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Home Office Setup Cost Calculator
Enter what you actually plan to buy, not an aspirational list. The calculator spreads the total over workdays and over a three-year life.
Software is treated as an annual cost; hardware and furniture are spread over three years. A chair or desk that lasts longer makes the real monthly cost lower than shown.
The sticker price is not the monthly cost
A 2,000 setup sounds large until it is spread across 230 workdays and three years. The monthly figure is the one to compare with a coworking fee, a commute or a salary increase. It also makes upgrades easier to judge: a 300 chair that lasts five years costs less per month than a 120 chair replaced every year.
Keep the software line separate. It recurs annually, unlike the desk, and it is the line most likely to grow quietly.
Buy in the order that affects the work
The chair, the monitor height and the microphone affect every call and every hour. Decor and peripherals can wait. A setup that is comfortable on day one gets used; a setup that is impressive but painful gets replaced, which doubles the cost.
If the budget is limited, spend on the interface between your body and the work, then on the interface between you and other people.
Frequently asked questions
Why three years for hardware?
It is a common planning life for computers and monitors. Use the actual replacement cycle if you know it; a longer life lowers the monthly cost.
Should I include a desk if the landlord provides one?
Only if you will replace it or add one. Enter what you will actually buy.
Does the calculator include electricity?
No. Electricity and internet are recurring home costs; add them in a monthly budget instead of the setup.
Is a standing desk worth the difference?
It can be, but the decision is about how you work, not about the calculator. Price both options and compare the monthly difference over the life you expect.