America’s biggest office markets revealed as remote work threatens demand

The cities with the largest office inventories have been revealed as remote and hybrid work continues to reshape demand for traditional workplaces.

Demand for remote work has soared in recent years and has become an established working model for many U.S. employers and employees, with 16% of U.S. companies now fully remote.¹

Booking.com for Business has analysed corporate footprints across the top office markets in the U.S., highlighting the locations which could be most affected by reduced workplace demand if this trend continues. 

The U.S. markets with the biggest office inventories:

1. Manhattan has America’s largest corporate footprint

Manhattan tops the ranking with almost 492 million square feet of office space, reflecting its long-standing position as the country’s largest business district. According to the latest available U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, New York County, which shares Manhattan’s boundaries, has more than 130,000 business establishments.2

However, if rising demand for remote roles leads more businesses to reduce their office requirements in the coming years, Manhattan could face greater pressure to adapt than smaller business centers, because of the vast volume of commercial space in the region.

2. Washington D.C. is one of the country’s biggest office markets

Washington ranks second with more than 417 million square feet of office inventory. Unlike many primarily commercial office markets, demand in the capital is shaped by both federal government agencies and a large network of private-sector employers.

However, Washington may be less exposed to the shift toward remote work than predominantly private-sector cities. Federal policy, introduced in January 2025, requires most executive-branch employees to work in person, although limited exemptions remain.3

3. Chicago’s scale makes workplace shifts more visible

Chicago completes the top three with just over 353 million square feet of office space. Its large corporate footprint is supported by both a diverse economy and a strong concentration of major employers. A January 2026 report by World Business Chicago found that no single sector accounted for more than 13% of Chicago’s GDP, while the region ranked second in the U.S. for Fortune 500 headquarters, with 30 based there.4

Like Manhattan and Washington, Chicago’s scale indicates that even relatively small changes in office occupancy could have a noticeable impact across its commercial property market.

Joshua Wood, Director of Business Travel at Booking.com for Business, comments:

“The workplace isn’t simply moving from offices to remote work. Most businesses are finding a balance between flexibility and face-to-face collaboration. As teams become more distributed, planned business travel becomes more valuable because it creates opportunities for people to meet with purpose.

“We’re seeing many organizations bring colleagues together for project kickoffs, planning sessions, customer meetings, and team events rather than expecting everyone to be in the same office every day. Having a dedicated business travel management tool can help companies coordinate these moments of intentional connection more efficiently, while giving employees the flexibility that many now expect from modern workplaces.”

 Sources:

1. Forbes

2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

3. Whitehouse

4. World Business Chicago