices are sized by walls. Calculating only one of the two is how offices end up with dead corners or slow meeting rooms.
Where should access points go?
- On the ceiling, in the open, near the centre of the area each one serves. Not above ceiling tiles, not in a cabinet.
- One inside or directly outside each large meeting room. Video calls from ten people in a glass room are the hardest load in most offices.
- Away from lift shafts, pantry microwaves and metal cabinets.
- Not too close together. Two access points a few metres apart interfere with each other more than they help.
What does the wiring and switch need?
Every access point needs a network cable back to a PoE switch. Check two things on the switch: enough PoE ports, and enough total power.
CALC, PoE budget: 4 access points at about 20W each is 80W. Check the real figure on each access point's datasheet, then add 20 to 30 percent headroom: 80 x 1.25 = 100W. A switch with a 124W PoE budget covers it. A 65W switch does not. Our PoE budget planning guide covers cameras and phones on the same switch.
Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points can move more than 1Gbps, so they are usually given 2.5GbE switch ports. See whether Wi-Fi 7 is worth the upgrade.
When do you need a professional survey?
Use the calculation for offices up to a single floor of a few hundred square metres. Get a survey for multiple floors, warehouses, clinics, schools, or anywhere Wi-Fi calling and roaming must not drop. A survey measures the actual building instead of assuming it.
Buying in Singapore
Prices below were listed on 12 Nov 2026; prices change; ask for a current quotation.
- HPE Networking Instant On AP22, S$240. Four units: 4 x S$240 = S$960.
- HPE Networking Instant On AP25, S$414, for denser areas.
- RUCKUS Unleashed R550, S$564.02.
- Fortinet FortiAP 231K Wi-Fi 7, S$783.60, for sites with a FortiGate.
- HPE Instant On 1430 16-Port PoE switch, 124W, S$385.
- Price on request: TP-Link Omada access points.
To compare the systems, see Omada vs Instant On vs RUCKUS Unleashed.
To start, use Request for Quotation on the product page, call (65) 6978 3502, email Sales@sourceit.com.sg or use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is one access point enough for a small office? For under about 100 square metres and 15 people in one open room, usually yes.
Do more access points always mean better Wi-Fi? No. Too many, placed too close, interfere with each other.
Can I use a mesh system instead of cabling? Wireless mesh halves usable speed at each hop. Cable every access point where you can.
How many devices can one access point handle? Plan for 30 to 50 active devices, fewer if most are on video calls.
SourceIT Approved
Researched and verified by the SourceIT team for Singapore buyers.
