Most offices have a scheduling problem hiding inside a space problem. Desks get assigned but sit empty three days a week. Conference rooms show "booked" on the calendar while no one's inside. Entire floors light up and cool down for a handful of people.

The disconnect between planned usage and actual usage is where companies quietly hemorrhage money on rent, energy, cleaning, and buildouts they never needed. Occupancy sensors are built to fix this, but the platforms behind them differ in how they detect presence and how easily the data reaches the rest of your tech stack.

Below, we compare five occupancy sensor platforms built for corporate and commercial environments. For each, we cover core capabilities, strengths, drawbacks, integration options, and which types of organizations stand to benefit most.

Summary of The Top Occupancy Sensors for Offices

1. Butlr

Butlr Butlr

Butlr is a privacy-first sensing platform that uses thermal imaging to measure occupancy, movement patterns, traffic flow, and dwell time across commercial buildings. Because the sensors read heat signatures instead of visual data, the hardware cannot capture images, identify individuals, or infer biometric information.

Key Features

• Thermal-only detection: Sensors read infrared heat patterns to count people, track coordinates, and measure how long individuals remain in a space, all without collecting personally identifiable information.
• Dual operating modes: Presence mode captures activity and pathing within defined zones, while Traffic mode counts directional entries and exits at doorways and corridors.
• Smart cleaning orchestration: Real-time occupancy data tells cleaning crews which restrooms and shared spaces need attention now and which can wait, replacing static schedules that clean empty rooms and skip busy ones. Every clean is logged and auditable.
• API-first data architecture: Real-time occupancy data pushes outward through APIs and webhooks into external workplace platforms, building management systems, energy tools, cleaning orchestration software, and digital twins.
• Flexible connectivity: Each sensor supports wired, wireless, or cellular connections, which simplifies multi-building and multi-region rollouts without requiring uniform network infrastructure.
• Rapid deployment: Sensors mount without an electrician or complex wiring. Most deployments have been reported to go live within weeks and keep total cost of ownership lower across large portfolios.
• Enterprise-grade security: Data is protected with TLS 1.2 and AES256 encryption, and the platform holds SOC 2 Type II compliance.

Pros

• Hardware-level privacy eliminates the need for legal review, employee communication campaigns, or regional compliance work. The sensor physically cannot capture identifiable data.
• Deployable in sensitive spaces where cameras are off-limits, including restrooms, wellness rooms, healthcare facilities, and public-facing lobbies.
• Delivers 95% accuracy with granular spatial data (headcounts, coordinates, dwell time), a clear improvement over binary occupied/vacant readings.
• Through Butlr's open API, occupancy data feeds directly into whatever tools the facilities or workplace team already uses.

Cons

• Pricing is not published, so teams need to engage sales for a quote.
• Thermal sensing intentionally trades visual granularity for privacy. It won't identify specific objects or furniture configurations the way a camera-based system might.

Notable Integrations

Butlr's open API and webhook framework connects to a wide range of workplace and building technology partners, including Johnson Controls and Carrier for building systems, Robin and Envoy for workplace management, Willow for digital twins, Compass Group for cleaning and food service operations, and Tableau for analytics. The platform serves as a data layer that other systems build on.

Best For

Organizations that want occupancy intelligence with zero privacy exposure. Butlr's thermal sensors physically cannot identify anyone, and the anonymous data they produce drives better decisions about space planning, energy management, operations, and employee experience.

2. PointGrab

pointgrab pointgrab

PointGrab manufactures ceiling-mounted sensors (branded CogniPoint) that combine optical and passive infrared technology to detect occupancy, headcount, movement, and traffic patterns. The platform emphasizes a software-agnostic approach and positions itself as a raw data source that feeds into whatever analytics, BMS, or workplace tool a customer already runs.

Key Features

• Multi-mode sensing from a single device: Each CogniPoint sensor handles occupancy counting, people-in-motion detection, object identification, and virtual traffic line monitoring without swapping hardware.
• Edge AI processing: Neural networks run directly on the sensor, so it processes raw data locally and transmits only anonymized occupancy metrics to the cloud. This reduces bandwidth demands and latency.
• Software-agnostic REST API: Sensor data flows through a cloud-based RESTful API into any receiving system. PointGrab intentionally avoids locking customers into its own analytics platform.
• Mixed connectivity: Both wired (PoE) and wireless sensor models feed into the same cloud management platform, so teams can mix deployment types across a portfolio.
• ISO 27001 certification: The platform carries internationally recognized information security management credentials.

Pros

• One sensor covers multiple use cases (counting, motion, traffic, object detection), which reduces hardware sprawl across different space types.
• Because PointGrab is software-agnostic, occupancy data can simultaneously feed a BMS, a workplace analytics tool, a booking system, and an enterprise data warehouse without requiring separate hardware for each.
• Edge-based AI processing keeps raw imagery on the device and only transmits processed, anonymized metrics.

Cons

• The sensors use optical components, so teams will likely need to conduct a privacy review before deploying, particularly in the EU or in spaces where employees may object to camera-adjacent technology.
• Installation involves calibration and sensor configuration. Large-scale rollouts take more time than plug-and-play alternatives.
• While the API is open, day-to-day management runs through PointGrab's platform, which may feel constraining for teams that prefer full self-service.

Notable Integrations

PointGrab highlights direct compatibility with Siemens Building X, Johnson Controls OpenBlue, and Schneider Electric's Planon platform. The REST API also connects to IWMS tools, space booking systems, digital signage platforms, and ESG reporting tools.

Best For

Facilities and building operations teams that want a dedicated sensor feeding raw occupancy data into an existing BMS or enterprise analytics stack without being tied to a single software vendor.

Aqara Presence Sensor FP300 Wireless 5-in-1 Motion Sensor with mmWave

3. Density

Density Density

Density offers a people-counting platform built around two hardware form factors: depth sensors designed for open areas and doorways, and a 60GHz radar unit (called Waffle) sized for meeting rooms, phone booths, and individual desks. Data from both sensor types feeds into Density's Atlas analytics platform, which provides utilization heatmaps, visit breakdowns, and floor-level reporting.

Key Features

• Dual sensor architecture: Depth-based sensors cover large open zones and entry points with wide-area headcounts, while the Waffle radar sensor handles enclosed rooms and smaller spaces with precise people counts.
• Self-installable radar option: The Waffle sensor runs on powered WiFi and can be set up without professional installers. Teams that want to start small or move quickly can get up and running without outside help.
• Atlas analytics dashboard: Occupancy and visit data is broken into 15-minute intervals with building-level and floor-level views, utilization heatmaps, and live wayfinding displays that show employees which spaces are open.
• Advisory and strategy services: Density offers professional site planning and workplace strategy consulting alongside the hardware and software platform.
• Published pricing: Sensor hardware starts at $149 per unit with transparent per-unit software fees, so teams can model costs before engaging sales.

Pros

• The self-installable Waffle sensor meaningfully reduces deployment friction for smaller spaces like huddle rooms and phone booths.
• Larger coverage per depth sensor in open areas reduces total hardware count for wide-floor deployments.
• Published pricing gives procurement teams a concrete starting point for budgeting without requiring a sales cycle for basic cost modeling.

Cons

• The open area and entry sensors are hardwired and require professional installation. Expect coordination around electricians, network cabling, and ceiling access for each unit.
• Radar-based sensing may face scrutiny in regions highly sensitive to RF-based tracking, particularly across the EU and in healthcare environments.
• The analytics platform is the primary interface for accessing data. An API exists, but third-party integrations are not a central design priority.

Notable Integrations

Density's Atlas platform supports data export and API access for pulling count data into external tools. The platform's tech stack includes AWS infrastructure and Cisco networking, though it doesn't prominently feature native integrations with specific BMS or IWMS platforms.

Best For

Corporate real estate teams looking for a mix of self-install simplicity (for rooms) and professional-grade depth sensing (for open areas), with a strong built-in analytics layer and transparent per-unit pricing.

4. Avuity

AVUITY Leadiq.com

Avuity is a space utilization platform that uses proprietary AI and machine learning sensors to capture occupancy, accurate headcount, and environmental conditions, all without cameras. The company also offers IR-based sensors for short-term utilization studies as a lower-commitment entry point before a permanent deployment.

Key Features

• Camera-free AI/ML sensing: The primary VuAI sensor uses machine learning algorithms (not optical imaging) to detect presence and count people. PII collection is excluded by design.
• Built-in environmental monitoring: Each sensor captures temperature, humidity, ambient light levels, and noise alongside occupancy data. Two measurement categories consolidate into a single ceiling-mounted device.
• Adaptive accuracy: Machine learning models improve detection precision over time as the system collects more data. The system gets more reliable the longer it runs.
• Flexible hardware options: Wireless sensors run on battery power with a 2.4 GHz gateway, while a wired Power over Ethernet option is available for permanent installations. Sensors can also be daisy-chained together.
• Short-term study sensors: IR-based sensors are available for temporary or incremental utilization studies, and teams can gather data before committing to a full rollout.

Pros

• Combining occupancy and environmental data in one device reduces the total sensor count needed to instrument a floor.
• The camera-free approach simplifies procurement conversations. No privacy reviews or employee notification processes are required.
• The IR sensor option for short-term studies lowers the risk and cost of an initial evaluation.

Cons

• The platform focuses on room-level and zone-level presence, which provides less spatial resolution than systems that track movement coordinates, pathing, and individual dwell time.
• Data is primarily accessed through Avuity's own analytics platform, with limited options for pushing occupancy metrics into external systems.
• The platform does not hold SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications, which can slow or block procurement at enterprise organizations with strict third-party security requirements.

Notable Integrations

Avuity sensors can connect to existing building management systems via Power over Ethernet configurations. However, the platform's integration architecture centers on its own analytics dashboard, and open API access for feeding data into third-party workplace or FM tools is limited.

Best For

Workplace and facilities teams that want a camera-free sensor capturing both occupancy and environmental conditions in a single device, particularly those who value a low-risk entry point through short-term IR studies before scaling up.

5. Occuspace

occuspace occuspace

Occuspace is an AI-powered occupancy intelligence platform that combines two sensor types under one analytics roof: Macro sensors that passively scan WiFi and Bluetooth signals to measure traffic across open floor plans, and Micro sensors that use millimeter-wave radar to count people in enclosed rooms. The platform also offers a hardware-free option that turns existing WiFi access points into occupancy data sources.

Key Features

• Hybrid sensing model: Macro sensors cover large open zones (cafeterias, lobbies, open desks) by scanning for wireless device signals, while Micro sensors use mmWave radar for precise headcounts in conference rooms, phone booths, and huddle spaces. Both feed into a single unified dashboard.
• Near-instant deployment: Macro sensors plug into a standard wall outlet with no infrastructure changes. Micro sensors install in roughly 15 seconds. Most deployments are operational within a day or two.
• Hardware-free WAP option: Organizations running compatible wireless access points (such as HPE Aruba) can activate occupancy monitoring without deploying any additional sensor hardware.
• Privacy by architecture: Macro sensors detect wireless signals but never connect to devices. MAC addresses are hashed on-sensor with a daily rotating salt. Micro sensors count bodies without capturing any personal data. No cameras are used in either form factor.
• Live and historical analytics: The Occuspace portal delivers real-time occupancy, traffic counts, and dwell time metrics. Data is exportable and accessible via REST API for feeding into external systems, digital signage, and building automation.
• Competitive cost structure: Pricing runs approximately $0.12–$0.20 per square foot annually, with cloud licenses between $2–$8 per sensor per month. Occuspace is one of the more affordable options in the category.

Pros

• Deployment speed is a clear differentiator. Plug-in sensors and same-day data availability remove the typical weeks-to-months implementation timeline.
• The dual-sensor approach lets teams cover both open areas and enclosed rooms from a single platform without juggling separate vendors or dashboards.
• Published per-square-foot pricing makes it straightforward to model costs across a portfolio of any size.
• Strong traction in both corporate real estate and higher education, with a recent $41.9 million GSA blanket purchase agreement validating the platform for federal facilities.

Cons

• WiFi/Bluetooth-based counting in open areas relies on device signals and not direct body detection, which can introduce variance when occupants carry multiple devices or no devices at all.
• The platform does not offer the same level of spatial resolution (coordinates, pathing, movement patterns) as thermal or depth-based systems.
• Macro sensor accuracy is about 95%, which is strong for signal-based sensing but may not meet teams that need exact headcounts in high-stakes planning scenarios.

Notable Integrations

Occuspace is a Microsoft partner, with integration into Microsoft's Return to Workplace facility safety module. The REST API connects to BMS platforms, IWMS tools, CMMS systems, digital signage, and building automation controllers. The platform also supports direct integration with HPE Aruba Central for faster deployment and signal processing.

Best For

Organizations that prioritize deployment speed and cost efficiency across large square footage, especially those with a mix of open collaboration spaces and enclosed meeting rooms, and want a single platform that covers both without a complex installation process.

ecobee SmartSensor 2-Pack - Temperature & Occupancy Sensor