Resources Demand • Global Analysis

Global Coworking Divergence: Premium Giants, Agile Independents Soar

A look at the history and trends of coworking & flexible workspaces across all markets.

Last data update: March 2026

This report will help you understand

Evolution from 2016

How has the fexible workspace industry evolved from 2016 to today?

Market characteristics

The similarities and differences between markets.

Resource usage

How have the resources and their use by the users of these spaces evolved?

Workspace sizes

The distinguishing characteristics of fexible workspaces of different sizes.

Pandemic effect

The effect of the pandemic on the industry and its current situation.

Section 1

How has the ratio of members per resource evolved?

Over the past decade, the number of members per resource in coworking spaces has shifted through distinct stages. Smaller coworking companies saw membership pressure ease after an early peak, while medium and larger spaces moved from very high demand to a more relaxed level, especially during the pandemic, before settling toward a balanced use of resources.

Major markets around the world follow a similar path: members per resource rose before 2020, dipped as health measures took hold, and is now on a steady climb back. Though each region moves at its own pace—Spain nearing earlier highs, the UK stabilizing below its peak, and the US showing gradual recovery—they all suggest a post-pandemic rhythm in how seats are occupied.

Key findings

Biggest spaces see steepest demand relief

Largest operators’ members-per-resource ratio dropped from nearly 40 in 2016 to around 25 by 2023.

Small operators recover to pre-COVID seat levels

Small operators’ ratio fell below 3 during the pandemic but is forecast to rebound to about 3 by 2026.

Spain’s demand bounces back to 10 members

After dipping under 8 in 2020, Spain’s members-per-resource ratio is projected to rise to near 10 by early 2026.

Mean members per resource by location

Across different operator sizes the pressure on resources has eased over time. Small operators started with just over three members per resource in early 2016, peaked above four in late 2018, then dropped below three during the pandemic and are forecast to climb back to around three by 2026. Medium–small spaces fell from about seventeen per resource in 2016 to under ten by 2023, with a further slide towards eight by 2026. Mid-sized operators saw a decline from over thirty members per resource in 2016 to the high teens by 2020, levelling off near fourteen by 2026, while the largest spaces moved from nearly forty down to the mid-twenties and are expected to stabilise around twenty-three.

Examining leading markets, Spain’s ratio rose from under four members per resource in 2016 to around eleven in 2018, dipped under eight in the pandemic, and is projected to settle near ten by early 2026. In the UK the ratio hovered around seventeen at the start, fell into the low teens by 2017, fluctuated between fourteen and seventeen before COVID-19, and is gradually edging back towards fifteen. The US showed growth from about ten per resource in 2016 to above thirteen in 2018, a brief fall below ten in 2020, and a steady recovery to roughly eleven by 2026.

Section 2

How has the number of bookings evolved?

The global picture of coworking bookings shows a sharp fall as the pandemic hit in spring 2020, followed by a strong and sustained rebound across companies of all sizes and in major markets worldwide. Small, mid-sized, and large coworking companies all saw their bookings plunge to spring lows but then recover rapidly, with some even exceeding their pre-pandemic highs by 2026. Beyond the overall bounce back, the types of spaces being reserved have shifted. Meeting rooms, once accounting for the majority of bookings, have steadily lost share, while conference rooms have declined even more. In contrast, smaller spaces like booths and event areas have grown modestly, signaling a more varied demand for coworking resources going forward.

Key findings

Large operators lead booking resurgence

After plunging to the low tens in April 2020, large operators surged past 420 bookings by March 2022.

UK bookings outpace global peers

After collapsing into the low teens in April 2020, UK bookings recovered beyond 212 by spring 2026, exceeding US and Spain.

Shift from meeting to alternative spaces

Meeting room share fell from 65% in 2017 to under 40% by early 2026, while booths rose to around 4%.

All operator sizes saw a sharp collapse in spring 2020, followed by a robust rebound. Small operators dipped to about 13 bookings in April 2020 and climbed back into the mid-seventies by mid-2023. Midsize operators fell to the low twenties before rising near 172 by spring 2026. Large operators even reached a new high above 420 bookings in March 2022.

Bookings in Spain, the UK and the US all plunged into the low-teens in April 2020. Spain and the UK then climbed past 160 bookings by early 2022, and the US market recovered to roughly 159 by spring 2023. The UK further reached a record above 212 bookings by March 2026.

How types of resources have evolved from 2016 to 2026

Meeting rooms began as the most booked resource in early 2016 at about fifty-seven percent and climbed to roughly sixty-five percent by 2017. They then fell sharply to around forty-five percent at the start of the pandemic and have since drifted below forty percent by early 2026. Conference rooms also lost ground, sliding from about twenty percent in 2016 to under seven percent by late 2025. Smaller options such as booths and event spaces each held barely one percent of bookings until the pandemic, later rising modestly—booths nearing four percent and event spaces staying around one to two percent by 2026.

Section 3

Has COVID-19 been a turning point in resource consumption patterns?

Before COVID-19, coworking companies of all sizes showed varied booking durations, reflecting different usage patterns in small, mid-sized and large spaces. When the pandemic arrived, average bookings lengthened across the board and have continued to rise steadily since then. This shift highlights a broader change in how seats are occupied and how flexible work environments are valued.

Looking across Spain, the UK and the US, booking lengths spiked during early 2020 and then settled at consistently higher levels, indicating a lasting impact on resource demand. At the same time, non-members are now staying longer than regular members, underscoring a growing preference for flexible, extended visits. The following sections will delve into these trends in greater detail.

Key findings

Small Spaces See Longest Booking Surge

Since April 2020, small coworking spaces have seen average bookings grow to nearly 200 minutes by 2026, outpacing larger operators by over 20 minutes.

UK Bookings Lead Global Rebound

The UK average booking duration jumped past 190 minutes in early 2020 and climbed to over 200 minutes by 2026, marking the highest national rise.

Non-members Extend Booking Durations Dramatically

Non-member bookings surged to around 223 minutes by 2026, exceeding member durations by over one hour.

In the coworking size chart, booking durations started around 135 minutes in 2016, rose sharply to about 162 minutes in April 2020 across all operators, and then climbed steadily. By March 2026, small spaces (0–40 members) reached almost 199 minutes, mid-sized operators hit about 176 minutes, and the largest groups averaged around 180 minutes.

In the country chart, Spain’s average booking duration climbed back to roughly 155 minutes by 2026 after a pandemic bump, the UK topped 200 minutes by March 2026 following an early-2020 surge past 190 minutes, and the US settled near 168 minutes in spring 2026. In the customer type chart, non-members extended bookings to over 223 minutes by March 2026, while members rose to about 157 minutes over the same period.

Section 4

Booking patterns by country booking based on time of the day; day of the week; and month

In this global overview, coworking companies’ seat bookings reveal a consistent daily rhythm: a strong surge in the early morning, a mid-morning plateau, a modest rise after lunch, and a gradual decline toward evening. These patterns extend across the week, with mid-week demand outpacing quieter weekends, and they fluctuate through the year as seasonal factors influence how and when spaces are reserved.

Over the past six months, morning reservations have grown noticeably, drawing more activity into the first hours of the day, while the midday and afternoon flows largely follow established trends and demand tapers off by night. The sections that follow will break down these timing patterns by country, weekday, and month to uncover how global booking behavior shifts across different markets.

Key findings

Intensified Early-Morning Demand

6 AM bookings rose to nearly 3% and the 9 AM peak climbed to about 18%, drawing more reservations into the first half of the day.

Stable Midday Plateau but Steep Evening Drop

Midday and early-afternoon bookings hover near 9%, then taper off steadily to below 1% by 8 PM.

Booking distribution by time of the day

Coworking companies register the bulk of bookings in the morning, with a sharp peak at nine AM capturing around seventeen percent of daily reservations and a secondary high near twelve percent at ten. Activity is minimal before six at under two percent, then climbs steeply into mid-morning before tapering to around eight percent by noon. A small rebound just after lunch pushes bookings back toward nine percent by two PM, but from then on demand declines steadily, dropping below one percent by eight in the evening.

Over the last six months this pattern has intensified in the early hours, with nine AM bookings rising to about eighteen percent and the six-AM share nearly three percent. The midday and early-afternoon curves largely mirror the long-term trend, however, and the gradual drop-off after two PM continues through the evening. This shift suggests coworking operators are drawing more reservations into the first half of the day while overall demand still winds down by night.

Section 5

Evolution of the average price of booking.

The average booking price has traced different paths across coworking spaces and markets before and after the early 2020 health measures. Small spaces drifted downward through 2016–19 before climbing steeply around the spring of 2020, mid-sized venues held a fairly even pace with only a modest uptick at the pandemic’s onset, and the largest spaces started high, spiked most sharply in 2020, then settled into a stable range by 2026. Regionally, Spain enjoyed a steady ascent followed by a notable surge in 2020, the UK saw an initial dip and later rebound, and US prices rose gradually with a moderate jump during the peak of restrictions.

Alongside these shifts, the share of zero-price bookings changed significantly by space size. Smaller workspaces cut back free sessions before a late-2021 peak and then returned to lower levels, medium-sized operators navigated milder crests and troughs, and the largest companies experienced the widest swings before stabilizing. These variations in complimentary offers highlight how coworking spaces adapted their pricing and promotions in response to evolving demand and global events.

Key findings

Premium Rates of Largest Operators

Large coworking players spiked their average hourly price from above 40 USD to nearly 49 USD in spring 2020 and sustained just over 40 USD into 2026.

Volatile Rebound in Small Spaces

After dipping into the low 20 USD range in late 2016, small operators rebounded to the mid 30 USD range by spring 2020.

Spain’s Sharp Surge and Normalization

Spain’s average booking rate climbed from under 20 USD in early 2016 to over 40 USD in April 2020 before settling near 28 USD by 2026.

Mean final hourly price

Small operators began near 29 USD per hour, dipped into the low 20s in late 2016 and rebounded to the mid-30s by spring 2020. Mid-sized spaces remained relatively stable, with only a modest peak in April 2020. The largest operators launched above 40 USD, spiked to nearly 49 USD in 2020 and held just over 40 USD into early 2026.

In Spain, prices climbed from under 20 USD in early 2016 to the mid-20s by 2018, surged past 40 USD in April 2020 and settled near 28 USD by 2026. The UK market started above 40 USD, dipped into the high 20s in mid-2016, peaked again above 40 USD in spring 2020 and held around 36 USD into 2026. US rates stayed mostly in the low 30s, saw a jump to the mid-30s in April 2020 and ended at about 35 USD.

Percentage of zero final hourly price by space size

Analysis of zero final hourly price by coworking size reveals distinct patterns. Small spaces saw roughly 15 percent of bookings at zero in early 2016, dipped to about 7 percent by mid-2017, surged to around 24 percent at the end of 2021, then eased to the high single digits by early 2026. Medium-small operators (41–100 members) hovered in the 20s, briefly topping 30 percent in early 2017 and again late 2021, before settling near 16 percent. Mid-sized companies (101–250 members) climbed from about 13 percent in 2016 to over 30 percent by late 2017 and mid-35s at the end of 2020, then declined to roughly 19 percent. The largest operators (+250 members) started below 6 percent, rose past 26 percent by mid-2018, peaked above 34 percent around December 2021, and stabilized in the high 20s by March 2026.

The zero base hourly rate across all coworking sizes began near 72 percent in early 2016, fell to about 63 percent by mid-2016, spiked back above 71 percent during spring 2020, and drifted down to around 62 percent by early 2026. Small spaces fluctuated between the high 60s and mid-70s, hitting almost 77 percent in early 2016 and dipping to about 59 percent in mid-2021. Mid-scale operators ranged from the low 60s to low 70s with a notable rise above 71 percent by late 2017. The largest operators experienced the widest swings—starting near 79 percent in spring 2016, falling below 48 percent by mid-2017, rebounding above 73 percent in spring 2020, then settling in the mid-50s.

Conclusion

Global Coworking Divergence: Premium Giants, Agile Independents Soar

Since 2016, global coworking demand has followed a bifurcated recovery in which the largest operators have enjoyed the steepest relief—members-per-resource ratios fell from nearly 40 to around 25 by 2023—while sustaining premium hourly rates that peaked near 49 USD in spring 2020 and remained just over 40 USD into 2026. Conversely, smaller operators, whose ratio dipped below 3 during the pandemic, are on track to rebound to pre-COVID levels by 2026, buoyed by the longest post-2020 surge in average booking durations—approaching 200 minutes and outpacing larger venues by over 20 minutes. Regionally, Spain’s ratio recovered from under 8 in 2020 to nearly 10 by early 2026 even as its average rate normalized near 28 USD, and the UK consistently outpaced its peers—bookings rebounded from the low teens in April 2020 to beyond 212 by spring 2026 and average durations climbed above 200 minutes, marking the highest national rise.

ANALYSIS PER MARKET

US, UK And Spain

A comprehensive analysis of reservation patterns in coworking and flex workspaces in the United States, United Kingdom and Spain.